Postdoc Labor Love

I look back fondly on my years as a postdoctoral fellow (1993–1995) as a period of heightened intellectual growth, clarity and optimism. After 5 years as a PhD student, I was finally set free to explore ideas more of my own creation, to start from scratch a new research project but this time with greater wisdom, experience and vision than was possible as a dazed and confused first-year graduate student. It was a field test of the mind of a newly minted PhD, and a chance to stretch that mind in new directions. I didn’t choose a postdoctoral position for any reason other than to learn a different and, to me, exciting area of science. Back then, many chemists found career-propelling jobs right out of graduate school—in industry, policy or consulting, and sometimes even in academia. Unlike those more-focused peers, I was not ready to commit to a permanent job. The postdoctoral position offered me a continuing education of sorts, perfect for those of us still trying to find our path and develop additional skills for a future not yet written. Others chose postdoctoral positions to hone a new craft tailored for a specific career pursuit. But no matter the motivation, the postdoc seemed optional, and clearly oriented toward training. Likewise, we were paid a fraction of the salaries our peers with real jobs enjoyed, and our term, at least for chemists, was never meant to exceed 2 years