Questions to be Answered

Plan to visit the laboratory to meet the mentor and current lab members before accepting a position. You need a personal visit to discern whether this is an environment and group of people that you would enjoy being around for several years.

 During the interview, you should ascertain:

• Current level and sources of funding of the research program
   
• Facilities/resources available
   
• Length of guaranteed financial support
   
• Will you be required/allowed to write a postdoctoral grant proposal?
   
• Mentor’s expectations for you - what will be your role in the lab?
   
• Technical assistance for your experiments - student or technician?
   
• Will the mentor determine the research program or will you have some autonomy?
   
• Philosophy on taking part of project as your own independent research
   
• Authorship practices – will you contribute to other papers besides your first author papers?
   
• Policy on travel to conferences
   
• Expected work hours
   
• Are there regular laboratory meetings to review progress and discuss science?
   
• Does the PI have time for mentoring?
   
• Is there a postdoc office that provides professional development training?
   
• Other responsibilities/opportunities
  • Grantwriting
  • Training graduate students
  • Teaching
  • Taking additional classes