Research Discussions

Unveiling the role of a Post-Doctoral Researcher

As the name suggests post-doctoral research is an academic research conducted by those who have completed their PhD degree or doctorate degree. The sole purpose of doing post-doctoral research is to further deepen expertise in a subject in which you have earned a doctoral degree. This helps scholars in acquiring new skills and learning new methods.

Though the post-doctoral researchers are trainees working in an apprenticeship mode but the mentoring provided to them by the faculty mentor is critical for the career development of the researcher. Apart from all this, post-doctoral researchers have to hold certain responsibilities.

Some of the responsibilities that post-doctoral researchers are expected to perform include the following:

1. Take primary responsibility for the growth of his or her research and career.
2. Post-doctoral researchers are expected to play an active role in seeking research advice, both from the faculty supervisor and from other faculty members.
3. Post-doctoral researchers need to perform the research required by the faculty supervisor to a high standard and it should be in accordance with the regulations of the institution.
4. Participate actively in the post-doctoral career development program and annual review process.
5. Post-doctoral research should cooperate with the faculty supervisor and other co-workers in order to get the research work done.

A post-doctoral researcher should talk to his or her senior and offer to help in as many ways as possible, for example with writing, budgeting, lab management, reviewing papers and mentoring students. These skills will help researchers in honing their academic careers.