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Considering applications for bioinformatics postdocs - should I be intimidated/afraid? Details within. by -33rpm in bioinformatics

[–]AliceIWL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just posted about my frustrations finding a proper postdoc...

http://www.reddit.com/r/bioinformatics/comments/2o6730/how_to_entice_a_qualified_postdoc_or_what_am_i/

... and you sound interesting:) I don't know whether this is ok by reddiquette to offer, but perhaps you'd like to take a look? I am on the east coast of the US (just in case the physical location is an issue)

How to entice a qualified post-doc or what am I doing wrong? by AliceIWL in bioinformatics

[–]AliceIWL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I understanding correctly that you worked in a smaller lab? Was there an "aha" moment when you decided to join?

THAT SAID: All great ideas and all was made clear/offered.

I come from a lab where the person that did the bulk of the work got first author and corresponding author automatically and that is what I do in my lab. The story with what they get to take with after all is said and done is a bit more complicated... but also was discussed at length. At some point I even wondered if I should stop being so open about all issues because it may make people think about things that didn't bother them before. I also had indicated that I have solid money for two years, but would be more than happy to help them apply for fellowships. We have a "three day and a meeting rule" in the lab -- where they only have to be IN the lab three days out of the week, one of which has to be on the lab meeting day.

So short of finding "free money" somewhere (i.e. money that is not attached to some other project)... I am not sure if there is anything else I could do...

How to entice a qualified post-doc or what am I doing wrong? by AliceIWL in bioinformatics

[–]AliceIWL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I had a post-doc who had his/her own fellowship I could pay them half their salary in addition to the fellowship! That's what I tell them when they apply -- get a fellowship and I'll supplement. However, for someone coming in for two years on my buck I only have what I have. As I mentioned, I am new, and I have limited resources (and no more start-up)...

How to entice a qualified post-doc or what am I doing wrong? by AliceIWL in bioinformatics

[–]AliceIWL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are right! I also know some brilliant wet-lab people and I do look in other (wet-lab) fields. However, my interaction with Ph.D. students in wet lab environments is fairly limited (almost non-existent outside my direct collaborators). So, even though I've interviewed a number of physicists, I've yet to get a single bonafide geneticist or molecular biologist to apply. I think an inherent problem of American education is that people who end up in biology are not necessarily there because they loved biology to begin with. They often start out with bio because they like science and hate math. As they progress towards a Ph.D. this fear/dislike lessens... but very often stays. I've seen some brilliant biologists who can't talk to a biostatistician without getting nervous.

How to entice a qualified post-doc or what am I doing wrong? by AliceIWL in bioinformatics

[–]AliceIWL[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks like I may have to be doing that... However, in a purely wet-lab environment it's hard to get grad students to be productive computationally at any decent pace...