Postdocs

Postdoctoral fellows at Brandeis are defined as having received a PhD or MD and are continuing their training in research under the mentorship of a Brandeis faculty member.

There are from 80 to 100 postdoctoral fellows working in the Division of Science. We are a medium-sized university that offers a thriving environment with engaged faculty who are interested in helping postdocs further their research.

Postdoc Resources

At Brandeis, there are three types of Postdoctoral appointees:

  • Postdoctoral Associate is supported by a sponsor’s funding. They are considered a staff member. 
  • Postdoctoral Fellow is supported by a foundation or other non-federal agency. They are not considered staff.
  • NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Fellow is supported by a NRSA institutional training grant or an NRSA individual fellowship.

How to Get Connected

BUPA and IPRC

The Brandeis University Postdoctoral Association (BUPA) is a group of postdoctoral associates and fellows from all of the departments and programs at Brandeis University. BUPA was created in order to facilitate social and professional networking amongst Brandeis postdocs.

The Invited Postdoc Research Colloquium (IPRC) brings two senior Neuroscience postdocs from outside Brandeis to present a seminar and discuss their research with Brandeis faculty and postdocs. This provides an opportunity for the speakers to receive feedback and for our postdocs to learn about some of the research being performed outside Brandeis.

Seminars and Events

Seminars and events are listed in several places, see Seminars and Events.

Automatic Reminders

Subscribing to sciseminarsweekly-group will provide you with a daily reminder via e-mail about upcoming seminars. This is highly recommended. 

Mailing Lists

Every postdoc should subscribe to at least one postdoc email list in Google Groups. Most labs have their own mailing lists that you should also subscribe to.

Safety Training

Consult with your advisor about laboratory safety, and undertake any necessary training promptly. See Lab Safety. Some parts of the safety training can be done before arriving at Brandeis if you set up a sponsored email account.

  •  For most labs, you will have to do the online chemical safety course at www.boston-consortium.org to get a key.
  •  Work with human subjects, vertebrate animals, biosafety hazards, etc. will require additional training. Such training is overseen by the Office of Research Administration

The ORA Handout for New Life Science Graduate Students (login required) almost entirely also applies to new postdocs in the life sciences

Responsible Conduct of Research

We have a three-fold plan for training postdocs in the responsible conduct of research.

  1. CITI Responsible Conduct of Research Online Training This   must be completed within 60 days after starting.   Life scientists should select Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research Course. Most other scientists should select Physical Science Responsible Conduct of Research Course.
  2. The Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research Minicourse is a two-day workshop on Responsible Conduct of Research for students and postdocs in the Sciences who are required to undertake this training. The topics to be covered in this workshop will include topics deemed relevant across the Division of Science.
  3. PIs are expected to discuss responsible conduct at lab meetings.