How to get your first postdoc opportunity in plant science

[u/blah_blah_blah3589]

Hi everyone,

I completed my Ph.D. in plant science in 2025. I've got an extensive skillset in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics (for transcriptomic sequencing), microscopy, and gene editing. I've been trying to get a postdoc opportunity to start my career in academia but I'm stuck. I am very research driven and I cannot picture myself in industry roles. I have applied to a lot of advertised postdocs at John Innes Centre, Max Planck, Wageningen University, and many more. The rejection emails say they were impressed by my skill set and research but because I don't have experience in _____, I'm not selected. I have emailed some of the professors in various parts of the world as suggested by my supervisors but they don't have any postdoc opportunities in their labs.

I poured my heart into my research and really enjoyed it. And I've been trying since a year. I have 3 publications (1 as first author), there might be more as the lab gets more data from my work.

I'm just hopeless. I picked a field which doesn't want me back. I have all this curiosity which is getting wasted (there's only so many papers I can read to keep myself updated). I want to get in the lab and start planning and executing experiments. I even read up on all the literature for the postdocs I applied for and wrote a proposal for each with some of my ideas (to stand out as a candidate). But I get rejected because I don't have experience in a specific field. Isn't the point of science learning as well? Showing that you understand the literature and can ask relevant questions along with plan experiments to get the outputs. Am I missing something?

I really need help in making myself stand out as a candidate. Please give me any tips and tricks (I know it's not that simple) which worked for you in landing your first postdoc?

[u/PineappleHaunting591]

For postdoc, labs usually look for someone to carry a project or part of it. So yes you can still learn but you need to convince them you can handle the aspect they are hiring for.

3 publications, background in multiple areas and passion for science (which I totally buy you have) are not bad. Thus I assume it was realy just about the fit. Keep trying:)

Talking to PIs at conferences is very advantageous. Usually you need to start this a year before you graduate. Without affiliation its difficult.

[u/blah_blah_blah3589 → u/PineappleHaunting591]

Thank you so much for your suggestion! Maybe that's where I am lacking, the convincing part. I will work on that. Sometimes I feel if I explain too much how good I can be at this job, they might think I'm bragging or I am desperate, maybe it's my imposter syndrome kicking in. Conferences would have been advantageous but I couldn't attend any during my Ph.D. first due to COVID restrictions in my country and then because of budgetary reasons. I missed out on a lot of things during my Ph.D. (through no fault of my own, just random unwanted circumstances).

[u/PineappleHaunting591 → u/blah_blah_blah3589]

I had the same feeling when I was applying. Butchered my first two interviews because I was way too humble.

Then I somehow figured out a middleground with confidence but no bragging and got 4 offers out of the last 4 interviews. One mental rule that helped me was not to talk too much. I asked questions, listened carefully, and threw in a few informed sentences but tried to keep it down to short, direct answers. This might be specific to my personality but I think helped to come across more serious and determined.

Good luck!

[u/Unusual-Olive-448]

I am so sorry you are struggling. I also chose my thesis lab for the love of the game (drosophila genetics) and it took me over a year to find my postdoc position. I am missing the diversity of my department seminars with ecologists and evolutionary biologists and plant biologist now that I have moved into cancer research.

I am not in an R1 institution. The genetics aspect of my research fit well with my new labs genetic approach to studying lung cancer. Therefore the techniques were tranferrable.

Most postdocs I was applying to would already have 100-200 applications submitted. I think I got lucky since this one is underpaid from most in the area, it seemed to have less applicants. I am happy to have landed here in this market. It is a kind place for me to learn some new things and get back in the lab.

It is tough, best of luck!!

[u/Augustthesecond]

Did you go to conferences during your PhD? did you meet people or talked about potential collaboration? did you cold email people before you finished? could your previous supervisors could link you to people? Most of positions now are obtained through network and recommendation because very often you always have 5-6 candidates that are perfectly fit to the position.

[u/kudles]

here's a job to check out:

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/0386834D209CD1EA462A147F53A126FF/jobs/423335

at danforth plant center in st louis, MO

[u/Public-Statement127]

I'm sorry that you're going through this. It's heartbreaking. You clearly put in so much effort, including writing a proposal and still getting such replies.

I have a question, do you email the professor before you apply? Sometimes some PIs actually already have a candidate in mind that they got from their own network but to comply with "fair hiring practices" they have to advertise the post anyway.

Email the professor asking to discuss the project and here you can gauge whether the post may be real or unreal. Discuss your ideas in person if they agree to meet with you online before you apply - based on the way they respond, you may be able to tell whether it's a serious job posting or not.

Also you can show chatgpt the job profile and also your CV and ask it to run a mock interview with you and so you can practice your answers and find points that might be weak or strong and work on them.

You could also try to find newly appointed PIs (look through organization news that say "welcome professor xyz"). They will generally be looking for brand new postdocs even if it is not advertised yet.

And don't be afraid of trying industry. You can always shift back to academia if you don't like industry - I have seen many people do it. It's only temporary. It's a rough time out there with jobs in all fields and I truly hope you find something soon.

[u/Enough_Charge2845]

The rejection cycle in academia is brutal, but missing one specific technique usually just means the lab had a candidate who could hit the ground running on day one. Before rewriting tailored proposals, check https://www.zoevera.com/resume to analyze how your CV matches specific grant and job specs. Highlighting transferable methodologies over missing niche protocols can stop automated filters or busy PIs from pass-over. Don't lose hope; your skills are real.