Post-docs Offer Independence Posted on January 20, 2009 Dr. Keith A. Trujillo talks about the importance of post graduate work in the biomedical sciences.

So I think that a good post-doc is really required, particularly in the biomedical sciences, to be able to establish yourself as an independent investigator and move on.

It's real interesting. As a graduate student you're working at a certain level, and that level is very protected. And you're often times having somebody very close to you that's really assisting you through the research, and so you don't you don't have that sense of independence.

And that's what the post-doctoral fellowship offers you is that sense of independence. You still have that safety net. You've got somebody working above you and offering you advice, but you're often given more free reign to explore new ideas and to do new things.

And as a post-doc you should also get experience in seeking funding. Obviously a career in research requires that you seek out funding for your research and especially in the biomedical sciences, which tend to be very expensive. And so the post-doctoral experience allows you that opportunity to engage in seeking out funding, but in this protected environment where your paycheck isn't dependent on the grant.

And so that experience is, I believe, critical.