PhD and postdoc positions were traditionally seen as stepping stones to securing principal investigator (PI) roles. However, over the past few decades, the number of trained PhDs and postdocs has outpaced the availability of PI positions (see an example). As a result, career paths beyond academia have become more common (see an example). This trend is also evident at EMBL, as shown in a career tracking study of our fellows (Lu et al., eLife, 2023), summarised in Box 1.
Box 1: Changing career paths for EMBL’s alumniWhen Rachel joined EMBL in 2016 as its first career advisor, one of her early priorities was to better understand the career trajectories of EMBL alumni. Historically, many alumni stayed in academia within Europe. However, EUROSTAT data showed a shifting landscape: between 2004 and 2021, while the number of doctoral graduates in Europe grew by 44%, academic staff positions increased by only 9%. Working with an EMBL research group with statistical expertise, we investigated whether these changes had impacted EMBL alumni’s career destinations. Our findings were published in eLife. The study revealed that academic research and teaching remain the most common career paths (62% of located alumni), but fewer recent alumni have secured PI roles. Of those who left EMBL between 1997 and 2004, 45% became PIs, compared with just 28% from the 2005–2012 cohort. More recent cohorts appear to be on a similar trajectory. Other academic positions, such as lab managers and core facility staff, accounted for 19% of alumni from the 2005–2012 group. Beyond academic research, we found that increasing numbers of alumni entered research positions in industry, as well as non-research roles in academia, industry and the non-profit sectors. The study revealed a wide array of career paths, from academic and industry research, to supporting policymakers with evidence-based advice, training the next generation of life scientist researchers, and liaising between clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Read more in the eLife article. |
Navigating this increasingly diverse career landscape can be a daunting challenge, particularly for postdocs. Securing a role in the highly competitive academic job market or transitioning to a different career after years in research can be stressful. In one survey, 42% of postdocs felt negative about their job prospects and only 41% felt positive. For many whose career plans change, this period can also involve a re-evaluation of their skills, interests, and identity as scientists.
EMBL is one institution that has responded by introducing a dedicated career service that organises activities to support PhDs and postdocs with career planning (see Box 2).
Box 2: The EMBL Fellows’ Career ServiceThe EMBL Fellows’ Career Service was established in 2019, building on a pilot project developed for the EIPOD postdoctoral fellowship programme. The service now provides tailored career support for approximately 500 PhDs and postdoctoral fellows, based at six EMBL’s sites in Heidelberg and Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (near Cambridge, UK), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain). Two career advisors offer individual career guidance sessions, deliver and organise career workshops and events, and collate materials for self-directed career planning. We work closely with our colleagues in the EMBL International PhD Programme, EMBL Postdoc Programme and Complementary Skills Programme to provide a well-rounded advanced training programme for EMBL’s pre- and postdoctoral researchers. The internal career service activities are complemented by free, publicly accessible resources and events, open to the entire scientific community via the EMBL website and Career Webinars series. |
Career service events, guidance, and information
Career services at universities and research institutes are crucial in helping PhD students and early-career researchers make informed decisions. Career events are usually the most visible among the portfolio of activities that institutions may offer, and demand for these can be high. EMBL’s free career webinars, launched during the pandemic, and featuring both academic and non-academic topics, are one example. More than 4,700 participants from around the world have attended the 31 webinars held since 2020.
Individual career guidance is another key service, offering a confidential, non-judgemental space to discuss career planning topics or get feedback on job application materials. At EMBL, over 70% of our PhD graduates use our individual support to discuss their career development and trajectory with a career advisor.
Behind the scenes, career services also invest considerable time in curating resources that empower researchers to navigate career planning independently. For example, on the EMBL Fellows’ Career Service website, you can find information about the career options for life scientists; and, on our blog, the results of surveys we’ve completed to inform our career workshops. This includes topics such as ‘How group leaders recruit postdocs’, ‘Preparing to apply to PI positions’, and ‘Skills for a scientific career’. We also recently made the slides and materials from our workshops freely available on relevant pages of our website.
Advice for early career researchers
With so many career options available, navigating the job market can appear overwhelming. Additionally, every time you apply for a role, you will be competing with other candidates who have spent time and effort refining their (multiple) applications. Investing quality time in your career can, however, ensure you make a smooth transition to your next role.
We therefore encourage you to use your scientific curiosity. Be proactive and explore resources available at your own institution or through other providers such as:
Using these resources, along with feedback from your network (including via ‘informational interviews’), will reassure you about job prospects, help you discover and prepare for roles that align with your interests, and enhance your ability to communicate your skills and motivation to potential employers.
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to colleagues at EMBL (particularly Monika Lachner, Brenda Stride, and Anne Ephrussi) and the collaborators who contributed to our career tracking study (Junyan Lu, Britta Velten, Bernd Klaus, Mauricio Ramm, and Wolfgang Huber). The EMBL Fellows' Career Service incorporates the EMBL Interdisciplinary Postdoc (EIPOD) career development programme. EI3POD and EIPOD4 have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreements 664726 (2015–2020) and 847543 (2019–present) respectively. ChatGPT was used to proof-read and edit this text.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
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