Welcome current and prospective postdoctoral scholars! Auburn University is currently training almost 100 postdoctoral scholars in various disciplines in STEM fields, education, public health and many others. The Office of Postdoctoral Education is committed to providing an environment in which you can succeed, supporting you to excel during your time here, as well as the guidance and resources needed to help you develop and improve as a researcher/scholar leading to a successful transition to your follow-on position.
If you haven’t already, we hope you will take advantage of the free membership in the National Postdoctoral Association. Use the link to the right to become an affiliate member and gain access to substantial professional information and support resources. Sign up now!
Please browse through the menu items to the right and tabbed content below to find useful information and resources. We wish you the best during your time at Auburn…War Eagle!
General Faculty Resources
Teaching events and resources
Instructional Technology
Help with Exams
General events and resources for faculty
Faculty Writing Support
Miller Writing Center information for your students
Faculty Workshop Requests
The Ph.Dictionary: A Glossary of Things You Don’t Know (But Should) About Doctoral and Faculty Life (2015)
The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into A Job (2015)
At the Helm: Leading Your Laboratory (2010)
The Academic Job Search Handbook (2008)
The Compleat Academic (2008)
The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology (2007)
Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty (2006)
Building a Successful Career in Scientific Research: A Guide for PhD Students and Postdocs (2006)
How to get a tenure-track position at a predominantly undergraduate institution (Advice for those in the scientific fields) (2001)
Advice for New Faculty Members (2000)
PIVOT (opportunities to find funding, create profiles to reflect expertise, etc.):
On-line CITI Training (which is required for IRB/IACUC but also some agencies):
Courses include:
Collaborative Funding Mechanisms by Agency
NSF Resources
NSF EPSCoR
NIH Resources
USDA NIFA Funding Resources
Creative Research & Scholarship Awards
Funding Focus Newsletter
Proposal Writing Guides
Proposal Development Tools
Research Development and Grantwriting Newsletter
Medical Writing: A Brief Guide for Beginners (2015)
Successful Scientific Writing (2014)
The Science Writer’s Handbook (2013)
Career Opportunities in Technical Writing (2008)
A Field Guide for Science Writers (2006)
Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower (2005) – Chapters 2 & 3: Technical Writing & Science Writing
What is a journal article impact factor
How to find an impact factor?
What is peer review?
Should I publish in an open access journal?
What is Sci-Hub?
What is predatory publishing?
What is a monograph?
What is retraction watch?
What is an embargo in scholarly publishing?
What is a content hub?
What are academic social networking sites: ResearchGate and Academia.edu?
What is Metadata 2020?
What is the difference between single blind or double blind peer review in publishing?
What are preprints?
What is a crossmark?
Using video in academic publishing
Taxonomies & publishing
PubMed: Comprises 26 million+ citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.
ResearchGate: A social networking site for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators
Tools & Tips from Science Careers (Resume/CV, Interviewing, Funding, Building a Network)
National Science Foundation: Special Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows
Consolidated Professional Development Calendar for AU Campus
Individual Development Plan
Graduate School Professional Development webpage
MentorNet, the E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science, connects mentors and mentees in engineering, science, and mathematics. MentorNet was created to foster the retention and success of women and underrepresented minorities in particular, but welcomes anyone interested in connecting with peers and experienced professionals in their field. The MentorNet Community offers the One-on-One E-Mentoring Program, which pairs postdocs with professionals in an email based mentoring relationship, the E-Forum for web based discussion of issues like job searches and the work/life balance, as well as resources and a résumé database. To learn more and find a mentor (or become a mentor), visit the MentorNet website. Membership is available on an individual basis
The following professional associations post job listings to all site visitors. Other organizations require membership to access job postings.
American Chemical Society
American Physics Society
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Human Genetics
American Society for Cell Biology
Biomedical Engineering Society
Medical Science Liaison Society
Society for Developmental Biology
Society for Neuroscience
Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry
The Humanities PhD Project Supports doctoral students and faculty in the humanities as they imagine, plan for, and pursue multiple career paths as humanists in the world, in the academy and beyond.
National Endowment for the Humanities Supports “Next Generation PhD” projects at twenty-eight U.S. campuses. The NEH also employs student interns on a rolling continuous basis.
The Versatile Ph.D. OPA offers Versatile PhD, a web-based resource for postdocs interested in exploring career opportunities beyond academe. The site is mainly for Humanities and Social Science Postdocs, but may benefit others as well. Access this supportive, web-based community by clicking here or copy and paste the following link into your browser – https://webapps.grad.unc.edu/auth/versatilephd.html. (Requires Onyen registration). The site includes:
NCFDD is an independent faculty development center dedicated to providing external mentoring, professional development, and a supportive community for advanced graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members across institutions. Visit the website and register as an Institutional Sub-Account Member. You must use your UNC email address for registration.
Science Jobs (163,000)
American Public Health Association (54,000)
Contract Research/Development/Manufacturing Organization Professionals (39,000)
Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (26,000)
The Life Science Executive Exchange, sponsored by BioInformatics LLC (24,000)
Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (14,000)
Medical Science Liaisons & Medical Affairs Networkers (10,000)
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (8,000)
Life Science & Medical Device Sales Representatives (7,000)
Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine (7,000)
Science Writers (6,000)
The Science Advisory Board (6,000)
The PostDoc Forum (4,900)
Association of University Technology Managers (1,000)
The National Association of Science Writers
Biospace: Biotech and Pharmaceutical News & Jobs
ChemJobber
ChronicleVitae Jobs: A job site provided by the Chronicle of Higher Education
Jobs in Think Tanks and Research Institutions
Massachusetts Biotechnical Council Career Site
Medzilla: Jobs in Healthcare, Pharma and Science
Minority Postdoc Job Page
National Postdoctoral Association Career Center
Nature Jobs
New Scientist Jobs
NIH Office of Intramural Training & Development Job Board
North Carolina Biotechnology Center Job Board
PostDocJobs
Science Careers
USA Jobs – Federal Government Job Site
Work in the Triangle
ZipRecruiter
Chronicle of Higher Education
Higher Ed Jobs
Academic 360
American Evaluation Association Job Board
American Public Health Association CareerMart
American Psychology Association PsychCareers
American Sociological Association Job Bank (membership required)
Public Health Jobs
Public Service Careers
Sociology Postdoc Job Market Forum
Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology Job Network
Humanities & Social Sciences Online Job Postings
Idealist (Nonprofit and NGO jobs)
Directory of 4,600+ Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Companies
North Carolina Biotech Company Directory
BioCom: 500+ Biotech Companies in Southern California
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Membership Directory
Career Opportunities for Biomedical Scientists (2014)
So What Are You Going To Do With That? Finding Careers Outside Academia (2014)
Charting a Course for a Successful Research Career (2012)
A PhD is not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science (2011)
Secrets To Success In Industry Careers: Essential Skills for Science & Business (2010)
Career Opportunities in Clinical Drug Research (2010)
The Physician Scientist’s Career Guide (2010)
Career Opportunities In Health Care Management: Perspectives From the Field (2009)
Career Advice for Life Scientists (2008)
Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science
Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development 2007)
Career Opportunities in Conservation and the Environment (2007)
Nontraditional Careers for Chemists (2006)
Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower (2005)
How to Write a Cover Letter
Interviewing for Academic Positions
Job Interview Questions
Negotiating Offers for Faculty Positions
Mastering the Phone & Skype Interview
Difference between a Resume and an Academic CV
Questions to ask a Potential Mentor
Salutations (Greetings) to Use in Job Search Correspondence
Professional polish – What to wear at a job interview (Science)
A Transition from Postdoc to Industry (Science)
Careers at Nonprofits and NGOs (Science)
The Keys to Career Control (Science)
Industry Postdocs: The Road Less Traveled (Science)
Finding a Chemical Postdoc Position in Industry (Chemical & Engineering News)
30 Essential Behavioral Interview Questions
Following up a job interview with a Thank-You note
Similar to faculty interview Job Talks and Chalk Talks, many industry job interviews require a presentation on your past and current research. If you have questions about the talk (e.g., audience, duration, preferred subject matter, setting, audiovisual equipment) – ask the hiring manager with whom you have been communicating.
To ace your job talk, you need to know your audience: Science Magazine
Tooling up: job talk jitters: Science Magazine
Preparing for industry interview for scientist position: Science Career Forum
Auburn University Professional Development Calendar
National Postdoctoral Association Login
Local Postdoctoral Association Toolkit
Institutional Guide to Postdoc Mentorship
