The PostDocs Forum

By: Ben Mudrak

Postdocs going into academia know that the best way to land a job at the next level is to publish frequently in high-impact journals. Undoubtedly, publications describing one’s research are the currency of highest value, especially when these publications define the research program that will form the basis of a future career as a principal investigator. However, for postdocs, such publications depend heavily on the availability and opinions of an advisor, and research is a fickle world full of time-consuming false leads and frustrating experiments that unravel your hypotheses. Unbeknownst to many postdocs, there are other ways to produce peer-reviewed publications. Of course, these alternative publications still require time and effort, but they can be based on activities outside of research that postdocs are often engaged in already.

Mentoring Undergraduates
Many postdocs find themselves mentoring undergraduate students at some point. This endeavor can be tedious and frustrating at times, but the process can also be rewarding for both the undergraduate, who gains a new appreciation for science, and the postdoc, who gains valuable mentoring skills. In an ideal world, the undergraduate’s efforts will contribute directly to a mainstream scientific publication. However, this is not often the case. Even when the research results are less than desirable, there is still an opportunity to publish and even to involve the undergraduate in the process.
First, results that do not merit inclusion in a high-impact journal (or even a field-specific journal) may be appropriate for a smaller journal, especially one that invites the results of undergraduate research. Many of these journals are regional; examples include the Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science and Papers and Pubs, a new journal housed at the University of North Georgia that specifically focuses on presenting the results of undergraduate research. Similar journals willing to publish undergraduate research exist across the country. Some journals, such as the Journal of Young Investigators, actually involve undergraduates in the peer review process. Second, a reflection on the process of mentoring an undergraduate can provide important information that may be appropriate for a commentary article in a teaching and learning journal. For example, Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring, a new journal housed at Elon University, welcomes submissions written jointly by a student and mentor that describe the challenges and evolution of a research project.

Teaching
If you find yourself teaching a course or serving as a TA, some experiences or course materials may also be publishable. A number of journals accept pedagogical research or descriptions of newly developed materials. In most cases, it is necessary to provide evidence that new teaching strategies represent an improvement, but such evidence can be generated with some planning (e.g., through tests or surveys). If you are invited to produce a new lecture or lab, talk with the course instructor about the possibility of reporting your developed material. Several journals, including Bioscene: Journal of College Biology Teaching, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, Bioscience Education, and numerous others, specifically focus on teaching college biology. Take the time to see if a course or module you design is worth sharing with one of these journals. If you are planning to enter a career based on teaching, the experience of publishing pedagogical research will be invaluable. Even if you will not be doing much teaching down the road, those of us who are teaching college biology will appreciate reading about new materials and strategies that have worked well for others.

The Postdoctoral Experience
Even if mentoring and teaching are not viable sources of publishable material, there is still a forum for publications about simply being a postdoc. A new journal focusing on the postdoctoral experience (Journal of Postdoctoral Affairs) was recently launched. Research articles focusing on the nature of postdoctoral positions or the motivations and concerns of postdocs are solicited by the journal, but shorter articles are also appropriate. For example, descriptions of an innovative postdoctoral program, commentaries on issues faced by postdocs, or opinion pieces about recent research involving postdocs all have a place in the journal.

Conclusion
Basically, if it affects you as a postdoc, it is probably an appropriate topic for a well-constructed, peer-reviewed article that can be published somewhere. These publications do not carry the cachet of a Science paper, but they do illustrate a commitment to scholarship in all of its forms and the ability to successfully navigate the processes of writing a manuscript and peer review. If your end goal is a position at a teaching-intensive university, the ability to engage in scholarship beyond research at the bench could actually be viewed as an asset on the job market. Take advantage of the ever-increasing number of peer-reviewed journals to share your experiences and strengthen your CV.

Ben Mudrak is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studies the pathogen that causes cholera. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Biology at Elon University.