Postdoctoral studies are valued since they help explore the complexities relating to a particular area of studies. The entire purpose of conducting postdoctoral research is to support the scholarly mission of the researcher, or the institution which is sponsoring the program. Those who get appointments for carrying out researches are referred to as postdoctoral research assistants or associates. The person is also termed the postdoctoral research fellow.
Responsibilities Associated With Being a Postdoctoral Researcher
To be a postdoctoral researcher you should be willing to work for prolonged hours and focus entirely on your research paper. Getting a postdoctoral research approved is not easy and you have to produce and formulate relevant publications for your thesis. There are many countries where postdoctoral research provides the researcher with additional formal qualifications and certifications. This form of research can be funded via a salary, stipend or sponsorship award. Depending on the type of appointment, postdoctoral researchers may work independently or choose to work under the guidance of a principal investigator. There are instances when research appointments can be availed with other positions instead of limiting the program to mere scholarly practice. In such cases, you have to handle the tasks of your job and research studies. If your purpose for taking up research is getting a tenure-track faculty position, your focus should be on the research oriented institutions. You would have to clarify on related theories and concepts used in research so that it can be used for academic and practitioner purposes. If an academic research is conducted jointly you may have to coordinate with multiple team members. Other than that, you should present your work at seminars and academic conferences during the final stage of your research.
Skills Required for a Postdoctoral Researcher
A postdoctoral researcher should be research oriented as far as their mindset or outlook is concerned as they have to work for prolonged hours, usually forgetting about their social lives during the research period. They should be professionals capable of extensive work and are required to plan out their time in a way to meet deadlines and provide quality material for the research. Along with that, good skills of written and oral communication are a must.
Educational Qualifications and Salary for a Postdoctoral Researcher
To secure the position of a postdoctoral researcher you should have a PhD degree in the relevant field of research. The salary of the postdoctoral researchers can range from $3,000 per month and go up depending on the sponsoring company or authority. The success of research study can turn the tables for a researcher and help them earn millions.
Research studies are now being encouraged at postdoctoral levels by many companies in the field of science, environmental studies and even literature.
