Do we need a postdoc(abroad) training?

Occasionally I was asked by trainees, ‘Does the abroad postdoc training or even a postdoc training have to be included in the CV when you apply a PI position in China?’ As a junior researcher growing up in homeland China, I actually experienced something during the past few months. I’ve been talking about this with junior or senior PIs. Here are my perspectives so far and I hope it will help.

1. I actually applied for independent PI positions from three institutions in Beijing, and I have never felt left out during the application and interview issues. Some of the senior researchers even encouraged me much since they really hope the junior but with academic potential scholars, who grow up in homeland, could emerge and contribute to scientific communities in China as they said.
2. It could be not surprising that the local trainees also have the opportunity to lead a team in top institutes like the ones from outside. That is because, we do have a incredible environment to receive a high-quality training in homeland: huge financial supports from the government, and of course the mentorship from our solid supervisor (mostly they got outside training background, decided to come back homeland to start their own independent careers and become your supervisors). Then trust your nation, mentors and yourself.
3. A postdoc training must be needed? Generally yes if your aim is the positions in top institutions. Nowadays you consider to become a PI without any postdoc training probably because you have already published a so-called high-impact papers. Let’s leave ‘the occasionally you are selected to do some important project the mentor make you do’ alone first. However, the first papers should not be your signatures but the comprehensive quality in independent thinking, problem solving and academic scope, etc. People usually confuse the two yet a senior faculty-searching committee doesn’t. There are always exceptions, such as Feng Shao from NIBS, one of my academic idols. He actually did not want a postdoc training in Harvard since he already have so much abilities and views in science then. You should carry no doubts about it as long as you talk with him. This indicates either you firmly believe yourself like Feng Shao did or consider a mature postdoc training for the long run. It is true that the faculty search committee will use much more cautious than you can imagine if you lack that experience.
4. You may say, ‘How do you know that I couldn’t work it out like Feng Shao, or even better than he did?’ Well, we never know. Therefore, on the other hand and needless to say, if you got the specific biomedical questions you are desperately eager to understand by yourself, and calmly believe that your expertise will largely meet your long-term research assumptions beyond PhD, then why not try to go for leading a team directly (become a PI)? The exceptions do happen around.
5. These are some additional suggestions. You always consider the career plan by a lot of reasons. If you wanna a balance between your career plan and families. Keep it that way. You never know which one will be more important. Just follow your heart and make a decision. I’ve heard a PhD student said, ‘I just try my best in the research. If I can not make it finally, I will transit into other fields like a salesman and I will be an outstanding salesman’. ‘Keep looking, don’t settle.’ -by Steve Jobs.
6. If I could go over again and the family issues didn’t show up when I got my PhD, I probably will choose to go outside like ideally Boston for a further training. That is because my personality always guides me to explore something new. This is from the button of my heart. It is so true that the wertern world still majorly take the lead of life science, especailly the original researches, meaning there are more opportunities for traning outside. Meanwhile, I’m also so glad I chose to stay in homeland and join the following amazing team, initiated an brand new direction and balance my families simultaneously. Such an unbelievable and joyful journey!
7. Try something (directionally or/and technologically ) different when you are considering a postdoc plan. Never limit yourself in the warm but narrow circumstances. Be pure to search your own beloved things, definitely not the valuable things in others’ eyes. This will largely help you find a better and true self.
8. Never think about a postdoc plan just because you are not ready for others. Use cautious about a postdoc plan if you are not that eager for a long-term academic career. Every node between two periods could be a gold opportunity to make some change or correction. Be courageous and do not waste it.

What the sharp interview-questions inspired me most was a single line: What is your signature and uniqueness?

Try to think about it often and it will help.