Postdoctoral Training Aligned with the Academic Professoriate

Postdoctoral training in the biological sciences continues to be an important credential for academic careers. Traditionally, this training is focused on an independent research experience. In this article, we describe a postdoctoral training program designed to prepare postdoctoral scholars for the responsibilities of an academic career that balances both research and teaching. The results showed that the research productivity of the postdoctoral scholars involved in the program was not statistically different from that of a comparison group of postdoctoral scholars not in the program. The measures of productivity including scientific seminars presented, students mentored, service contributions, and engagement in professional development activities were significantly greater for the scholars in the program. Moreover, the scholars in the program obtained faculty positions at a threefold greater rate than did a national sample of postdoctoral scholars. This study demonstrates the value of a structured program that combines research and teaching opportunities and serves as a model for aligning training initiatives with specific career trajectories.