The path I took to my current position as a postdoctoral research fellow in Toronto was straightforward.  Four years at university in Missouri, nearly six years in graduate school in New Mexico, and now I am here. But where is “here”, exactly? What is it like to be a postdoc in Canada today?

The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS) sizes it up rather dismally: “ . . . the current diffuse organization of postdoctoral training leaves this class of highly qualified personnel in an especially vulnerable position. Not graduate students, not faculty members, postdocs have so far slipped between the cracks of the recognized workforce of the scientific community and represent a heterogeneous group of poorly defined ‘apprentice’ scientists. As such, postdocs generally do not have well defined expectations of employment, appropriate employment rights and responsibilities, commensurate or even normalized pay scales, performance evaluations, employment benefits such as proper health care, pensions, occupational health insurance, or procedures for resolving conflict. To date, the treatment of postdocs within Canada is inconsistent at best, and largely ignored at worst.”

Yikes. That doesn’t sound so good, does it? Of course, a postdoc is intended to be a temporary position. So if you can get out quickly, it’s not too bad, right? And, indeed, I’ve known a few people who have been able to get jobs after being a postdoc for only a year or two. But I’ve known far more people who end up being a postdoc for longer than they expected due to a myriad of reasons (high competition for jobs, family circumstances, geographical restrictions, indecision on what to do next, etc.). Regardless of how long one stays in a postdoc position, the facts of the matter are the same: you don’t get paid very well, your salary may not include health care benefits, you might not receive parental leave or have access to your employer’s child care options, you probably don’t get to contribute to a retirement plan, and your employer might not bestow you with the level of consideration or respect that seems appropriate for your highly trained position. The longer one stays in a postdoc position, however, the greater chance that these negative aspects will compound.  

If you are a postdoc, it is good to know that there are organizations out there that are working toward improving your status, treatment, and prospects.  One such organization, of which I recently joined the executive board, is the University of Toronto Postdoctoral Association (UTPDA). The UTPDA serves postdocs at the University of Toronto and at affiliated research hospitals by advocating on their behalf, creating social networks, and promoting opportunities for career development.  

In my blog postings, I plan to talk about many of the issues confronting postdocs today (without being too “woe is me”) and to point out what the UTPDA and other support organizations are doing to address those issues. As a reader, you are always invited to leave comments below, with the hope that we can generate some valuable discussion.