This newsletter is typically distributed the last Thursday of the month and contains a variety of resources, links, and reflections on graduate-level career & professional development, higher education, and an occasional detour into neuroscience topics, the area I formally trained in as a graduate student and postdoc.
Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. It’s changing our personalities, our politics, and even our relationship to reality.
In this fantastic read from The Atlantic and the always thoughtful and articulate Derek Thompson he shares a variety of findings that show how many people in the US are spending increasing time alone and detached from others that aren't in our immediate family/friend circle of online "tribe". This has disastrous consequences for our mental health and society.
This study finds that publishing highly impactful publications as a postdoc is associated with an increased likelihood of remaining in academia relative to publications as a graduate student. The researchers also investigated the effect of individuals broadening their area of focus from Ph.D. to postdoc and changing institutions on future productivity metrics as a faculty member.
If you are a graduate student, postdoc, or advanced degree holder looking for a job, I highly recommend the Propelling Careers Podcast from life science recruiter Lauren Celano and Harvard Medical School postdoc office director Jim Gould. There are over 40 episodes to explore on topics like career exploration, networking, interviews, engaging with recruiters, and more.
Programs Worth Promoting
National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Programming & Resources
The NPA's SmartSkills program returns in 2025 featuring webinars on a variety of topics related to postdocs' career and professional development and well-being. Upcoming workshops include:
Applying a Project Management Lens to Your Job Search – February 25 Designing Your Life in the United States – March 25 Demystifying the NIH Grants Process – April 22 Surviving and Thriving in the First Year as a Faculty Member – May 27
Explore past SmartSkills recordings and other NPA workshop programming in their Webinar Archive.
And check out the NPA's Resource Library for more guides and resources including a guide to the postdoc timeline, mentoring, and more.
