z***j 发帖数: 29 | 1 听师兄说过美国值得一去。所以在今年7-8月投了很多简历去美国,寻求博士后位置,
结果大部分都无回应,仅有的回复也都是说现在没有位置。
所以请问版上高人,一般什么时候申请美国的博后比较靠谱?
是不是我的文章不够(只有一篇一区文章)? | s*******y 发帖数: 572 | 2 你的博后申请邮件能被读到吗
作者: 经光银
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写在前面:最近的经历以血的事实告诉自己,那种批量发信找国外博后工作的方法确实
吃力不讨好啊。于是采取对每个可能的美国老板,详细调研,除了ta的出身,职业
pattern,发表工作具体内容,一一细读,非常耗时间,正怀疑这种做法的正确性的时
候,恰好看到UIUC的Jonathan V. Sweedler教授给大家现身说话了,如何写信找博士后
。一个鲜活的例子教育了自己,并肯定了自己的做法,很高兴。于是整理了一下这篇短
文,并从网上找到了中文翻译版本,剽窃过来,并在下面做了自己的评论。
次短文确实很短,但句句经典,真是找博后的不可多得的经验帖子:
-----------------------------------
Jonathan V. Sweedler
Director, School of Chemical Sciences
研究组主页:http://www.scs.illinois.edu/sweedler/index.html
Anal. Chem., 2013, 85 (15), pp 6981–6981
DOI: 10.1021/ac402163j
Publication Date (Web): August 6, 2013
Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society
In trying to think of an editorial topic to write about this month, I got
distracted by my ever-growing email in-box, including a number of requests
from postdoctoral candidates who want to work with me. Obviously, one
limitation to hiring a postdoc is the availability of funding; I cannot hire
someone if I cannot afford them. Funding issues aside, the majority of the
postdoctoral applications I receive do not capture my interest, and I am
sure this is true for most faculty.
翻译:本 月,我原本想写一篇编辑评论,而收件箱里不断累积邮件分散了我的注意力
。这些邮件包括一定数量的博士后申请信,他们想在我这里工作。不过,问题是支持一
个 博士后需要钱。如果没有充分资金,我不能雇用。除了资金的问题,我收到的多数
博士后申请信不能引起我的兴趣。我能肯定多数的其他同僚也是这样情况。
点评:通常大多数老板们还是更倾向雇佣phd,毕竟便宜,但是有钱的老板就不一样了
,与其招phd,还不如直接招博后来的高效,博后已经经过了长足的科研训练,出货快
啊,而且有钱的老板,有无数的新鲜phd要自告奋勇、自带干粮的要跟ta表衷心。所以
要博得普通老板的青睐,除了首要的攒paper,另外一个就是写信申请啦。
What is it about a postdoctoral associate application that catches my eye?
Or perhaps more importantly, what is it that stifles my interest? Many email
requests that I receive appear to be sent by someone who has taken a long
list of faculty names/emails and sent off their application with little
thought. How else can I explain the number of applications I receive from
individuals interested in synthetic organic chemistry or clinical research
positions? Perhaps they hope that sending out ten thousand requests will
optimize their chances of landing a position. In my mind, this approach does
not work, as I usually do not even read such requests after the first few
sentences.
翻译:什么样的申请信才能吸引我的注意力?或者说,更重要的是什么让我失去了兴趣
?我收到的很多信似乎是某个人收集了一长串的名字然后茫然群发。我收到的邮件中有
人申请有机合成化学和临床研究的,这是怎么回事?可能是他们希望广撒网多捞鱼,认
为发出上万份的邮件能增加成功的几率。在我看来,这种方法并不凑效,因为通常我只
看前几句话就不会再读下去了。
点评:有时候,我们为了省时间,采用了群发邮件的方式,甚至有时都把a教授称呼成
了b教授,就是群发邮件时忘了改称呼,那是多么糟糕的事情。即便一切都正常,作者
说“读到前几句话就不往下读了”,说明群发邮件成功的概率极低。
My advice to potential applicants: send far fewer but personalized emails.
Read about a faculty member’s research and tailor your letter to the group.
Obviously, include your CV, prior research accomplishments, your career
plans, and how a position in the group would help move you toward your goals
. Provide details that help sell you, including important interactions with
colleagues, the skills that you bring to the position, and other key points
that may set you apart.
翻译:我给申请人的建议是:发很少但很有针对性的申请信。了解学院中相关课题组的
研究内容,根据该课题组的研究兴趣修改申请信。显然,要包括你的个人简历、之前的
研究成果、你的职业规划,以及申请的博士后位置对你达到你人生目标有怎样的帮助。
提供更多能推销你自己的信息,包括与同事间的关系、你为所申请位置提供的技术、技
能,以及其他使你与众不同的关键点。
点评:关于自己的职业规划,人生目标,这些我觉得比较flexible了,看情况吧,不同
的老板有不同的口味。但之前的研究成果等非常详细的内容,放在邮件主体里,显得邮
件就太长了,让人读起来就太费劲了,写短了,又没法说请出你要说的,写长了,你让
人家读到邮件的后面,忘了你邮件前面。。。
When writing an email to me, for example, I like to know why you selected my
group: was it on the advice of a mentor, because you like a particular
aspect of my research, or hope to gain a specific skillset? Next, explain
what you can do for me. Most applicants list a myriad of reasons why getting
hired is good for them. Perhaps not surprisingly, I hire people because it
helps my research program. I want an outstanding researcher and also someone
who has good communication skills. Reading your email is my first
opportunity to judge your ability to communicate well. If you cannot do this
effectively, then how will it work out when you are in the group? Yes,
writing such customized emails takes longer, but at least they will be read
and carefully considered.
翻译:例如,如果要给我写申请邮件,我想知道你为什么选择我课题组:是你导师给你
的建议?你对我的研究领域感兴趣?或者你想学习什么技术?其次,解释下你能给我干
什么。多数申请人只写了得到某个位置对他们多么有用。而我雇用一个博士后的目的是
他有助于我的研究计划。这并不奇怪。我想要一个出色的研究人员,并且是某个具有两
个沟通能力的人。读你的邮件是我判断你是否具有良好沟通能力的第一关。如果你连这
个都不能做到,那你怎么能在我组里进行交流呢?的确,写这样一封有针对性邮件要花
更长的时间,但至少它能让人愿意去读和去思考。
点评:这个,这个,真是非常有技术含量啊。很多人只关心自己跟申请的老板课题的
match程度,而忘了,老板为什么要雇你,而不是旁边一个他认识的快要毕业的phd呢。
所以强调你能bring something in,并与他组里其他人的合作互补等等,老板当然看了
心动啊。这个连我都有体会,很多本科生敲门近来说要进实验干点东西,当问起为什么
要进实验室,学生滔滔不绝的说,他能学到这,能学到能,还能给自己带来这,有带来
那。。。云云。然后做为老师,他为什么要让你进来,难度真是要做活雷锋?我不太相
信这样的老师很多。
Whether your long-term goal is an academic position or an industrial job,
the ability to write proposals is also important. For this and other obvious
practical reasons, outlining ideas on how to fund your own position is
always impressive; it is harder to turn down applicants who have their own
money. Even without a fellowship in hand, offering to apply for several
fellowships (that you have already researched and know that you qualify for)
distinguishes you from other applicants. Working with you on a fellowship
application to work in my group allows me to see how well you write and
create a research plan. Someone who has this initiative is harder to turn
down, and I often commit to providing support from group funds if the
fellowship applications are not successful.
翻译:不管您将来的目标是一个学术职位还是工业界的一份工作,写项目计划的能力都
是非常重要的。有鉴于此和其他几个显而易见的原因,如果能列出几条怎么能让你职位
获得资助方法将会是大有裨益的——很少有人会拒绝带着奖学金申请的人。即使没有奖
学金在手上,愿意去申请几个奖学金(你已经研究过并且你知道你能成功)也会让你比
其他申请者更获得青睐。跟你一起写奖学金申请能让我知道你的能力怎么样,以及你怎
么构思出一个研究计划。我很难拒绝这种具有进取精神的人,即使奖学金申请不成功,
我也常常承诺会从课题组经费中提供资助。
点评:能写proposal看来也是一项能力,真是博士期间啥都的学啊。不过作者是个不错
的老板,还能接受自己掏钱养博后,如果博后最后每能申请到钱。但这样的老板是极好
的少数人。
A last piece of advice: plan early. I am more likely to have an open
position if I know about your interest six months in advance. Also, I am not
sure I want someone in the group who cannot plan ahead; if you need to find
a position in a hurry, explain why this is the case in your initial email,
otherwise your last minute request appears to be due to a lack of foresight.
翻译:最后一条建议:提早计划。如果我提前六个月知道你的研究兴趣,我会把空缺职
位留给你。并且,我不缺定我会要一个没有计划的人在我组里。如果你匆匆忙忙寻找职
位,请在你第一封邮件中说明什么。否则,你这临时抱佛脚的做法说明你缺少远见。
点评:提前想好准备,这个确实很容易被忘掉。phd苦b的只想发paper,快毕业,却忘
了提前布点,并关注自己感兴趣的、可能要申请的方向的大部分老板在做什么,以及接
下来要做什么。如果这都提前在平时读文献时候就做好了记录,到毕业时申请,就不会
群发无关的邮件啦。。。
If everyone who applied for postdoctoral research positions followed these
guidelines, the applications would receive more of my time and consideration
and deserve a conscientious reply.
翻译:每一个申请博士后位置的人如果遵从了这些指导建议,所发出的申请邮件会得到
我的更多关注和思考,也值得我认真的去写回信。
Good luck with the process.
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not
necessarily the views of the ACS.
翻译:祝大家好运。
注:版权归原作者所有。以上观点仅代表作者,并非来自ACS的立场。
-----------------------------------
Note:
翻译部分是摘自下面的博文
翻译文原文:http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-89570-718510.html
英文原文:http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/ac402163j
点评部分是自己的理解。
----------------------------------- | A******y 发帖数: 2041 | 3 The fist place I go to the CV is the publication. These days if you are
from China and want to get a fully funded post-doc, I think you need a
minimum of JACS or Agnew. My new post-doc said he only had offer from me (
full funding) and other offers which required him to apply funding from
China. He has JACS (highlighted) and various Organic letter, and J. Organic
Chem. | m******n 发帖数: 453 | 4 现在postdoc不容易找的
美国人能够拿NSF fellowship
国人很多有教育部的钱,或者是老板跟美国这边的关系
那种自己没钱、老板不牛、完全靠自己一封封发email找postdoc的,是挺困难的 | h*********3 发帖数: 42 | 5 现在中国情况并不差,何必来美国?来到美国,如果遇到一个不好的老板,太伤了!任
何地方有其优点,有其缺点。 | C******f 发帖数: 224 | 6 Gregory Cook, NDSU. 好像有opening.
【在 z***j 的大作中提到】![](/moin_static193/solenoid/img/up.png) : 听师兄说过美国值得一去。所以在今年7-8月投了很多简历去美国,寻求博士后位置, : 结果大部分都无回应,仅有的回复也都是说现在没有位置。 : 所以请问版上高人,一般什么时候申请美国的博后比较靠谱? : 是不是我的文章不够(只有一篇一区文章)?
| h******d 发帖数: 267 | 7 mark
【在 z***j 的大作中提到】![](/moin_static193/solenoid/img/up.png) : 听师兄说过美国值得一去。所以在今年7-8月投了很多简历去美国,寻求博士后位置, : 结果大部分都无回应,仅有的回复也都是说现在没有位置。 : 所以请问版上高人,一般什么时候申请美国的博后比较靠谱? : 是不是我的文章不够(只有一篇一区文章)?
| m******t 发帖数: 211 | 8 关键是理解有位置的老板那里需要什么,而这些确实你你能做出贡献的。另外目标不要
只盯着美国。 | a********a 发帖数: 1229 | | z******n 发帖数: 97 | 10 Many Chinese universities require oversea postdoc training/experience for
faculty candidates, thus they have to find a place to gain some credential.
Given the fact that huge amount of Ph.Ds are being produced each year, it is
going to be harder and harder to secure a position. For organic chemistry,
job market is much better in China, why do a postdoc? |
|