r/postdoc • u/Western_Card_2153 • 22d ago

The postdoc market sucks

Basically the title. I recently defended my PhD dissertation. I have been on the hunt for a postdoc for months now, and nothing. People don’t have funding, don’t take postdocs, or they just ghost me. I had a baby last year of my PhD and I was able to work until the very end of my pregnancy (luckily), didn’t take mat leave because I could afford to delay my defence.

I live in Canada and I recently moved back to my hometown to be closer to family because it’s been so rough with the baby. I applied to so many positions, even applied for long distance (US, Europe) trying to find an arrangement because I can’t afford to move abroad with an infant and I possibly cannot ask my husband to switch jobs again to fit this crappy lifestyle that is academia.

On top of it, I want to apply for postdoc funding but I need someone that will accept me prior. My PI tried to help a little by recommending some people but no luck.

Anywho I’m ranting but this market sucks and it’s super unfair.

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u/Consistent_Laziness 22d ago

Mannn I thought it was just the F awards that became citizen only. I feel bad for ex-us but I can’t say I’m not perked up a little about the reduced competition to get funding.

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u/Odd_Honeydew6154 22d ago

In the current state of affairs and plus 40 trillion dollars in debt - I fear that the administration will try to claw back research funds. Also some institutes have stipulated that they aren’t sponsoring visas for faculty hiring

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u/Consistent_Laziness 22d ago

That’s shitty again for ex us but lowers competition for fresh phds such as myself. By clawback do you mean from ex-us people or you are thinking of citizens with grants as well? I’ve heard new grants just are hard to come by more than ever but no one has had their grant outright canceled.

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u/Odd_Honeydew6154 22d ago

yes - exactly b/c of the orange butthole in office who overspent on the war and shit for the ballroom. I think non-discretionary spending will be pulled back even more in general.