Creating community: a peer-led, adaptable postdoc program to build transferable career skills and overcome isolation

Megan L. Fork*, Elsa C. Anderson, Adrian A. Castellanos, Ilya R. Fischhoff, A. Marissa Matsler, Chelsey L. Nieman, Isabella A. Oleksy, Michelle Y. Wong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Postdoctoral positions provide critical opportunities for early-career ecologists to build transferable skills, knowledge, and networks that will prepare them for professional success. However, these positions often come with personal and professional challenges such as stress, isolation, and lack of agency. Here, we describe a peer-led postdoc program we created to maximize benefits and minimize challenges while preparing ourselves for a wide range of possible future careers using our training and expertise in ecology. We also give recommendations for other postdocs and early-career scientists in ecology and across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields seeking to build a similar program.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere03767
JournalEcosphere
Volume12
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Funding

We acknowledge contributions from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Postdoc committee, which is chaired by I. Fischhoff and includes M. Wong, M. Fork, K. Weathers, S. Batterman, and S. Findlay. We thank S. Batterman, S. Findlay, J. Ginsberg, C. Solomon, and K. Weathers for feedback on an earlier version that improved our communication of these ideas. S. Hotaling, L. Hartley, and one anonymous reviewer provided valuable and constructive feedback that improved the submitted version of this manuscript. All authors contributed equally to the writing of this manuscript, initiated and facilitated by MLF.

Keywords

  • adjunctification
  • non-academic careers
  • peer mentoring
  • remote work

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology

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