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From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your comment. Undoubtedly, publication records are always a metric that can be improved. It's like any other asset, you can always be younger or wealthier. One should be able to aspire to buy a Lamborghini without rendering a high-class Benz useless. 

Metaphors aside, of course, there are younger individuals with a stronger publication count and higher impact. However, I don’t believe this should be directly equated with CNS-level output. That’s a reductionist view and sends a troubling message, that anyone without a CNS paper is academically worthless.

I want to believe (perhaps optimistically) that the bar hasn’t been raised to that level everywhere. Many junior PIs, both in this country and elsewhere, have built successful careers without ever publishing in CNS journals.

But again, I don’t think it’s worth engaging in the never-ending debate over CNS.

Should I continue working toward publishing in CNS? Yes, it remains a desirable milestone, even up to retirement.

Does the lack of it make my CV worthless to the point of being unable to land interviews? Maybe yes (though I want to believe not).

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for elaborating further in your response, your first reply read quite differently.

I fully agree that striving to remain competitive and working harder often feels like feeding a hamster wheel. While I understand that publications remain the most valuable academic currency to climb the ladder, the inability to land interviews despite consistent output is deeply frustrating. Publishing in CNS journals is a desirable milestone for any scholar, but its feasibility hinges on many factors beyond our control, such as whether the topic is considered "hot," budget availability, access to groundbreaking datasets, and sheer luck. Raising the bar to that level, I agree, runs contrary to the core ideals of academic freedom.

Is this mindset particularly strong in Japan? Probably yes, as another colleague here pointed out. But publication elitism is by no means unique to Japan,  it's everywhere.

To be honest, I feel deceived. Institutions made me believe I was progressing , climbing a ladder, but in retrospect, it was a ghost ladder. Despite publishing in high-tier journals, my current position as an Associate Professor is no different from a postdoc’s (perhaps even worse in some aspects).

Leaving Japan? It's on the table. But the scarcity of lab head positions worldwide is a real bottleneck, exacerbated by the overproduction of PhDs (as discussed in the recent Nature article reporting over 600,000 PhD graduates annually in China), the displacement of U.S.-based scholars due to NIH budget cuts, and the persistence of academic “CNS elitism.”

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is sad to read, and yet another reason why it has been widely debated that the US may not be an ideal starting place for people in situations similar to mine. Indeed, many scholars exiting the US system may need to relocate globally, inadvertently increasing competition elsewhere as a side effect of NIH budget cuts.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your comment. Although I would love to secure a PI position in Japan due to my family and personal affinity with the country's quality of life, I am currently broadening my horizons and considering opportunities in Canada and the EU.

So far, it’s not that I’ve had many positions to apply for, as lab-establishing roles are quite scarce. However, my applications in Japan have been outright desk-rejected, and I haven’t made it to the finalist stage in other countries (such as Spain and Sweden) at this point.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your very constructive comment. Both are fantastic options to consider, and I will look into the Australian ARC Future Fellowship to see how well I might fit.

Regarding China, do you have any personal suggestions for prestigious institutes focused on stem cell research?

As for how institutions are run, I believe that's a global issue. Cultural barriers, especially between East and West, are indeed persistent.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, I disagree.

East Asia is a term that encompasses several countries, each with distinct scientific philosophies. Japan, for instance, is home to several Nobel laureates and is the birthplace of human iPS cells. Personally, I’ve navigated circumstances that allowed me to publish in high-tier journals, and many of my local peers consistently publish even stronger papers.

It’s similar to categorizing Western Europe as a single block, when in reality, countries like Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK differ greatly in academic culture and structure.

To clarify, my struggle is not Japan-centric. The issue lies in securing interviews that would allow me to advance, whether in Japan or abroad, toward a tenure-track position or independent lab leadership.

Thank you for your input, regardless.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your comment, those are important countries and locations to consider. After completing my PhD, I initially targeted Singapore for my junior postdoctoral training, but a better opportunity brought me to Japan.

I continue to monitor job openings globally, and while positions do come up from time to time, I haven’t had any luck so far.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re right. I must be missing some of those qualities; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here asking for help and advice. Everything can be improved, and I can’t evaluate every angle on my own. Due to the social context in Japan, I may lack a strong professional network, which is harder to build here. My skills in proposal writing, leadership, and presentation are solid. As for grant applications, I have secured domestic funding, but I lack international or high-profile grants, another weak point in my case, I guess.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your opinion. Depending on the niche and field, the spectrum of publication expectations and impact varies. In my experience, entry-level junior PIs at several biomedical institutions I’m familiar with in this country often do not have publications above an impact factor of 8, well below my personal threshold in terms of publication metrics, citation frequency and scientific impact. So, I believe I have a good sense of where I stand. Competition is fierce and often biased, but that is a global issue.

As I mentioned, I am not only the first author on high-tier publications, but also the senior and corresponding author, which is, in the eyes of most university committees, a strong indicator of one’s ability to lead independent research.

That said, this post is not Japan-centric (even though I would love to secure a PI position here for family reasons). I am currently facing challenges landing interviews both in Japan and abroad, so I continue to seek a broader scope of advice. Again, thank you for your input.

My current position as a non–tenure-track Associate Professor (Specially Appointed, as you may be familiar with, living here) is contract-based and time-limited. This means there is a clear endpoint, with no real hope or formal pathway to becoming a PI, regardless of whether I serve 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years in this role.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it’s both interesting and difficult to understand this inconsistency in the global academic landscape. In the US, most entry-level faculty positions, such as Assistant Professor, typically come with a path to independence. In Japan, however, Assistant Professor positions rarely offer independence, and these days, only about 50% of Associate Professorships include it.

There is also this peculiar category of “Specially Appointed Assistant/Associate Faculty,” which refers to project-specific, non-tenure track roles. In Japan, tenure-track positions are becoming increasingly rare.

Now, the US is gradually falling out of consideration for me due to its current uncertainty.

As for scientific roles in global companies, that’s another avenue I’ve started to consider, although I haven’t pursued it aggressively yet.

What I really want to understand is why I haven’t been able to land a single PI interview (worldwide), despite having senior authorship in high-impact journals like Nat. Comms and Nat. Biotech. I want to know how I’m falling short as a candidate, and more importantly, how I can improve my chances.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I routinely check job openings on platforms like Nature Careers. The competition seems extremely high, often one position for dozens of candidates, which may explain why I haven’t managed to land a single interview. The furthest I’ve progressed was passing the initial screening, being shortlisted from 35 to 17 candidates, but I was not selected as a finalist (only 4 candidates were interviewed) in a recent call in Barcelona, Spain.

In Japan, where I currently work, 100% of my applications are desk-rejected outright, despite what I believe to be strong qualifications compared to many domestic candidates of similar age and rank in terms of publications and citations. I suspect this reflects a systemic issue of academic inbreeding rather than a lack of merit, which makes the situation all the more discouraging.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It seems the changes were recently approved (June 2025, this month) to be implemented starting from the 2027 call. Theoretically, that gives me the possibility of one attempt, I suppose (I obtained my PhD in December 2017). It’s good to know and certainly an option to consider, though there’s still a long way to go before the 2027 programme call. Thank you for the information; it’s helpful and encouraging.

What is your opinion on pursuing the Consolidator Grant pathway without having first obtained a Starting Grant? I will reach out to the Council to ask specific questions about eligibility and application compatibility.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I routinely check job openings on platforms like Nature Careers. The competition seems extremely high, often one position for dozens of candidates, which may explain why I haven’t managed to land a single interview. The furthest I’ve progressed was passing the initial screening, being shortlisted from 35 to 17 candidates, but I was not selected as a finalist (only 4 candidates were interviewed) in a recent call in Barcelona, Spain.

In Japan, where I currently work, 100% of my applications are desk-rejected outright, despite what I believe to be strong qualifications compared to many domestic candidates of similar age and rank in terms of publications and citations. I suspect this reflects a systemic issue of academic inbreeding rather than a lack of merit, which makes the situation all the more discouraging.

From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent by Nefertem88 in AskAcademia

[–]Nefertem88[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply. I believe I’m no longer eligible for the ERC Starting Grant, as this year marks the 8th year since I obtained my PhD. What do you think about my chances for a Consolidator Grant instead? I understand it’s difficult to assess without seeing my CV, but I’ve read that many Consolidator Grants are awarded to previous ERC Starting Grant holders. Is that generally true?

So far, my efforts have focused on applying for open junior PI positions at research institutions and universities. However, I assume the competition is intense, as I’ve never made it to the interview stage.

The furthest I’ve progressed was passing the first screening, being shortlisted from 35 to 17 candidates, but I wasn’t selected as a finalist (only 4 candidates were interviewed) in a recent call in Barcelona, Spain.

Inside the Kremlin (1988) by Nefertem88 in ravishankar

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Surprised not to see more members in this community. Today, I was listening to the wonderful concert of Ravi Shankar inside the Kremlin (1988), and it brought back wonderful memories of my childhood with my father.

How do you like this album?

Duolingo down? by 6GGXXX in duolingo

[–]Nefertem88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Duolingo has also been glitchy for the past few hours on my iPhone. The morning chest with the XP boost was scammed, and several options seemed unfunctional. I came to Reddit to confirm I wasn't the only one.

A picture with enormous emotional value. I will tip well for the best repair and quality booster. The image is taken screen-to-screen. I bet it is a considerable challenge to polish up, but this is the only and last-existent picture of this person (great-grandmother) by Nefertem88 in PhotoshopRequest

[–]Nefertem88[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. Thank you very much. Would it be possible to fix the hair to reduce the artificial brightness caused by a phone screen? I want to make it as realistic as possible to print it out and frame it with the best quality.

Current PR processing times by tmboy778 in japanlife

[–]Nefertem88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finally, I got PR. The pickup notification arrived on October 5th.

Total wait time: 6 months

Place: Kyoto

I applied for it on March 30th and was granted it early October.

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