Hi everyone

First time posting here. I'm four weeks to submitting my PhD dissertation, and currently writing an application for a one-year postdoc. The problem is that the form is asking me to list "outputs". While I've done conferences, I don't have a huge list of publications. Friends who have previously been successful with this same postdoc have had between four and six publications. Both of my supervisors and intended postdoc mentor say my proposal for the postdoc is really good, original, needed etc etc etc - but I'm really not hopeful due to the lack of publications.

I'm currently re-drafting an article (post peer-review), and I've submitted another to a peer-reviewed journal (waiting to hear back from them). That's it. So, could someone help me with the following?

- Is there a point in applying for postdocs with such a meagre list?
- With the first article, do I list it as "in review" or "in press" (in the publications section of the application form)?
- How would I list the second article?

Also, I want to submit a book proposal of my dissertation. I want to list this in the application form but the point of the postdoc I'm applying for is to turn the dissertation into a book. Turning it into a book won't require that much work. But I need the postdoc to pay for more fieldwork so I can bring one of the chapters up to date. As it is, the chapter is fine for the dissertation but it would be outdated for publication. So, is it too early to submit a book proposal considering that the draft of the book wouldn't be with them until mid-2017?

Thanks for reading this!

What field are you in? In Biology it's quite usual to have 0-2 papers when you apply for postdocs. I just had one paper submitted at the time when I was applying for my postdoc. I think as long you have something, and you have other papers in the pipeline, that's ok.

List your article as 'in review', because it hasn't been accepted until the referees agree with your revisions.

List your other one as 'submitted for publication'. Actually that's what I put for mine, but I don't know if there is more correct terminology for this instance.

I don't know about the book proposal.

i know of someone (in the humanities) with one (not great) publication and a few in the pipeline who got a postdoc at not a lowly uni. however, that person had an influential supervisor. since your supervisors are happy about your proposal and you have stuff in the pipeline you should definitely give it a shot.

Thanks a lot for this advice! I'm in the humanities.

Hi Akka,

I'm in the social sciences, qualitative research. It can be difficult in social sciences to get publications out before your PhD when doing qual, I only had two publications (and only one was quality).

What I did on my CV for jobs was listed articles currently under review under a subsection in 'Publications' called 'Under Review.' Then, the following section was 'Works in Progress', I only listed things here that I could provide drafts off should they be requested, but were not yet ready to go for publication.

Much later in your career Works-In-Progress will not be on your CV, but early on they can be helpful to highlight that you are working on things.