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Is a one-year postdoc worth doing?

I

I got offered a one-year postdoc in life sciences. I am slightly concerned about the short timeframe. Has anyone done a one-year postdoc? Would you recommend doing one?

J

I always thought a 1 year post doc was a waste of time until I said this to a well respected and successful professor with a lot of experience with post docs and she said that sometimes post docs are only a year as at first especially if the PI doesn't know the person. So the year will be a chance to show your skills and demonstrate that you're suitable to the role/research. Basically for some PIs they strategically only state it's 1 year, then they'll extend later on.
But of course there will be those post docs that are definitely only 1 year due to requirements/funding restrictions.

I would say go for it. It's experience at the end of the day. And any post doc is hard to get, so congratulate yourself and grab it with both hands :)

One year post-docs aren't perfect but better than nothing. If it is a well established lab with a clear plan you can be rather productive in that year and get a lot done in that time. It is a chance to build your CV so you can get something better in the future. A one year post-doc is nothing more than a stepping stone to better job in that university or somewhere else.

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