Thanks to the research of devoted postdoctoral associates we now have cures for many diseases and the symptoms of so-far incurable ailments can be eased. The consequences of, for instance, diabetes and congestive heart failure would be so much more catastrophic if there were no postdoctoral associates working on a possible solution. Thanks to research of very dedicated postdoctoral associates we make huge progress in the field of automotive and also computer technology. The things we have today that make our lives so much more comfortable and easy were totally unheard of fewer than ten years ago, and any suggestions in that direction would have been considered science fiction.
A postdoctoral associate does advanced research as part of a research team under the direction of a research director. Postdoc associates explain all progress and downfalls to their superiors, project leaders, and even the community if necessary and desirable. Sometimes discoveries and inventions are made that the postdoc was not even looking for or trying to find. That is an aspect of this job position which makes being part of a research team a very thrilling experience. Every thinkable outcome is possible when research takes place. Associates have to have excellent written and verbal communication skills to project all information that is being compiled during research clearly towards all interested parties. They have to be more than just computer savvy.
An eye for detail and ultimate devotion to the cause where the focus is on are just two of the qualities all postdoctoral associates need to show clearly. A postdoctoral associate has to be very educated in his or her field and must be willing to go into the depth of the matter. Usually it is required that they are team players, as they are part of a research team. Sometimes it happens, however, that they have to be able to work on or continue a project individually. Circumstances can ask for an individual approach to a problem or a targeted cause. A PhD in the actual field of the research or a closely related field is absolutely required for a postdoc position.
Postdoc job positions are very rewarding. Besides a nice salary of usually between $50,000 and $60,000 per year (some postdoc positions pay more) for new grads, there is also another reward. Many postdoctoral associates value this other reward even more than the monetary benefits that pay the bills of daily life. The satisfaction of being part of a team that comes up with a major solution to a targeted problem is the ultimate reward of all those who serve society as postdoctoral associates. Just imagine being a part of the team that finds a cure to a major health problem. Would you not want to brag to your grandchildren about the part you played in finding the cure for AIDS?
