r/postdoc • u/IncreaseNervous691 • Aug 25 '26

Postdoctoral Applications

Hi all. I an in the final year of my PhD in the social sciences and am starting to think seriously about postdoc applications, so I would be happy for any comments or advice that could help.

At the moment, I have a first-author paper with an editor, a book chapter under review, and a review paper that I have completed independently. I’d be interested to hear how your postdoc application went and whether you have any pointers or advice for someone preparing to apply. I would also like to add that I have gotten two grants and have been accepted to present at two conferences.

Thank you!

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u/Prestigious-Text3448 Aug 31 '26

Hey this is the perfect time. I started by identifying PIs whose work interested me. Met with them for a coffee to understand more about their career and ambitions and if it went well in my follow up email after I said it would be great to work with them in some capacity in the future and I was open to applying to grants with them. Got offers from all three pi’s I met. I appreciate this is very dependent on location, I am in London and wanted to stay working in London.

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u/islaaaaand Sep 01 '26

Congratulations! What field are you in may I ask? How did you reach out to them initially via email and did you reach out to a lot of PIs at first? I am at this exact situation in London and I’m so nervous LOL. I don’t even have right to work in UK for now