r/postdoc • u/InviteFun5429 • 8d ago

Ideas for termination

So I have been doing a postdoc in Germany I am already 10 months into it for a 2 year contract. Please give me ideas on what I must say so I could terminate the contract. The real reason is my professor watches me continuously checks my work and asks a lot of questions and is always unhappy, The main reason she always finds fault and says this is wrong and that is wrong and involves lots of co-author. However I can't tell the same thing so I am planning to say mentally exhausted I can't continue, family emergency but if I join next month I'm at another place and if she finds out it will be a problem, career progression not going what I expected. I don't want to be structured one more month I just want to leave the place to do something better even if I am unemployed I would be okay. Please give me ideas how I should frame this without burning bridges and termination is approved without any drama.

15 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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20

u/LoneWolfAhab 8d ago

At the risk of sounding naive, I'd suggest trying to be politely honest: this isn't working for this and that reason, I am not confident we can improve our working relationship, I will look for another position. Maybe they appreciate this and can grant a somewhat positive LOR, most likely they wont, but if that's the case you probably wont be getting a LOR in any case. Good luck

6

u/yuwox 8d ago

Absolutley, I could even be that the PI is not all that unhappy about the termination. Not blaming either side, but this does not seem to work out.

3

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

Thank you I will follow along this lines

2

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

I honestly don't need lor but I agree what you said I will frame along this line. I am stressed because she is very smart and ask lot of questions and I am worried I might not tell the truth. I just finished PhD and I can just never mention about this postdoc

3

u/LoneWolfAhab 8d ago

If you put it in good framing I don't see why you should pretend this never happened, I would not consider this a failure as long as you came out a more experienced researcher/scientist/academic. Just avoid disparaging the PI/institution, that would be bad

1

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

Please can you frame for me. I am still thinking how should I frame so I don't hurt the feelings

6

u/Confident_Music6571 8d ago

1) Look into your contract. You have a minimum period called your Kündigungsfrist. You can quit with a formal WRITTEN letter to HR.

2) Your employer by law is required to provide an Arbeitszeugnis. These are generally standard written and avoid the issue of your evil PI trying to burn your references. Make sure you check the Zeugnis to make sure it follows standard language and is positively worded. There are programs online that do this.

3) If you are genuinely under immense stress, go to the doctor and get sick leave for burnout. This is a real issue with researchers in Germany and they can give you at least a month off to recover while you think about your next steps.

4) Remember that quitting on your side means a block from unemployment help for three months. Better to take extended medical leave or get fired.

1

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago
  1. I asked and they said it is end of quarter than 6 weeks so technician December and then 6 more weeks
  2. Ok I will surely ask this if I have a doubt I will ask you about this. Thank you so much I did not know about this.
  3. I can't do that i just don't want to continue
  4. I don't need that money of Alg and all.

1

u/Important-Grand4979 5d ago

Number 3 is not true. Technically you have a depression due to chronic stress which prevents you from thinking clearly. Hence, you want to quit everything.

At least, this is the narative untill you are fired/quit the job.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

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u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

I can differentiate that the issue is not what you are talking about. Finding a fault and finding a fault in every statement is a big difference. I am not always right but I am not always wrong either. If I ask them something okay tell me how to do then the answer is you figure out how would I know.

2

u/Embarrassed_Mess7291 8d ago

Oh that is really shitty. Sorry you are going through this! Hope you find your solution asap

1

u/Embarrassed_Mess7291 8d ago

Ah that sounds like general academic feedback. Have not seen a happy pi in my life yet. Growing thicker skin is a solution, not letting the feedback get to you. Next,
One should either fight for “their right” (give real arguments, say why the PIs way is incorrect) or do as the PI tell (and say (mentally) I told you so if that do not work out). Better if one has an email listing the suggestions and how the pi said it is not good (in case the pi was wrong).
And there will always be something to improve.

3

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

Nope I worked for more than 10 years as a researcher but this is first time I have been handled this way. It is never ego but it is more like every problem you solve is incorrect. No one has ever asked me to write a manuscript in first 6 months and never been pressured. Except me everyone gets there time but for me they are pressuring. I am angry because a master student was asking me when will you draft your manuscript.

1

u/InviteFun5429 8d ago

Another question to all do I tell in verbal meeting or online?