Dr. Fakhar Abbas (PhD, Hydraulics/Water Resources)’s Post

Throughout my career, I've encountered situations where postdoctoral research can be incredibly beneficial for those aiming to transition into industry. The key is to pursue a postdoctoral "project" that's inherently connected to industry needs from the outset. This means: + The research direction is agreed upon with industry partners + Funding often comes from industry sources, or if from academic budgets, the topic is validated by industry needs + Regular progress reports are made to industry representatives While this setup closely resembles a traditional postdoc, it offers unique advantages: Why would industry invest in a postdoc, given the higher cost compared to a PhD student? Flexibility: Companies can pivot research directions more easily with a postdoc if their interests or market needs change. This agility is often challenging with PhD projects, which typically have more rigid long-term goals. Why doesn't the company simply hire the postdoc directly? Resource optimization: Many companies lack the specialized equipment, facilities, or expertise required for early-stage research. Collaborating with academic groups allows them to progress through initial TRLs more efficiently. This model creates a win-win situation: ▪ Postdocs gain invaluable industry exposure and relevance ▪ Companies access cutting-edge research without the full overhead of in-house R&D ▪ Academic institutions strengthen industry partnerships I've personally encountered this situation firsthand. In the research group where I worked, we had postdocs collaborating on joint projects with industry partners. Later, when I transitioned to industry, I actively sought to adapt and implement this collaborative model.

I've been hearing this kind of alarmism since I was in high school and wanted to pursue a career in biology and, honestly, it makes me sick🤒 DO NOT PURSUE YOUR DREAMS, I REPEAT, DO NOT PURSUE YOUR DREAMS! SOMETHING TRAGIC WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DO!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🫨🫨🫨 - When I was in high school they told me that if I majored in biology my only career choice would be teaching or research, and that I would be poor in both cases. + Reality: only 2/60 of my uni classmates are teaching in high school, and they seem to be doing really well. The rest found jobs in all kinds of different fields: clinics, research, industry, sci comm... - When I was in uni they told me that I needed a GPA of 9/10 or more to do a PhD in my country, or otherwise I would have to emigrate. + Reality: I could do a PhD with a GPA of 8.3/10 fully funded by the Spanish ministry. Some of my friends have done the same with GPA of 7/10, and in general GPA has been a very poor predictor of PhD success. - When I was in my master's they told that I should go to industry right away. They told me that I would be "hyperspecialized" if I pursued a PhD and I'd have a hard time finding a job in a biotech or pharma. + Reality: most pharmas value PhDs above any other degree. A PhD teaches you project management, scientific writing, team work, time management, oral communication, etc, skills highly valued by any employer. On top of that, chances are that the specific skills that you learn in your PhD are easily transferable to an industry setting: bioinfo, genomics, pharmacology... - When I finally did my PhD everyone told me that a postdoc would be a waste of time, with similar arguments to all the points above. + Reality: a postdoc has been so far one of the most enriching experiences of my life: got to live in another country, met people from virtually every country and learnt a lot from their cultures. Science-wise I'm doing some of the most ambitious projects I ever dreamed of. And YES, I've been under a lot of stress at different periods of my career. I would probably be richer if I went into finance instead of biology. But guess what: I would do it all over again. This is purely my opinion, but biology is one of the safest careers of our time, and thus you should not play it safe. That's not to say that you shouldn't listen to this kind of advice, please do. Ultimately, however, your life is YOURS and nobody elses. Let fear not be a factor of what you want to do!

With my master’s thesis submitted, I am now embarking on the search for a PhD opportunity. What are the best places to explore in this pursuit? Should I reach out directly to leaders of research groups in my area of interest? I have spoken with others in similar situations, and some are still seeking positions years after completing their degrees. While looking for a PhD I have found several postdoctoral positions that correspond with my experience and knowledge that I have acquired in my current research group; however I find myself ineligible for these roles without a PhD. How can one advance in research without this qualification?

Benefits of PhD? As per my personal experience, these are some key benefits of doing a PhD on both personal and professional fronts. If you are missing on few of these points, I recommend you for an introspection of your PhD. 1. Intellectual Development: A PhD deepens your expertise in a specialized field and builds advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You possess enhanced research abilities, including experimental design, data analysis, and scholarly writing, which are highly desired for a number of high end public and private jobs. 2. Career Advancement: A PhD degree prepares you for scientifically advanced jobs including professor or scientist in academia and engineer, manager, researcher in industry. It is the stepping stone for providing access to roles in research and development (R&D) departments of companies and government agencies. Alternatively, a PhD degree also increases your opportunities for freelancing, consulting or policy making jobs. 3. Going Global: During a PhD, it is very common for scholars to have interactions and establish connections with experts, mentors, and peers across the globe. Presenting your research work at conferences, seminars, and workshops, provides opportunities to boost your visibility in the field. Such events also assist scholars to go global and look for job/collaboration/partnership in academia or industries around the world.     4. Personal Growth: Apart for professional developments, a PhD journey also fosters persistence, resilience and self-discipline in a scholar. It teaches independent thinking and resource management which are highly essential for personal growth. Apart from these, a PhD scholar also develops transferable skills such as work-life balance, meaningful writing, presentation and effective communication. 5. Financial Benefits and Recognition: It is very common that scholars receive monetary benefits in the form of grants, awards, or fellowships. In jobs, it has been observed that in certain fields, PhD holders are offered higher paying positions. Also, the society perceives PhD holder as an expert or authority in a niche area and they are highly regarded and recognized for their opinion. Please free to add your comment. #job #jobmarket #jobs #opportunity #hiring #open #PhD #PhDstudent #PhDlife #PhDadmission #market #advice #research #science #engineer #worklife #master #thesis #academia #work #life #comment #trend #university #rankings #IIT #jobmarket #tech #technology #science #engineering #admission #global #education #vacancy #hire #growth #share #reach #linkedin #fellowship #grant #award #nobelprize #nobel #benefit #career #growth #professional #data #analysis #communcation #writing #global #world #college #student #application #apply #india

I've been revisiting and introspecting on the need for postdoc and the value of it to oneself and to organisations if your path is beyond the bench. Growing up, I've always wanted to be an academic. It was a dream I had since I was 13. Fast forward more than 20 years later, I pivoted to a career off the bench. I often wonder if 2.5 years of postdoc was worth it. Perhaps what also matters if how potential employers may view this experience. In Singapore, many places do see it as irrelevant experience even in a science-based organisation - so it's important to really consider what opportunities does a postdoc open for you and what opportunities you may have lost. There's probably no one good answer, as a good scientist, perhaps it's worth the experimentation, just be sure to set a timeline to it. #careers #careersoffthebench #postdoc

PhD students from developing countries face significant barriers in accessing research funding, despite their potential to make valuable contributions to global knowledge. To address this inequity, funding organizations should adopt more inclusive selection criteria that recognize the challenges and limitations of research environments in these countries. By providing flexibility and support for remotely enrolled PhD students, we can promote diversity, equity, and excellence in research, and empower talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to achieve their full potential.

Before you start your Postdoc, consider these practical points. By understanding the importance of postdoctoral experience, you can better appreciate how it fits into your overall career and can help you to take decisions about doing a postdoc. 1. Identify if a postdoc is really necessary for your career goals. Many people pursue postdocs because it's a common path. If you want to become a professor or an investigator at a lab, postdoctoral experience is often required. For careers in industry, a postdoc may be beneficial for some positions but is not always necessary. 2. Select a research area slightly broader and different than your PhD. By doing so, you can develop a more comprehensive and adaptable skill set, increasing your chances of success in the competitive job market. 3. At this stage, you may have a family or be planning to start one, so it's important to create a clear future roadmap. Apply for jobs early to avoid the common challenge many postdocs face: being left without a job when their contract ends, which can lead to frustration and uncertainty. Also, be mindful of age limits for applying to Assistant Professor positions, as some opportunities may be missed if planning is not done in advance. 4. Remember that PhDs can also transition into industry roles. Postdoctoral positions are not compulsory for entering the industry. #postdoc #career #research

🔔 How and why to choose postdoctoral position Embarking on a postdoctoral position is a critical - and non-trivial - decision in a researcher's career. In most cases, the optimal pathway after PhD is the transition to industry where one can immediately translate the Ph.D skills to real world impact, often have much better work-life balance, and generally higher remuneration. However, there are scenarios where postdoctoral position is a right choice. 1. It can be a chance to expand your expertise, particularly in new and emerging fields. Imagine being postdoc with Jeffrey Hinton or Yann LeCun in 2010. 2. Statistically, postdoctoral position is required before landing the academic job. 3. It can also be a gateway to launching a career in a new country. 4. It also can be an intermediate step while looking for industry jobs - but that's the reason to start search early during Ph.D. stage. For any of these paths, it is very important to choose the position strategically - and be prepared for it. 1. Research Alignment: Your skills and interests should be in sync with the group's focus. Does the North Star of the lab align with your career aspirations? Are the resources sufficient to accomplish it? The expectation is that you'll contribute to the lab's basic operations while learning new skills. 2. Group Setting: Understand the nature of the postdoc role on a specific project or within specific group. Is it project-specific or broad, encompassing multiple methods and collaborations? For the case when the role is well defined (e.g. high-resolution EELS on NION STEM), confirm they align with your expertise and aspirations. For broader roles (synthesis and characterization of ferroelectric materials using combinatorial synthesis), evaluate if your core strengths match the initial responsibilities, while also offering learning opportunities in areas you wish to develop. 3. Mentorship Quality: The mentoring style of your supervisor can significantly influence your postdoc experience and future career. It is always a good idea to talk to current and past group members to find out the research environment within the group. How supportive is the advisor (and all the management minutiae), is there defined learning path, and so on. 4. Past history: The best way to estimate your perspectives is to look at the employment history of the lab alumni and publication history of the group. 5. Being prepared: there are typically multiple PD applications for the same position. It is crucial to first decide whether the position is the right match, can you succeed in it, does it bring you to your goal, and ensure that cover letter and interview reflects it. A postdoc can dramatically shape your research path and professional development. Choose a position that not only aligns with your current expertise but also pushes you towards the career you envision. #PostdoctoralJourney #ResearchCareer #CareerDevelopment #AcademicGrowth

PhD in academia and PhD in industry - What's the difference? In academia, a PhD is synonymous with education and growth, while in industry, it's all about getting the job done. This crucial difference necessitates unique hiring criteria for each domain. In industry, the ideal candidate should hit the ground running, requiring no extensive training or resources. They must immediately contribute value to the team. Conversely, in academia, a PhD signifies personal development in research settings, nurturing critical thinking, deep field knowledge, and communication skills. PhD students inherently demand significant time and resource investments. When hiring, focusing on a perfectly trained candidate is impractical. Instead, prioritize qualities like quick learning, openness to feedback, adaptability to new fields, effective communication, and teamwork. Acknowledging the educational essence of a PhD, it's time to shift focus from seeking perfection to nurturing learning abilities in candidates. Investing in students rather than criticizing them is key for their growth. This philosophy extends to postdocs as well. Remember, it's okay to have differing opinions on this matter. #university #PhD #research #scienceandtechnology

Are you interested in studying for a PhD in history or a related subject at a UK university? Join me for concrete weekly tips! This week: identifying potential supervisors. Start approaching prospective supervisors (if you haven't already) in the next few weeks with a draft proposal (see last week's tips) and a personalised email (more on that next week). Before that , try to identify 3-6 likely prospects. 1-2 is too few: there are lots of reasons people may not be able to say yes. More than 6 probably doesn't give you time to research properly then evaluate their responses. How to choose? - The supervisor's research should have a clear link to your project. They should usually address the same region, period and rough topic, or at least two out of those three. Without a strong match between supervisor and student research, your chances of getting funding will be very slim. - Very senior profs can be fantastic supervisors but don't discount more junior colleagues. They may not yet have the same prestige but may be a better fit and may have fewer PhD students already, so can be more involved in your project. Funding criteria in the UK mostly focus on the project and the fit between student and supervisor not the fame/prestige of the supervisor. - Look through potential supervisors' webpages, publications list and any relevant project websites. Ideally skim read a couple of their publications, unless you already know their work. Be prepared to say in your first email why you would like them to supervise you. ***** Every country's university system and PhD process is different and finding out about it from the outside can be difficult. I have 14+ years' experience working at top UK universities, supervise PhD students and have worked with brilliant international candidates to develop projects that have received funding (here or in North America). I want a more inclusive academy. That means sharing information that keeps doors closed. P.S. Please repost if you think you have connections who could benefit. P.P.S. I am not currently looking for PhD students and I do not offer any paid services to develop applications. These posts do not offer any guarantee of success. If you have any questions, drop them in comments or DM me! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm @RebeccaDarley and I'm a professional historian. I love coaching people writing their first history book and working with academics/researchers to edit or proofread books, articles and papers. If you think I could help, drop me a message! I also write a weekly newsletter about history, Coffee with Clio (https://buff.ly/4edTZcS). Subscribe to take a break, grab a coffee and get some perspective from the past. Slow down, think big!