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[larix]

I am not sure if this has been asked and answered here before but nothing came up in the search. I am in a STEM field and at present there are very few faculty or tt jobs in my area of expertise. There are, however, tons of postdoc positions. I was wondering if it looks bad to to future tt job SC's if you have worked at more than two postdoctoral positions?

[mozman]

If you have been productive at all 3 post-docs, then its OK, (not great, but not a killer).  If you show evidence of moving from position to position without publishing much, then its bad.

[doctorcat]

This is kind of the situation I am in.

My post-doc of 2010-2011 was extended an extra year, which will make this year three of post-phd life.

I have applied for jobs over each of the last two years, like crazy, but didn't land anything so my director extended my fellowship. (I was also applying internationally!). I have published many chapters and peer-review articles. I have also been awarded small grants. 

I think as long as we can show we are writing and getting grants, it's all good. The problem, of course, in the soft sciences at least is that it takes ages for peer-reviews to come out... so many of my publications are for 2011 and forthcoming 2012.

But... in this market the fact that we have any position at all - and are still in the academic loop - is crucial.

[anon99]

Year three of a postdoc is different than 3 postdocs.  If you were at each of them for 1-2 years and productive, it may not matter.  If the previous postdocs were both one year, don't apply for another one year postdoc, but something that has funding for 2-3 years.  I did multiple postdocs (I'm in a STEM field) and got a TT position.  It also depends on where you are applying for jobs.  Publications are key and ask one of your LOR to address the multiple postdocs if you think it will be a problem for the SC.

[offthemarket]

It depends very much on what the letters from the postdoc advisors say.

[my_crobe]

If you're in STEM, it's all about the money and not necessarily pubs. In my field, we're encouraged to apply for grants right out of the gate... ANY grant! There are two things that this encourages... 1-you now have a track record of getting funded which makes you a good candidate for TT or non-TT assistant prof position. 2- The university where you are and where you've generate $$, isn't going to want to see money leave. They will try to keep you around if you're productive in the sense of making money for the university. It's tough, especially in this funding climate, but that's just the way it works where I am.