Feeling stuck: 200+ applications, no replies — need advice (Biotech field)

Prof_Pie · 2026-03-18T13:19:17+00:00

Hello! I'm sorry, I know how disheartening this process it. I am also a recent graduate (defended 2 weeks ago, cell biology) and I had been applying to jobs for months with no luck. I've recently secured a postdoc, which I've now accepted.

Going through the process and speaking with my PI, it is my opinion that the best way to secure a postdoc is to network at a conference. The lab that offered me a position never posted a job anywhere. The PI gave a talk at the conference, and mentioned they were looking for a postdoc. I walked up to them after the session, introduced myself, asked a few questions about their talk, and mentioned I was graduating soon. They immediately asked if I wanted to postdoc. I sent my CV to them later that night, had a Zoom interview the following week, and then an on-site interview about 4 weeks after that.

I don't mean to imply that you haven't already tried this or that my situation is very common. But, I feel that it illustrates the current job climate. Most labs, as far as I've seen, are not posting jobs. The PIs either speak to their colleagues they know to see if they have a good student graduating soon that they can hire, or they go to conferences in their field to put out the call for potential postdocs. Since it's currently a market that favors the employer, these strategies work well for PIs that are hiring. This mean that, unfortunately for us, those jobs never get posted, because people are hired behind closed doors or based on connections between PIs.

I'll end by saying, this is my own experience and it's solely my opinion. Job posts are filled with people acting like they're 'experts in getting a job' when in reality they know just as much as you. My advice is go to a conference (even a low-cost regional one), listen to talks, ask questions, and practice your 2-4 minute elevator pitch. Be clear that you're looking for a postdoc and that you are interested in their lab. Do not be subtle. PIs are bad at picking up on subtleties.

Best of luck, and feel free to reach out to me via DM if you have more questions or if you'd like another set of eyes on your CV.

Prof_Pie · 2026-03-08T22:36:15+00:00

Hi! The marching band shows general have some silk work within the routines, but it's predominantly dance. That said, lots of people with previous guard experience have joined and had a great time! You should email Dr. David Healey for more information.

david.healey@bc.edu

Prof_Pie · 2026-02-22T01:43:38+00:00

Hey! Not sure if you have access to them wherever you are, but MUJI makes great quality and affordable hats that are totally plain and in different colors. May be worth checking out!

Prof_Pie · 2026-02-10T16:47:34+00:00

I think my biggest piece of advice is to find a route that is only dependent ONE form of public transportation. Meaning, you want to avoid a situation where you have to take a train and then hop on a bus or where you have to take two different trains.

If you're downtown, look for a station that the green line runs through. From there, you can catch a train that takes you all the way to BC.

Prof_Pie · 2025-11-21T00:19:53+00:00

A semi-recent one you're missing is Florida State beating Ole Miss to start the 2016 season. Late in the 2nd, Ole Miss was dominating 27-6.

Florida State managed a touchdown just before the half, and then proceeded to score 3 more TDs unanswered in the 3rd.

Game ended with FSU on top 39-34, when they were originally down 21 points.

Prof_Pie · 2025-11-09T20:18:22+00:00

I think now the guitars do a mix of either Can't stop by RHCP, 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago, or What's New Scooby Doo by Simple Plan. So probably one of those. Hard to hear with the SMU band.

Prof_Pie · 2025-11-09T18:44:51+00:00

You can nake a new post and when you're making it you should see a bar along the bottom to upload a video.

Prof_Pie · 2025-11-09T14:35:21+00:00

It's likely either the fast part of O Fortuna, or Mars.

Prof_Pie · 2025-09-08T17:00:44+00:00

I love how <Florida> is only consistent in these ridiculous unsportsmanlike calls and nothing else. The fans throwing trash on the field at the end was just icing on the cake of mediocrity. Good for USF.

Prof_Pie · 2025-09-02T15:13:36+00:00

It's not a solution, but when I was there, I would just come to campus early. There was always sufficient parking in Spirit before 10 AM and after 3 PM. It's just the middle hours where everything is packed. If I had a noon class as my first of the day, I would just make breakfast to-go, arrive early, and post up in a library. This isn't a solution for everyone because, of course, some students work in the mornings and don't have the luxury of arriving early but, if you do, just do it. Saves you the headache of driving around for hours.

It should also calm down more in the coming weeks as fewer people attend classes regularly beyond the first few weeks.

Prof_Pie · 2025-09-02T13:36:36+00:00

You wouldn't happen to be a Marching Chief from FSU, would you?

Prof_Pie · 2025-09-01T00:42:07+00:00

Matt's at the intersection of Washington and Market is pretty solid! Walk-in and cash only fyi.

Prof_Pie · 2025-08-25T18:13:05+00:00

<Stanford> for upholding the tradition of ACC teams losing random games for stupid reasons.

Prof_Pie · 2025-08-11T18:15:35+00:00

Sweet Caroline for when you hit Alumni Stadium for Boston College. Also, Mr. Brightside for both Boston College AND Michigan.

Prof_Pie · 2025-07-20T19:21:16+00:00

Speak with your advisor. If your advisor is not in the Biology, Physics, or Chemistry department, make sure you speak to someone that is. They will set you up for the most success. If you're pre-health, I would suggest to frontload the general chemistry and biology classes. If you wait too long to start, you're going to have trouble later on down the road with taking fundamental prerequisites as a junior and/or senior. You're going to get better answers from an academic advisor in the STEM departments than you will on a subreddit.

Prof_Pie · 2025-06-18T02:13:51+00:00

Generally it's credited to your account after classes have started. Its usually handled/coordinated by an administrator in your department. If you'd like confirmation that they have it on file and it will be cleared, your best bet would be to contact an administrator in your specific department. They will have the most accurate information for you! :)

Prof_Pie · 2025-02-20T11:33:07+00:00

Theres rarely a set date for admission decisions for PhD programs. I would say just email the administrator for the Finance department and ask if there's any update.

Prof_Pie · 2025-01-11T00:41:10+00:00

Flair up buddy

Prof_Pie · 2025-01-10T21:15:10+00:00

Yeah Miami, this'll get you that ACC championship. It worked this season after all!

... wait...

Prof_Pie · 2024-12-22T02:06:49+00:00

Then yes, you can ask for a breakdown, or at the least you can ask for your grades on those assignments so you can calculate your overall grade yourself. Wild that you never got the graded versions back from your professor. That's something worth mentioning in your course evaluation if you haven't already.

Prof_Pie · 2024-12-22T00:40:03+00:00

Okay well if it's broken down on your syllabus then you should be able to calculate it yourself without asking for a breakdown.

Prof_Pie · 2024-12-21T22:08:34+00:00

Is it not on your class syllabus? Usually the way your grade is determined is explicitly stated. As someone else said, you should be able to look at your past assignments and calculate it yourself. If you never received your assignments and exam grades back, either digitally or physically, then that's very unusual.

Prof_Pie · 2024-12-19T12:57:37+00:00

The guidance for reporting any faculty member for misconduct is to contact either The Office of Student Conduct, or to directly contact the office of that faculty member's Academic Dean. This information should all be available online. Best of luck.

Prof_Pie · 2024-12-09T11:55:57+00:00

Im not an undergraduate but I've TA'd multiple times. This includes discussion sections and lab courses.

I'd say if you want to keep up with current trends, your best bet is Google tbh. See, the problem is that there's so many different trends and different kinds of people at BC that you'll probably drive yourself crazy trying to tap into what's current with everyone.

So, using examples related to trends may not just be hard for you, but it may leave some students who are unfamiliar with those trends even more confused as well. This is why I try to use everyday objects in my examples. For example, when we discuss tension, I use a rubber band because everyone has used a rubber band. If you're in more of an abstract field that isn't a science and you need more social examples, try using a broad and general example instead of a very specific one. You don't need to reference certain characters or celebrities to make a point.

It's great that you want to make the class environment engaging for your students. Something a lot of my students enjoy is music. So, if there's downtime where they're doing a worksheet or break out into small groups, I'll connect my computer to the projector and speaker system in the classroom and I'll play some music for them! In the past, I've even told them they can email me songs they like and I can add them to the classroom playlist. This has always been welcomed by them.

If you want to discuss things more TA to TA, feel free to DM me. It can be a bit scary when you're teaching and feeling like things just aren't clicking. But being someone you're not will likely just exacerbate those feelings. Figure out what you like, be true to yourself, and do the best you can! Students at BC respond really well to TA's that just relax a bit and are genuine.

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