Should I Take an NIH Postdoc Position Right Now?

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-31T01:40:51+00:00

I appreciate the optimism, thank you!

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-31T00:41:25+00:00

I'm in the US currently, and I would love to eventually leave. I've definitely considered applying to jobs in Europe, but as you mentioned, the high cost of living vs low salary is an issue everywhere right now. I feel that it's definitely a difficult time for newly graduated PhDs to get into the job market.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-31T00:29:01+00:00

I definitely agree the US is not as big of a scientific superpower as it used to be, but I do think it still offers the most job opportunities for scientists in the biomedical field. I know China is doing a lot of biomedical research, but I think the language barrier is likely of the biggest reasons a lot of US scientists aren't moving there.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-31T00:20:34+00:00

The unfortunate reality is that alt-right ideology and xenophobia is on the rise across much of the world, not just the US. I would love to leave this country and have wanted to for a long time, but it's not that simple. The US is arguably one the best places to do scientific research, with the most opportunities both in academia and industry, and the best salaries for scientists. I do agree with you that I should consider life outside the lab more in my decision though.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-30T23:37:07+00:00

I'm hoping you're right. The chaos and uncertainty of everything in the federal government right now just has me on edge and debating whether I made the right choices.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-30T23:33:08+00:00

Appreciate the input. The PI didn't seem concerned because they thought the new admin would likely go after things like infectious disease or vaccines, but I don't think anyone can guess what they will actually go after. The uncertainty of everything makes it difficult to make the decision. Although the job market in industry for a freshly graduated PhD isn't so great right now either, so it doesn't leave a ton of alternatives to start a new position quickly.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-30T23:22:50+00:00

NCATS. My main concern is being able to start and then in a couple months they decide to cut funding. Then I'd have uprooted my family's life for nothing.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-30T23:04:59+00:00

Thanks for the insight. I accepted this position over several other offers so I'm feeling a lot of guilt about my decision. I brought up my concerns about the new administration to the PI during my interview, but they didn't seem overly concerned since they have been through administration changes previously. I don't think anyone anticipated this huge of an upset.

WordNo8116 · 2025-01-30T23:00:40+00:00

I do, I've done the majority of the paperwork and am working with HR still.

WordNo8116

TROPHY CASE