- Life as a postdoc: 1 | 2
In addition to collaborating on projects and papers, Godinho's colleagues including (left to right) Nicolas Talarek, PhD, Neil Ganem, PhD, Namrata Chandhok, Satoshi Yoshida, PhD, and Mijung Kwon, PhD, often get together outside the lab.
Colleagues and comrades
High-tech equipment allows Godinho to more easily see how cells divide. Here, she reviews results with fellow postdoc Mijung Kwon, PhD, (left) and graduate student Namrata Chandhok, her collaborators on the project.
Once their stints are over, the goal for most postdocs is a salaried, tenure-track job in academia as an independent investigator like Pellman. These positions have become increasingly hard to attain in recent years as the budgets of government agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have leveled off, leaving less money to pass on to medical schools and teaching hospitals conducting studies. Dana-Farber, however, is able to help its new investigators with funding from donor-based grants, such as the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, until they can secure their own labs.
In Jenny Zilaro (left), program administrator for DFCI's Office for Postdoctoral Training and Career Development, Godinho has someone she can go to for help with logistical issues, resource materials, or just to chat.
"There are not enough jobs in academia to go around today. Less than half of today's postdocs will be able to get one, so people are starting to think about how to develop careers in other areas such as industry, scientific writing, and government," says Christina Parker, MD, a former DFCI postdoc who now heads the Office for Postdoctoral Training and Career Development (OPTCD) at Dana-Farber. "Some people are doing a second postdoc in a different specialty because they can't find a job after their first one. Knowledge has really expanded, and technical expertise is very important now, so pursuing two may help you become a successful investigator. In the end, individuals need to chart their own path and be upfront with their advisors about what they expect."
David Pellman (left) is advisor, mentor, and colleague to postdocs like Godinho, whom he calls "an intellectual force and a strong experimenter." Here, they meet in his office to discuss possible mechanisms leading to centrosome clustering, a process important for the proliferation of cancer cells.
These facts, plus an increase in international competition for postdoc slots, make the position more coveted - and demanding — than ever before. According to a survey by Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society (an international honor society for researchers and engineers), the average postdoc today works 50.9 hours a week in the role. Their stipends can come from the institute where they work or private sources; Godinho currently has a two-year grant from a funding agency in Portugal, but plans on seeking additional support for four or five total years of study.
To help with these and other challenges, Dana-Farber established the OPTCD in 2004. Housed in the Smith building, the office offers career counseling and planning, seminars on topics such as grant writing and networking, and information on DFCI benefits and activities. It also has a lounge where postdocs can grab a cup of coffee, meet for lunch, or read anything from scientific journals to spy thrillers.
To unwind from a long day of work, Godinho plays squash with labmates at nearby Simmons College.
During the 2006 World Cup soccer tournament, Godinho even sneaked into the lounge a few times to see how her beloved Portugal was doing. Because the Pellman lab includes staff from Italy, France, and other countries, there was plenty of good-natured competitiveness during the games. Normally, however, these young scientists are each other's top supporters - in good times (published papers, births of babies) and difficult days. For Godinho's part, she helps update the lab's website, which contains short bios on each member, summaries of their research and publications, and snapshots from canoe trips and other outings.
"We're all looking to make important findings and get published, so whatever area we are strong in, we help the others," says Godinho, who can also tap the Research Fellow Association, an advocacy group for DFCI postdocs and fellows. "It's a great team effort."
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