Navigating the Postdoc Experience

There are many reasons to consider postdoctoral research after completing a Ph.D. For those interested in academic careers at all levels, a postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) position is often required or at least preferred. Even for those interested in industry, government, or alternative careers, postdoctoral research provides opportunities to expand your knowledge and skill sets beyond your Ph.D. training. It can be a wonderful time to focus on research with minimal distractions and interruptions. However, there has been little discussion about the challenges of the postdoc transition. The postdoc experience can vary widely, but common challenges include transitioning into a new environment, learning new skills, serving in multiple roles as a mentor and mentee, different and sometimes unclear positions in the institution, and competition for limited opportunities. In this Commentary, we draw on our personal experiences and interviews with postdocs of various backgrounds and intersectionalities (gender, race, first-gen, neurodiversity, etc.) to discuss how to successfully navigate various aspects of the postdoc experience. Our perspective comes primarily within mass spectrometry (MS) research, but the interviews include several experiences outside of the MS field to develop discussions applicable to a broad range of PDRA experiences.