Benefits of a postdoc program
At many institutions, postdocs are isolated because of insular,
hierarchical lab structure and lack of coordination or community among
the department or institution postdoc community. The benefits of
creating a postdoctoral group that cuts across this structure are
multi-layered, addressing overlapping individual, group, and field-wide
needs (Figure 1). Benefits are cross-cutting and include minimizing the
challenges associated with the temporary nature of the position and
uncertainty in the world, addressing the contraction of the contemporary
job market, and creating a collective that enhances networking and
identification of opportunities.
As individuals, we benefit from having a formalized postdoc group
through a sense of community, well-being, and support that mitigates the
social and psychological challenges associated with this type of
position (Shaw et al. 2015). Meeting regularly, facilitated by
technology that enables virtual participation, has increased
interactions and peer mentorship among the postdocs at our institution,
and helps to curtail the effects of social isolation and work-life
imbalances. Building this program has also expanded our network of
collaborators and peer-mentors as we discuss and connect ideas.
Our program also provides benefits that address the unfavorable job
market. Given the mismatch between training and the diverse set of
trajectories taken by PhD holders in ecology (Ålund et al. 2020),
we set up a structure to facilitate learning and sharing of transferable
skills useful across a wide range of potential careers (Table 1).
Second, we pool information (e.g., where to find online training, how to
prepare and format an application) gained in conversations with members
of our individual networks working in alternative-to-academic careers to
increase our awareness of career pathways and opportunities. Together,
these provide us with the flexibility to pursue and be competitive for a
variety of career opportunities.
As a group, we benefit in our current roles and positions through
streamlined communication and agency within our institution. Through
official recognition of the postdoc group, communication with the
broader institution is more structured, efficient, and transparent,
which is advantageous to both the institution and individual postdocs.
Within the group, by sharing experiences, we can provide coherent
institutional memory through time to new members. This institutional
memory facilitates improved communication, which increases our leverage
and agency within the institution (Stephan 2013). We are able to share
information about funding policies and communicating our group’s
consensus opinions and suggestions about topics like racial equity
through formal and informal channels. In addition, we are more aware of,
and involved in, issues and opportunities at our institution, which
provides us with validation, voice, and confidence in discussing
institutional progress and policies with leadership.
Expanding our academic network has further exposed us to cultural shifts
that are occurring within the field of ecology, such as increasing
recognition and partnerships that emphasize Indigenous and local ways of
knowing (Kimmerer 2015). This, coupled with our group’s breadth of
experience and expertise, allows us to consider career and research
trajectories that align with current scientific and societal trends. By
discussing such cultural shifts in ecological science, we remain aware
and informed about the contextual needs of the field as a whole, thereby
improving our ability to communicate effectively across disciplinary
boundaries and do innovative disciplinary research. This reflection on
science, both outwards towards the field, and inwards towards our own
work, makes us more effective and adaptable scientists.