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Asked by jimmymcswaggins69 to Emma on 18 Nov 2013.
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Emma Cahill answered on 18 Nov 2013:
Hi Jimmy, A postdoctoral researcher is a scientist that has got their doctorate (PhD). I continue to do pretty much the same stuff, experiments, get funding, present my work, prepare articles and read but now I am expected to lead projects more and also help supervise the other members of the lab who might need it.
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Comments
Sive commented on :
Hi Jimmy,
As Emma explained being a postdoctoral researcher is the middle ground between being a PhD student and a faculty member of staff at a University. Postdocs tend to work on a particular project for a contract of a few years and then move onto another contract at the same institution or else move onto another University. I’m still a PhD student and I always appreciate postdocs as very valuable people because they were in my position a few years ago and they can often be more approachable than more senior staff members when you need help!
Sive
Michael commented on :
The answers above are correct, but it is easy to overlook that this is also the best opportunity ever in your career to stake a claim to being the expert in a particular topic. You have more freedom than in a PhD or in a later career where you lead and direct research.
When I did my two postdocs, once I did the work for the projects, I was able to work on anything else I wanted to. So I made myself one of the experts in the chemistry of a particular material that is used to clean car exhausts of nasty things like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Without good postdoc positions, this would not have happened and I am reaping benefits from this opportunity.
So it is not simply a continuation of a PhD but a chance to make a name for yourself and become independent.
M