​(3/4) Navigating the world of science research, a four part interview series.

Interview and Words by Jenny Schneider.
Edited by Jessica Sharrock

A conversation with Dr. Sumru Bayin, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York. See part one and part two here.

PART 3: POSTDOC LIFE
JS: Did you consider doing a postdoc outside of the US?
SB: I did and I decided against it. People might disagree, but my personal perception is that once you get out of the US-science-niche it is very hard to get back in. A postdoc is the time to set up your network and create connections, whatever your future career may be. Since I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in the US long-term, I decided a postdoc in the US would keep the doors open.

JS: Did you consider doing a postdoc outside of academia?
SB: I did, though I considered it a bit too late. Industry postdoc applications usually have specific timelines (unlike academia). If I could do something differently, I would definitely look more thoroughly into industry postdocs. There are great programs (e.g. Novartis, Regeneron, and Genentech) in industry labs run by very successful PIs. Talk to people and ask questions about the lab publication record and get a feel regarding the level of autonomy you may have, if that is something that is important to you.

JS: How did you go about the process of looking for a postdoc? When did you start and what were your first steps?
SB: I started looking about a year before my graduation. Since positions at high profile labs get filled fast, it is good to apply about a year in advance, or at least send “feelers” out to the PI at that point.
I started searching for labs by reading papers and marking names of PIs whose research I was interested in, I also consulted my PhD committee members about my interests and asked their advice. I looked for open postdoc positions through Nature Jobs and I did get a few interviews from there, but the most successful applications came from personal e-mails I sent without knowing if they had a vacancy or not.
I think the e-mail you send to the PI makes a huge difference. Keep it concise and make it personal, don’t copy-paste a template. I stated why I was interested specifically in their lab as well as my general scientific interests. I attached my CV, references, and a short cover letter detailing my previous experience. I would suggest going to interviews even if it is not in your dream lab or subject, you never know what the lab really does and what the future projects will be until you talk to the PI.

JS: What are the most important questions to ask during the interview?
SB: We tend to focus on the fact that we are being interviewed by the PI and the lab, but it is also important to remember that a big part of the process is you interviewing them. Consider your future goals and ask how supportive your mentor will be with your career aspirations.
For me, it was important to ask if the PI assigns more than one person on a project as a competitive move- it’s a hard question to ask but it was a deal breaker for me. The second question I asked was can I take my project with me when I leave to start my own lab. This conversation needs to be established from day one if opening your own lab is in your thoughts.

JS: How did you pick your postdoc lab?
SB: More than my interest in the research subject, I looked into what I can learn from the lab, technique- and methodology-wise. I wanted to do something different to my PhD to develop new skills and get out of my comfort zone.

JS: Did you encounter any bureaucratic challenges in your transition from your PhD to your Postdoc institute?
SB: If you do your PhD in the United States, this transition is very structured and the school will usually guide you through your transition from an F1 visa to an OPT visa. However, you should definitely be aware of the process and monitor it to make sure everything is being done according to plan.

JS: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between being a grad student and being a postdoc?
SB: The scale of responsibility! In grad school your mistakes are allowed. The expectations are high but when you do well the level of praise is commensurate. As a postdoc, even if you accomplish something very challenging it is usually met with… “Yeah, it’s your job”. You are expected to take charge which is not a bad thing, it is just an adjustment.
The relationship between you and your PI is extremely important (even more so than during your PhD). The success of your postdoc can definitely rely on the strength of your relationship with your PI because you don’t have the backing of grad school and your committee anymore. I am lucky that I have a great relationship with my PI but I can see with others how easily you can get lost in your postdoc without the proper support. 
On that note, when you apply for postdocs try to pick institutions that have a strong postdoctoral associations and administrative support for postdocs. Though in most cases things work out well, it is good to have backup and people to turn to if things get rough. Both my PhD and postdoc institutes (NYU and Memorial Sloan Kettering respectively) have a strong institutional support system for postdocs.

JS: Did you have any expectations from a postdoc and were they met?
SB: I had fairly realistic expectations, so the day-to-day life in the lab was what I expected. I also came from a lab where I was very independent and I had a lot of responsibility; in a way I was trained well for the postdoc. That said, I left my PhD program knowing everything there was to know about my work and my lab, and I entered my postdoc lab not knowing anything. Despite my independence and training, it caught me off guard but you get over it very quickly; it is part of the learning curve in any new job.
Also, I did not expect that I would be poorer than I was in grad school (says jokingly). You definitely don’t starve and your overall quality of life is higher, but your net salary after taxes, rent, and bills is slightly lower. This is also partially because we live in NYC where everything is more expensive. Lastly, one of the major adjustments for me was the social aspect. In grad school, you have classes and plenty of socializing opportunities within reach. As a postdoc, you go straight to the lab in a completely new institute where in most cases you know no one. I found it a bit difficult to make friends and build a community like the one I had at NYU during my PhD. MSK specifically has a slightly more “distant” feel to it since it is not a university environment. If you are the type of person who feeds off of other people’s energy, you should consider the overall dynamics and culture of the institute when deciding to join a lab.

JS: If you sum up your postdoc experience so far, what is the best and worst part about it?
SB: The best part is the science; I love what I do. My mentor knows my career goals and she is doing her best to prepare me for the next steps in my career. We have mentoring discussions that are preparing me and I appreciate that.
The worst part is the overall struggle of figuring out what I want to do next. Up until now it was fairly set, finish a PhD and start a postdoc. Once you get to the postdoc part questions start arising: Academia or not academia? If academia, what am I going to work on in my own lab? How am I going to handle it all? Even knowing I had years to think about it during my postdoc, I had those thoughts and questions about my next steps from day one; it is definitely a stress I put on myself.

Join us next week for Part 4, when Dr. Bayin will give us some tips and advice about being a graduate student and postdoc in the US.