Postdoc program structure, themes, and content
Collaborative design and peer exchange of information are the foundation
of our postdoctoral program (Figure 1). Our program is bolstered by
mentorship from a committee of staff scientists who provide continuity
as postdoctoral researchers cycle through the institute on relatively
short-term contracts. The group is not exclusive to people in positions
with “postdoctoral” titles; we include other early career scientists
who contribute their perspectives and knowledge while also sharing the
camaraderie of being at a similar career stage. Critically, we are able
to adapt our model and content to continuously mold the program to the
changing professional and social needs of individuals and the
community.
We meet weekly to engage with the content of our program, which we
organize under five themes (Table 1), and occasionally schedule
additional activities outside of these weekly meetings. Meeting content
is discussed in advance, but we retain flexibility to shift our plans to
what feels important at the moment. For example, in spring 2020 we
delayed scheduled content in order to spend several weeks discussing
racial justice and encouraging anti-racist initiatives at our
institution. Between our weekly gatherings, we have also self-organized
other forms of accountability and mutual aid. For example, we maintain a
shared spreadsheet where we can record daily goals, accomplishments, and
struggles and receive feedback and encouragement from others. Others
engage in short daily video check-ins for accountability and social
contact.
The themes and content of our weekly meetings primarily serve the goals
that gave rise to this program. Preparation for the future of our
careers is an explicit focus of some meetings. Activities that address
this include: building a broad knowledge base by describing current
questions and grand challenges in our respective sub-fields (“State of
the Science”); sharing and developing specific skills; and navigating
potential career paths through workshops and group informational
interviews with contacts in alternative-to-academia careers such as
start-ups, NGOs, private industry, and government (Table 1). Every year,
our institute allocates funding for postdoc professional development.
Some of the uses we had planned for this budget (and postponed due to
COVID-19) included funding a writing retreat and visiting Washington DC
to meet with National Science Foundation program officers and
Congressional staffers.
Including a blend of social, scientific, and professional activities as
part of the program provides multiple “entry points” and co-benefits.
Different types of meetings, with varied personal or professional
activities, incentivize attendance for those with different needs and
goals. During each weekly meeting, we often spend a few minutes checking
in with one another, admiring each other’s children and pets, and
brainstorming activities for future meetings. We occasionally schedule
purely social events, such as crafting, games, and happy hours, which
not only improve inclusivity with remote members, but also blunt the
isolation of working through a pandemic. Every few months, we revisit
our mutual and individual goals so that we can make course corrections
to more effectively move forward as a group (Table 1).