Hi all, I am now 5 months into my first postdoc. I am in life sciences, and I have switch subfields when moving from PhD to this postdoc (by switch subfields I mean change of disease being studied, e.g. from Alzheimer's disease to Parkinson's disease, and therefore techniques as well). Now, my contract is for one year and I am starting to think about my next step. Can someone let me know if it is a great idea to change subfields between postdocs or should I just stay in the same subfield? Would really appreciate if someone can shed some light as I really have no idea.
I don't know what the correct advice is.
However, My PhD was in wastewater treatment (using reators), after my PhD I work as a research microbiologst (undergrad and 3 chapter in my PhD related to this) for 6 months, before starting a post-doc (2 years but leaving after 1 for a job closer to home) in reactors for biofuel production (ethanol) and in a few weeks a start another post doc in alchol production for the food industry.
I haven't came across to much issues which crossing over fields, once the underlying skill set are the same. Hope that helps
There is nothing wrong with switching subfield if you have the relevant transferrable skills. If anything some PIs like you having a broad range of experience.
PostgraduateForum Is a trading name of FindAUniversity Ltd
FindAUniversity Ltd, 77 Sidney St, Sheffield, S1 4RG, UK. Tel +44 (0) 114 268 4940 Fax: +44 (0) 114 268 5766
An active and supportive community.
Support and advice from your peers.
Your postgraduate questions answered.
Use your experience to help others.
Enter your email address below to get started with your forum account
Enter your username below to login to your account
An email has been sent to your email account along with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not recieve your email, or have any futher problems accessing your account, then please contact our customer support.
or continue as guest
To ensure all features on our website work properly, your computer, tablet or mobile needs to accept cookies. Our cookies don’t store your personal information, but provide us with anonymous information about use of the website and help us recognise you so we can offer you services more relevant to you. For more information please read our privacy policy
Agree Agree