Do You Need A Postdoc To Work In Industry?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do you need a postdoc to work in industry? Even if the job posting says “postdoc experience required,” it is often not required. Many new PhD graduates and master’s degree graduates are hired into these “postdoc required” roles.

A postdoc is not required for an industry job

. It won’t help you get an industry job or higher-tier job in industry.

Can you skip postdoc?


The NIH has a program that allows exceptional junior scientists to bypass the postdoc and go straight to an independent academic position

. Supported by the NIH Common Fund, recipients receive up to $250,000 in direct costs each year for up to 5 years.

Can you go to industry after postdoc?

Why Postdocs Get Stuck In Academia.

Having a PhD doesn’t entitle you to an industry position

. Moreover, doing a postdoc can actually prevent you from getting a good industry job. PhDs do not have access to the education, knowledge, and experience required to obtain industry jobs right after graduation.

Is it worth doing a postdoc?

Do industry postdocs pay more?

Most industry postdocs are considered company employees and thus have a competitive salary and benefits package;

industry postdocs typically pay about 20% more than academic postdocs

. Some companies also offer relocation benefits, annual bonuses, and retirement matching for their postdocs.

Why is postdoc necessary?

A postdoc is generally a short-term research position that provides further training in a particular field, and for individuals planning research careers in academia, government, or industry, the postdoc years can be an opportunity to develop independence, hone technical skills, and focus research interests.

Why is post doc needed?

In many fields, a postdoc is the de facto next step on the academic career path after earning a PhD (hence the name.) A postdoc is a temporary position that

allows a PhD to continue their training as a researcher and gain skills and experience that will prepare them for their academic career

.

Why postdoc salary is so low?

It’s simple economics.

The supply of postdocs in academia far exceeds the demand for them

. This makes postdocs essentially worthless in academia.

How stressful is postdoc?

There is little doubt, though, that being a postdoc is stressful.

Most postdocs work extremely hard, often for long hours and at low pay

. Faced with the pressures of work, they may not take time for healthy diversions and exercise, which could help mitigate stress and reduce its health effects.

Is it better to work in industry or academia?

ACADEMIA INDUSTRY Pay is Typically Less Average Pay is More

Why you shouldn’t do a postdoc?

You shouldn’t do any postdoc or internship because

an academic postdoc, industry postdoc or internship won’t increase your hireability

, as an industry postdoc you will be paid less than a regular industry employee, industry postdocs are not considered full employees and this has consequences, you are just avoiding the …

How much is a postdoc salary?

The salaries of Postdocs in the US range from

$16,830 to $150,830

, with a median salary of $70,960 . The middle 60% of Postdocs makes between $70,960 and $95,900, with the top 80% making $150,830.

How do I get an industry postdoc?

  1. Develop Your Network. …
  2. Look at Job Boards and Journals for Postings. …
  3. Tailor Your Application Materials to the Job Posting. …
  4. Prepare for the Interview.

Is Post Doc easier than PhD?

These days “postdoc” simply means a research position that is not permanent or indefinite (e.g. tenure track).

It is far, far easier to land (yet another) postdoc than a permanent position

. This applies to the fields I’m familiar with (mostly sciences).

Do you need a postdoc to become a professor?


You’ll likely need to do a postdoc if you want to land a faculty job

. But for most jobs outside of the professorate, that’s not the case; your academic credentials will be enough by the time you graduate with a Ph. D.

Is postdoc more important than PhD?

For life sciences,

the post-doc is given much more importance than grad school

, and no one will care about where you did your PhD if you have strong post-doc publications.

Are postdoc positions hard to get?


There is stiff competition for jobs

. Most physics PhDs do not get postdoc jobs. Many get industry jobs, which are often higher paying. Other fields have even more competition.

Can you do a postdoc without a PhD?

As an aside,

by definition you cannot hold a postdoctoral position without having a doctorate

. The term literally means “after doctorate” and therefore requiress first gaining a doctorate. Any position you hold before obtaining a doctorate is by definition a pre-doctoral position.

How long should you be a postdoc?

HOW MUCH DO Harvard postdocs make?

Postdoctoral Fellows

The Harvard Chan School voted to raise the minimum annual postdoctoral fellow salary to

$55k

in November 2019, which officially went into effect for FY2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021).

Are postdocs still students?

(In particular,

they are university employees, and not students

.) They usually have (light to moderate) teaching duties, and often have official titles involving words like “lecturer”, “instructor” or “assistant professor”. Of course, they are still temporary positions of 1-4 years or so, and are not tenure track.

How many hours do postdocs work?

Postdoctoral researchers.

Also like PhD students, postdocs work long hours –

79% reported working more than 40 hours a week

, and 41% for more than five days a week.

What can I do after postdoc?

What is the difference between a postdoc and a fellow?

Simplifying further:

postdocs are funded on money awarded to someone else, whereas research fellows are funded using money they got for themselves

.

How can I be a good postdoc?

  1. Take ownership of your project. …
  2. Read broadly and learn more about research. …
  3. Learn how to train people. …
  4. Learn how to write scientific papers, and learn how to give scientific talks. …
  5. Position yourself to get good letters of reference. …
  6. Learn organisational skills.

Should I leave academia for industry?


Academia is not the best place for scientists who want to bring research from the lab into a viable product that can solve a real-world problem

. Academia might be good for training, but industry provides much more opportunity to get your research out of the lab and into real-world practice.

What profession is happiest?

  1. Teaching assistant. National average salary: $29,392 per year. …
  2. Early childhood education teacher. National average salary: $39,022 per year. …
  3. Sound engineering technician. National average salary: $40,254 per year. …
  4. Event planner. …
  5. Heavy equipment operator. …
  6. Contractor. …
  7. Recruiter. …
  8. Property manager.

Why do people move from academia to industry?

The change from academia to industry is

more in the way of working, thinking and style then the actual tasks you will do

. You may find that jobs in industry are not as narrowly and strictly defined as the projects and tasks you were doing in academia, and there will be a lot of flexibility to grow and change.

What is the postdoc trap?

How competitive are postdoc fellowships?

Are postdocs underpaid?

Postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) are highly educated researchers who have completed rigorous Ph. D. programs, but

they are often paid low wages and work long hours

. Some of these workers make an effective salary of less than $15 per hour despite 11 years or more of undergraduate and graduate education.

Which country has the highest postdoc salary?

Where do Harvard postdocs live?

Many FAS employeees and postdocs live in the neighborhoods closest to the Cambridge campus, namely

Cambridge, Arlington, Allston, Watertown, and Somerville

, but obviously cost and transportation are significant limiting factors.

Do I want to be a postdoc?

A postdoc does give you an opportunity to submit more publications and further develop and develop many skills that would be beneficial to an academic position. However,

you actually don’t need a postdoc for some professorial jobs if your experience and publication history match the institution’s needs

.

Do I need a post doc to become a professor?


You’ll likely need to do a postdoc if you want to land a faculty job

. But for most jobs outside of the professorate, that’s not the case; your academic credentials will be enough by the time you graduate with a Ph. D.

How do I refuse a postdoc offer?

  1. Be as prompt as possible with your answer. …
  2. Express gratitude for the opportunity, and acknowledge the time they spent reviewing your application materials and interviewing. …
  3. Offer a reason, but keep it simple. …
  4. Keep the line of communication open.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.