So… Time has moved on at an alarming pace and the end of Febuary fast approaches. Thankfully my hunt for something to do after #westernu has been greatly helped by a few websites:
First and foremost the AAS Job Register and the equally helpful EAS Job Register.
(Now I may have just been exceptionally lucky in terms of what has been posted in the past month, but I have already made one application and I am in the process of a second. So, all I can say is have a look).
Another thing that occurred to me this month is that there are a number of people/groups with whom I would really really like to work or where I know our research interests cross paths. I realised that not all of these will be actively looking for PostDocs. So then, I wondered, can I simply write to these people to display my interest to them?
After discussion with a few of the faculty I have been left with this advice: while it is fine to email regarding interest in working with a group make sure you outline your current research, your research interests, what aspects of their work you are particularly interested in, and most importantly how you will benefit their research. Let us not forget, if we are considering this option, in some cases it will be advantageous to have applied for funding before approaching the people in question. In fact #NSERC have funding opportunities available for exactly that, the Postdoctoral Fellowship.
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You should be all means contact them: but not with a “formula” email. If you want more impact I would write a short, “personal” letter and snail mail it explaining how you could be an asset to the group. If you get the opportunity to go to a meeting network as much as possible, even though that requires being social (see “the social side of science” on this very blog). And of course if you have your own funding you will have many open doors to pick from!