What is a Postdoctoral Research Associate?

After completing his or her doctoral studies, a postdoctoral research associate conducts scholarly research. Postdoctoral research can be done at the same institution where the researcher received his or her doctorate or at a completely different one. It is not uncommon for researchers to complete postdoctoral research in another country. Typically, this type of research is carried out within five years of the researcher’s PhD completion.

Postdoctoral research associate is often confused with postdoctoral research assistant and postdoctoral research fellow. All of these terms are commonly shortened to “post-doc” in casual conversation, as in “My scientist friend is working as a post-doc in New York.”

Postdoctoral research aims to broaden an academic’s understanding of his or her field of expertise. A postdoctoral research associate may also focus on honing specific skills. In some countries, completing a course of this type of research can lead to credentials other than a PhD. Postdoctoral research work has become an important precursor to a tenure-track position at some American institutions.

Postdoctoral research associates are typically hosted institutions in the hopes that their work will lead to new discoveries in the associate’s field. Depending on the associate’s field, such findings are frequently published in scientific, medical, or academic journals. New findings and articles published in prestigious journals are critical to an institution’s prestige and credibility in a given field.

Postdoctoral research associates are given the opportunity to work full-time on their research. This means they are only required to teach or give lectures during limited working hours, if at all. They may, however, be asked to give presentations at professional conferences about their findings. It is hoped that devoting this time to research, the associates will have a better chance of developing new theories or arriving at new conclusions. While university professors frequently conduct their own research, they must divide their time between teaching and research. Postdoctoral research associates, on the other hand, are not required to divide their time between multiple tasks.

His or her host institution pays a postdoctoral research associate. A salary or stipend may be offered as compensation. A postdoctoral research associate may work independently or under the supervision of an adviser or supervisor, depending on the requirements of the host institution.