You are absolutely right, Keenbean. Intelligent, definitely. Genius, no way. It's so much more about determination and perseverance. This is what I've been telling my two teenaged girls since I started my PhD studies. Now that I'm done, they think I'm a hero (that will wear off soon enough, so I'm milking it for all I can). A PhD to people without a PhD might seem the result of freakish smarts, but people who have attempted or completed one know that it takes stubborness and an arrogant belief that "I have something to contribute" to academe.;-)

Hi Missspacey: at the university where I work, the starting salary for an assistant professor (this is the lowest lowel) is $75K. The upper salary for an assistant prof is $90.5K. Regular annual raises are $2.5K. When I use a currency converter online, that $75K appears to be roughly $42K GBP. Does that sound about right? I'm in the general area of health research, so I apply to the national funding agency for grants and whatnot. Their most recent postdoc fellowship competition offers $40K to those with PhDs or with licensure but less than 2 years of research or clinical training experience, and $50K to those with licensure and more than 2 years of research/clinical training experience (http://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca/rnr16/vwOpprtntyDtls.do?prog=775&&view=currentOpps&org=CIHR&type=AND&resultCount=25&sort=program&all=1&masterList=true). These postdoc awards can be held for 3-5 years.

Here in Canada there is quite a range in pay for postdocs. One current issue is that while PhD scholarships/fellowships are non-taxable, postdoc salaries are taxable (regardless of whether they are scholarships, fellowships, or paid from a grant). So, postdocs can experience quite a loss in pay if they have held a PhD scholarship. In addition, postdoc pay is unreasonably low ($45 K Canadian is the maximum going rate for a scholarship or fellowship from national and provincial funding agencies). However, these funding agencies do allow a postdoc to earn a little extra on top, from teaching, research, and whatnot. I sincerely wish you all the luck negotiating the pay that you deserve after all your years of hard work!