Current Events > the postdoc exodus of 2022

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mExlPihH3jk

watched like 30 sec because of Malazan books
she has my support with whatever this is about, or not if it's a bad thing

Nearly 40 minute video

Anony1125 posted...

watched like 30 sec because of Malazan books
she has my support with whatever this is about, or not if it's a bad thing

you gonna watch more?

I always check out once I hear someone complain about making more than 45k

You don't need 40 minutes to explain that academia sucks from a career perspective.

COVxy posted...

You don't need 40 minutes to explain that academia sucks from a career perspective.

ah yes the whole "this is nothing different cause I didn't critically think about it!"
take

https://www.physiology.org/publications/news/the-physiologist-magazine/2023/january/where-are-all-the-postdocs?SSO=Y

Academic labs struggle to fill open postdoctoral positions, as more researchers choose different paths.
By Melanie Padgett Powers

We used to put out ads and then we would get a couple of applications and select a handful of applicants to invite for an interview. But, it turns out these days when we put out a call for applications, we dont get any viable applications, even from outside the United States, says Rahmouni, a professor of neuroscience and pharmacology whose lab researches the molecular and cellular processes that regulate autonomic, metabolic and cardiovascular functions.

She discussed this in like first 3 mins too

Uh, what? I don't disagree that
there's a postdoc crash, nor do I disagree with the fact that it's justified. I just think I spent too much time scrolling around in the video to see if she was saying anything different.

Like, academia is fucked, and the primary reason is the growing surplus of trainees with the stagnation of professorships. The surplus is more or less indespensible as productivity expectations have only increased over time, and so the problem is only getting worse and worse.

Saying this as a postdoc, going into academia is fucking stupid. The reward just isn't there, and the cost of taking on low paying temporary positions for a decade(s) takes a dramatic toll not only economically but mentally.

Realistically the only two solutions are:
1. Massive influx in funding towards basic research (pfft, yeah right)
Or
2. Massive regulation of trainees. Regulate the number of trainee slots each university gets on the basis of the projected job market.

1 would be great, but probably close to impossible. 2 would be a massive blow to productivity but then the norms would readjust. Could be good for science as a whole, it's probably moving a little too fast anyway. But definitely going to cause issues in equity.

The only way this country will work is if we all work our ass off for enough to buy gum and give ourselves to Jesus with guns

Yeah, I did two years of a life sciences PhD program but lost motivation and dropped out when I realized career prospects looked pretty bad for the level of commitment and time you have to devote to it.

Id only recommend doing it if you have a very strong interest/obsession with a very specific subject matter and know exactly what kind of lab you want to be in and can identify the school/researcher that has that sort of lab.

WingsOfGood posted...

https://www.physiology.org/publications/news/the-physiologist-magazine/2023/january/where-are-all-the-postdocs?SSO=Y

You should have started with that, instead of "watch this 40 minute video!"

Questionmarktarius posted...

You should have started with that, instead of "watch this 40 minute video!"

I saw the video not the article

WingsOfGood posted...

I saw the video not the article

Okay. I'll let it slide this time.