wanderine
New member
Posts: 44
|
 |
« on: July 14, 2011, 11:31:19 AM » |
|
Hello, I'm a Phd student in Sweden and I'm thinking of applying for a postdoc position in the US. I'm trying to figure out if I'm qualified or not. I've been a Phd student since February 2008, i.e. 3.5 years, and I plan to get my Phd in the beginning of 2012 (a Phd normally takes 4-5 years in Sweden).
If two persons with similar experience / education are applying for a postdoc position, how is one selected? By the number of publications? I currently have 6 conference publications and 3 journal publications (first author for all 9, all the publications are peer reviewed), is that competitive?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
anon99
|
|
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2011, 08:17:49 PM » |
|
The main qualification is you have a PhD. As for who they select it is dependent on many variables: fit, number of applicants, publications and productivity will factor in. Again I don't know your field, but in my area of life sciences, three pubs would be good. Length of time for a PhD normally comes into play when it takes people an unusually long time 8+ years to finish.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
mleok
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2011, 01:30:00 PM » |
|
More than anything else, having strong letters from influential academics seem to be an important aspect of getting hired at a good postdoctoral position.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
kron3007
|
|
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2011, 08:49:10 AM » |
|
I think that one of the most important factors is who you, and perhaps more importantly, your advisor know(s). Obviously publications and other factors matter, but if the PI knows you and/or your advisor, it can make a big difference.
Just for reference, in my field (plant biology) 3 journal articles would probably be on the low end but not so low it would stand in your way if everything else is in good shape, but this also depends on the caliber of the journals.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
wanderine
New member
Posts: 44
|
|
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 09:06:21 AM » |
|
I think that one of the most important factors is who you, and perhaps more importantly, your advisor know(s). Obviously publications and other factors matter, but if the PI knows you and/or your advisor, it can make a big difference.
Just for reference, in my field (plant biology) 3 journal articles would probably be on the low end but not so low it would stand in your way if everything else is in good shape, but this also depends on the caliber of the journals.
So the conference papers are neglected? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
anon99
|
|
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2011, 09:30:03 AM » |
|
I think that one of the most important factors is who you, and perhaps more importantly, your advisor know(s). Obviously publications and other factors matter, but if the PI knows you and/or your advisor, it can make a big difference.
Just for reference, in my field (plant biology) 3 journal articles would probably be on the low end but not so low it would stand in your way if everything else is in good shape, but this also depends on the caliber of the journals. This depends on what type of plant biology-for some developmental-3 is good. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
scampster
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2011, 04:58:17 PM » |
|
I think that one of the most important factors is who you, and perhaps more importantly, your advisor know(s). Obviously publications and other factors matter, but if the PI knows you and/or your advisor, it can make a big difference.
Just for reference, in my field (plant biology) 3 journal articles would probably be on the low end but not so low it would stand in your way if everything else is in good shape, but this also depends on the caliber of the journals.
So the conference papers are neglected? It depends on your field. I think you asked about this elsewhere. In my field, conference papers don't really matter, but in others they do. I got my postdoc mostly because I had a certain set of skills that were desired by the PI. I am sure all these other things make a difference, but basically in the end, I was the one most suited to doing the job based on my background. So the question of fit with the project can really be important. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
|
|
|
|
lurkingfear
|
|
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2011, 06:56:28 PM » |
|
I'd say you are in good shape. In your field, as in most biological science fields, the conference papers don't count as much since they are usually just talks, and not peer-reviewed. But three journal papers before you are finished your PhD is good, especially since they are all first-author.
I'm in a biological field and can say that I, along with many people in my field, would put a PhD from one of the major schools in Sweden on par with most major research universities in the US. In my field, some of the top people are in Sweden. Your marketability will come down to where those papers were published, who your supervisor is, what you are exactly working on, etc. But in general I don't see a problem. I'd start sending out emails to potential post-doc supervisors right away.
Good luck with the defense - I've heard it is an ordeal in Sweden.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
wanderine
New member
Posts: 44
|
|
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2011, 02:29:15 PM » |
|
All my conference papers are peer reviewed, the acceptance rates are from 30 to 50%.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
scampster
|
|
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2011, 02:56:01 PM » |
|
All my conference papers are peer reviewed, the acceptance rates are from 30 to 50%.
Look, if you are applying for postdocs in your field, then the people you are applying to work with should know this already and know which conferences are good. If you are trying to break into another field which doesn't have conference publications, it will be a harder sell, but if you are continuing on a natural trajectory for your field, the people in your field know what is up. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
|
|
|
|
lurkingfear
|
|
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2011, 07:20:03 AM » |
|
Do you mean they are peer-reviewed like a journal, or that they are screened by a selection committee based on an abstract you submitted? Be careful to differentiate these if it is the latter. Most conferences at least employ the latter (assuming the number of abstracts submitted exceeds the number of slots), but in some fields you would submit a full paper and it would be sent out to reviewers as it would be if you submitted it to a journal. This is more common, from what I understand, in computer science, but I have never seen it at any biosci conference I've attended.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
wanderine
New member
Posts: 44
|
|
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2011, 08:13:35 AM » |
|
Do you mean they are peer-reviewed like a journal, or that they are screened by a selection committee based on an abstract you submitted? Be careful to differentiate these if it is the latter. Most conferences at least employ the latter (assuming the number of abstracts submitted exceeds the number of slots), but in some fields you would submit a full paper and it would be sent out to reviewers as it would be if you submitted it to a journal. This is more common, from what I understand, in computer science, but I have never seen it at any biosci conference I've attended.
They have been reviewed as a journal paper, normally 2 or 3 reviewers. No abstracts. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
runwithscissors
|
|
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2011, 11:43:22 AM » |
|
If OP is a computer scientist or in a similar field then the conference papers will likely counts as 'real' publications rather than window dressing (like in many sciences/social sciences/humanities). If that is the case, I would say the OP's in a very strong position, particularly if they can demonstrate some US-Sweden links.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Space is invisible mind dust, and stars are but wishes"
|
|
|
|
txloopnlil
|
|
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2011, 07:59:45 AM » |
|
Network! Don't wait for post-doc jobs to be advertised, but email prospective labs and see what is in the pipeline. Offer to help write a grant to fund a postdoc. I've been in labs twice with Swedish post-docs & visiting Ph.D students and in both cases they were excellent. I imagine if you are publishing in good journals you will not face any extra difficulties coming from Sweden.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
