Demystifying the postdoctoral experience: A guide for applicants Journal Article

  


Authors: Forand, Nicholas R.; Applebaum, Allison J.
Article Title: Demystifying the postdoctoral experience: A guide for applicants
Abstract: Applying for internship is a structured, organized process, with many resources available for applicants. In contrast, applying for a postdoctoral position is chaotic. Individual training goals, sites, applications, and responsibilities are heterogeneous and applicants are generally offered little formal guidance. As we navigated the process a year ago, we encountered many unexpected challenges, and often wished for better resources and advice. These experiences inspired us to write this article. A postdoc is a temporary position in which an individual with a doctoral degree obtains mentored training intended to enhance professional skills. It is often an ideal way to obtain the experience necessary to achieve one's career goals, and it has become a popular route for recently graduated psychologists. These are just two of the issues postdoctoral applicants encounter. This piece offers information and guidance for each step of the postdoctoral process. Our focus is on general research and clinical positions, broadly defined. Specific specialties, such as clinical neuropsychology, have their own standards for postdoctoral training, but this is out of the scope of the current article. Our first question for current and former postdocs asked why they pursued a postdoctoral position. Perhaps the most common response, across both research and clinically oriented postdocs, was to acquire supervised hours and experience for licensure. Finally, for all, a postdoc is a stepping stone to a more secure position; it is a period of transition, of becoming a professional in the field. Whether that means securing a license and going on to a clinical practice, or writing one's first grant and demonstrating one's ability as an independent researcher, the postdoctoral years represent a transitional state. And like all periods of transition, it can be challenging. However, once the transition is complete, the rewards are often worth the struggle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved).
Keywords: postdoctoral experience; postdoctoral position; medical internship; postdoctoral training; graduated psychologists
Journal Title: The Behavior Therapist
Volume: 34
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0278-8403
Publisher: Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Us  
Date Published: 2011-06-01
Start Page: 80,82
End Page: 86
Language: English
PROVIDER: Ovid Technologies
ACCESSION: Peer Reviewed Journal: 2011-17203-002
PROVIDER: psycinfo
DOI/URL:

http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=fulltext&D=psyc7&AN=2011-17203-002
Notes: --- - References - "Source: PsycINFO"