Starting a first postdoctoral fellowship or an early-career research position marks an exciting new chapter, but it also comes with plenty of uncertainty. How does one make the most of their training, find the right mentors, build meaningful collaborations, and establish themselves as an independent researcher? We turned to The Scientist readers who have navigated these early-career challenges and asked: What advice would you give someone starting their first postdoctoral fellowship or an early-career research position?
Hannah Waterman studies how the body regulates blood sugar and how these processes become disrupted in type 2 diabetes.
Vanderbilt University Basic Scienc
Hannah Waterman, Metabolic Physiologist, Duke University
My biggest piece of advice is to treat your postdoctoral training as preparation for independence rather than simply an extension of graduate school. Be intentional about developing new skills, asking questions outside your comfort zone, and owning your scientific ideas. Find mentors who will challenge you while supporting your long-term goals, and don't be afraid to seek advice from people beyond your primary mentor. Building a broad network of collaborators and peers is just as important as generating strong data. Finally, remember that science is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress is rarely linear, and setbacks are often where the most valuable learning happens. Stay curious, be resilient, and focus on becoming the kind of scientist you want to be, not just the next paper you want to publish.
Ayesha Badar aims to understand how to harness the plant microbiome to make crops more resilient.
Ayesha Badar
Ayesha Badar, Plant Biotechnologist, Forman Christian College
Trust your research and trust the process. A first postdoc or early-career research position comes with uncertainty, setbacks, and plenty of learning, so don’t be discouraged when things don’t go as planned. Stay curious, keep questioning, and most importantly, keep evolving. Be open to learning new skills, exploring new ideas, and changing your approach when the science demands it. Progress may not always be immediate, but consistency, resilience, and a willingness to grow will take you a long way.
Richa Gupta investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.
UTHealth Houston
Richa Gupta, Neuroscientist, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
I would really encourage future researchers not to focus solely on the scientific question. Alongside advancing your science and your project, also focus on advancing yourself. Upgrading your professional and personal skills should be a continuous process, regardless of how your work is going at the moment.
Andres Nevarez, Quantitative Cancer Morphologist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Choose the environment as carefully as you choose the science. A brilliant project inside an incompatible lab is still a bad experience that you cannot out-work. Bring one idea that belongs to you. Apply for your own funding early! Some fellowships are awarded to you rather than to your institution, and that portability is what buys the freedom to leave if a situation is not working.
Andrew Milner, Biologist, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Pick the mentor before you pick the project. A great project in a bad lab will grind you down, and a mediocre question in a lab where someone is invested in your career will get you somewhere. Also, learn to code, whatever your field is. You don't have to be a bioinformatician, but you should be able to understand and somewhat work with your data.
Amin Mannan studies how Candida auris develops resistance to amphotericin B.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Amin Mannan, Molecular Microbiologist, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Decide what you are here for. Early. Out loud. A postdoc is not a waiting room. It is not the thing you do until the real job appears. It is a few short years where you build the specific person you will be next. Drift through it, and you arrive at the end with skills but no direction, and direction is the harder thing to grow. I learned this the slow way. I had already run my own lab before I came back to be a postdoc. I know what it costs to move while you still have something to lose. So, my advice is plain. Do not wait for anyone to tell you what your career should be. No one is coming to plan it. Your mentor is busy. The system assumes you already know. Sit down early and ask yourself the uncomfortable question: What do I want this to turn into? Then, aim the work at that answer instead of hoping it shows up on its own.
Prolay Halder, Bacteriologist, University of Missouri
Listen to your mentor carefully to make a strong, collaborative research project. Don’t just follow instructions. Start coming up with your own big research ideas, find the money to fund them, and lead the way. Instead of getting pulled into ten different small projects, pour your energy into finishing one or two major studies where you are leading the project. Don’t say yes to random favors and distractions so you can stay laser-focused on your core goals. Find mentors and partners outside your lab to get different advice, career tips, and fresh ideas. When experiments or things go wrong, don't take it personally. Look at the unexpected results as useful clues that point you toward the real answer. Write down your data, steps, and timelines cleanly. It will save you a massive headache when it's time to write papers or apply for grants.
Carlos Iglesias-Aguirre explores how the gut microbiome influences immune development.
Carlos Iglesias-Aguirre
Carlos Iglesias-Aguirre, Microbiome Scientist, University of California, Berkeley
My advice would be to choose the environment, not only the project. A strong postdoc should provide exciting science, but also mentorship, intellectual freedom, access to new skills, and opportunities to build a professional network. Before starting, think carefully about what you want to be able to do independently by the end of the position. I would also encourage early-career researchers to take ownership of their development. Ask for feedback, discuss expectations openly, seek mentors beyond your direct supervisor, and create opportunities to learn skills that may not emerge naturally from the project. At the same time, remain flexible: some of the most valuable scientific directions arise from unexpected results or collaborations. Finally, do not evaluate your progress only through papers or experiments that succeed. A postdoc is also a period for developing scientific judgment, confidence, communication skills, and a clearer sense of the problems you want to solve. Protect your curiosity and well-being, because both are essential for building a sustainable scientific career.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
