Postdoctoral fellowships are often found at universities that are strongly focused toward research. A university may offer a postdoctoral research scholar position funded by sources outside of the university, and have specific requirements for the type of research conducted. In contrast, fellowships are usually awarded to help an individual to pursue his or her own research interests, under the guidance of a faculty member at a specific school.
Public and private research centers as well as businesses hire people for postdoctoral work in order to help develop and expand their research, although these positions are less common than university postdoctoral opportunities.
Postdoctoral positions primarily serve the purpose of allowing the individual to develop research in his or her area of specialization. In contrast to the research done for a PhD, postdoctoral positions give the individual the chance to concentrate solely on research without the distractions of teaching or coursework. They can also give the individual a chance to study under a researcher or research team that is at the top of a given field. Some postdoctoral positions also offer the chance for publication in professional journals, which can be important for additional career development.
Postdoctoral work is essential for someone pursuing a career in academia. Most full time academic positions look for professors who have postdoctoral experience. This is particularly true in the areas of science and engineering. Postdoctoral research also gives an individual the chance to focus solely on research without the pressures or distraction of fulfilling the obligations required of a full-time tenured position.
The pursuit of postdoctoral work should be carefully considered. Some PhD graduates may find it best to enter the workforce directly after graduating; however, the salary for postdoctoral positions is often lower than for newly hired faculty. Individuals looking to pursue teaching as their primary occupation should also keep in mind that postdoctoral work solely focuses on research and does not offer teaching or mentoring experience.