The Post-Doc Roadmap: How to Negotiate and Secure International Research Fellowships
A Post-Doctoral Fellowship is the bridge between being a student and becoming a Principal Investigator (PI). However, with only 10% of PhDs moving into tenure-track positions, your strategy must be aggressive and global.
The Fellowship Application Timeline
12 Months Before PhD Submission: Start identifying PIs whose work aligns with yours. Follow them on Academic Twitter/X and LinkedIn.
9 Months Before: Draft your "Research Statement." This is different from your Research Proposal; it focuses on your future trajectory.
6 Months Before: Reach out for informational interviews. Do not ask for a job; ask about their current lab projects.
9 Months Before: Draft your "Research Statement." This is different from your Research Proposal; it focuses on your future trajectory.
6 Months Before: Reach out for informational interviews. Do not ask for a job; ask about their current lab projects.
Negotiating Your Post-Doc Contract
Most PhDs are so happy to get an offer that they forget to negotiate. At GRIT, we advise our Workshop Participants to negotiate on these three pillars:
- Publication Rights: Ensure you can be "First Author" on the work you lead.
- Professional Development Fund: Secure money for travel to at least two International Conferences per year.
- Remote Flexibility: In the post-2020 world, many computational Post-Docs are hybrid.
Building Your "Academic Brand"
Your Post-Doc is about visibility. You need to transition from a consumer of knowledge to a creator. This involves:
- Hosting webinars through organizations like the GRIT Global Chapters.
- Reviewing papers for top-tier journals (See our Peer Review Guide).
- Collaborating on cross-disciplinary grants.
Launch Your Global Academic Career
Join our career mentorship program for PhDs and Early Career Researchers.
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