Contemplating an International Postdoc?
Medeva Ghee, PhD, Assistant Director of the Leadership Alliance

Congratulations! You have finally arrived at the dissertation phase of your thesis and have in full view the proverbial light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel which signals the completion of one journey and the beginning of a new adventure! For many budding scientists and academics, a post-graduate career consists of obtaining a postdoctoral fellowship to acquire additional research and scholarly training to fine tune your skills in preparation for a career in research and/or academia.  As you are contemplating this important next step, I propose that you take into consideration expanding your horizons and investigating the opportunities of doing a postdoc in an international environment. Indeed, it is a road less traveled; however, if done correctly, the experience can be a rewarding one both professionally and personally. Here are a few questions to contemplate:

Questions to Ask
1. Why do an international postdoc?
Deciding to do a postdoc in a foreign country is a personal decision that should not be taken lightly. There are many challenges alone to doing a postdoc without adding an extra layer of complexity of performing research in a foreign culture. However, it is an opportune moment to explore and immerse yourself in a new culture and to develop and master new skills that promote your visibility to the global marketplace. I decided to do my postdoc in Paris to become more marketable for future employment in industry. My goals for my European postdoc included 1) overcoming the challenge of performing research and publishing in a new field; 2) becoming fluent in a second language and 3) traveling and exploring places I had only virtually visited through mainstream media.  How would you define your reasons and goals? Do they make compelling arguments? If so, continue reading as we explore the logistics of choosing an international postdoctoral position.

2. How do I choose an international postdoc?
The search for an international postdoc is similar to identifying a postdoc position in the US with a few twists. The first thing that comes to mind is environment. There are many advantages to living in cosmopolitan European cities, especially one as culturally rich as Paris. But what are the advantages of working there and under what conditions? I identified my host lab through the literature. As an aspect of their research focus was similar to mine, I read all articles produced from that lab and identified a novel research area that generated interesting questions and had excellent funding potential. I paid close attention to the frequency and quality of publications originating from this lab. During my interview, which was held in Paris, I presented my research and subsequently took the time to discuss with other post-docs, graduate students and technicians to better understand the dynamics of the lab. I also inquired about the success of former postdocs, as well as the potential to participate in both international and US-based conferences. Moreover, I was able to inspect the lab infrastructure to ascertain whether the lab was well-equipped. Stateside, I inquired about the reputation of the principal investigator with other scientists working in similar fields.

3. When should I apply?
Start the application process early enough to provide ample time to apply for fellowships. Line up your letters of recommendation, polish your CV and draft a cover letter that explicitly states your objectives. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Apply to multiple labs, both abroad and stateside.

4. How do I get funding for my postdoc?
It really is important to go with your own funding. This is an essential part of your training as a postdoc that will not only enable you to be autonomous, but will also signal to future employers your ability to obtain extramural funding. There are competitive fellowships for doing an international postdoc in the biomedical sciences. A good place to start your research is through the European Commission Research website. Two programs that I would like to highlight for doing research abroad are: (1) Human Frontier Science Program that provides research fellowships to scientists who wish to work in foreign laboratories in the fields of Brain Functions and Molecular Approaches to Biological Functions (2) NSF International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP) with the similar objective of introducing scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers to research opportunities abroad.

5. What happens if I get the position?
Celebrate! Then, come back down to earth and prepare for the administrative obstacles, such as VISA requirements. Each country will have its own stipulations, so read the fine print carefully. Before you embark upon your new adventure, dedicate some time thinking about an exit strategy. Postdocs are not designed to last forever, prepare yourself for a smooth transition back to the US. One way is through collaborations. Most importantly, make an effort to learn the language of your new host country! Whereas total immersion is the most effective way to learn a language, it is wise to at least be able to communicate. Some fellowships offer language courses.

They say that hindsight is 20/20. I can certainly attest to that. I had a positive and productive postdoctoral experience in which I accomplished all of my goals, and then some. I trust that some of the lessons learned shared here will assist you in determining if an international postdoc is an option you wish to consider. Keep in mind that doing a postdoc abroad has numerous rewards, including becoming more marketable in a competitive job market, learning a new culture, a new language, and travel opportunities, but there are also challenges with adjusting to life and work in a foreign country. However, if you are determined to succeed, the benefits will by far outweigh the challenges.

Good luck!