少數族裔在實驗室。

很久也沒有更新這處。忽然之間想起了，一個比較敏感的話題，就是實驗室各色人種相處之道。以我以前讀博士的實驗室來說，因為除了小弟之外，全是當地白人（全是根正苗紅的加拿大人。連美國人英國人都沒有），所以大家相處時，是比其他聯合國般的實驗室來得簡單。這當然是極端；多數其他的實驗室，是來自五湖四海之能人異士。由於實驗室地方淺窄，加上習俗言語不同，衝突便隨之而來。

有一些美加的實驗室，也很有趣，是全由外國人當博士後，尤其是來自中國或中東的。教授通常都是來自中國或中東，但也不一定，也有當地白人的。或者有人會認為這很好啊，他們也會欣賞少數族裔的才能。但是我可以很老實的說，這些通常代表那教授是很會剝削壓搾。因為他們知道，這些歷經千辛萬苦拿到工作簽證的外國少數族裔，是不會對任何不公平而發聲的。如果教授也屬同一族裔便尤甚。這些博士後會有一種異常的感恩心態，認為能來到外國已屬萬幸。"少許"苦頭是沒所謂的。也因為人生地不熟的關係，在當地沒朋友沒娛樂，當然便日以繼夜的守在實驗室.....

因為我的舊老闆是整個學系的vice dean，所以這類個案我是時有所聞。舊老闆甚至很疑惑的問我，為何也是來自中國（正確來說是香港）的教授，會特別壓搾中國來的博士後（走法律罅削薪資）。她說：I would expect him to give them special treatment。我只有苦笑回道：well, it is surely special indeed。

Applying for postdocs: does size matter?

And of course it does! Not because I am a guy (haha), but the size of a lab is one of the major factors determining the atmosphere of lab. While bigger (and usually more famous) labs usually indicate good funding in general, it does not guarantee that you are swimming in money and have unlimited resources. In a lab that has 20+ postdocs, very often one project is done by more than three or four people. Hence the resources are divided and you may have to fight for it. Even worse, when it comes to publications, you may have to share co-authorship among two or even three people, and there may be a bitter fight of who comes first in the list. In a way, you are not only competing against other labs who are working on your subject, but also the people in your own environment! Also, your supervisor will not have time at all for guidance, you are pretty much on your own. Imagine the lab meeting schedule in a 20+ postdoc lab! You won't have one for every six months probably!

It basically all boils down to what type of person you are in a working environment. If you are a natural "fighter", then a bigger lab will be good for you. If not, and you need more help from your supervisor, perhaps a smaller lab with 3 or 4 postdocs (plus some students) will suit you the most.

A good link for postdoc interview questions

Here is the link from Nature magazine

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2008/080515/full/nj7193-424b.html

Interviewing for postdoc position (2)

So here are some of the questions that I think are important and often missed (special thanks to my colleague Kelly who gave me lots of advice):

1. (To the PI) Will I be able to work on what I have been doing in your lab when I start my new lab? Need to ask this because some PIs are not as generous as you have thought, esp. for the new ones because they are usually more insecure. That's why working for a really big/famous lab could be great in this sense, because usually the PI doesn't really care if you take away some of his/her stuff.

2. (To the people working in the lab) What kind of adjectives would you describe your PI/lab environment? Would you say collegial, competitive, supportive, fun, serious, generous, ... ? The trick is to give them some adjectives to choose, and throw in some negative ones among the good ones, so they won't feel alarmed when they give you the bad ones. If you don't give them any words, more likely they won't say much, or will give you the standard empty phrases like "it is okay, it is good..etc"

3. (To the PI) Will I get maternity/paternity leave? Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone (not me for sure!) but believe it or not in this age there are still assholes out there who is totally against female scientists who want to have a family/babies!

4. (To the PI) Do you support people going to conferences? For this, it is not just about monetary support (chances are you will have your own travel allowance), but also whether he/she will let you take some time off to go to a conference. I know some PIs are not really keen on sending the trainees out to a conference, but would rather go him or herself!

Interviewing for postdoc position (1)

Usually when you are applying for postdoc, you will be asked to give a talk at the institute/university. This is pretty standard so I won't dwell on this point.

What I would like to point out is that it is not just they interviewing you, but also you interviewing them. In a way, once they have invited you for a talk, they pretty much want to have you in their labs. The interview is more like a chance for you to see if you like their research environment/city/etc.

So do spend more time/effort to ask questions about the lab, and their research philosophy. Equally important is the people that will be working with you..are they nice? supportive? or competitive? Do you think you will click with those guys? There is no right or wrong in this kinda stuff..everyone is different. So go with your gut feelings..if you don't feel right, it probably isn't right for you, even if the lab is world-renowned.

If you have the chance, it is actually a very good idea to ask the people who has just worked in the lab previously. They are in a better position to say whatever they want, esp. bad things about the lab.

And of course it goes without saying that you should be familiar with the work of the lab....that means you should have read all the new papers from the lab, and the relevant background information....

Applying for postdoc: the letter

Most of the time the PIs that you want to work for don't really know you that well, even if you have talked to him or her a couple of times before. So how do you write the first email to him saying that you want to work in his or her lab? What I have done is simple, it is so simple that maybe it is not really worth mentioning: I just tell him/her what I am asking for in this email (two lines), my PhD project (a short paragraph), why I am interested in his/her work (a couple of lines), and then conclude by saying something like visiting his/her lab. I kept it really short and simple, because these people probably have tons of emails everyday and they don't really want the story of your life. Most importantly, attach your CV. That's probably the first thing they want to see anyway.

搵博士後o既經驗(1)

講開博士後，不如略略講下我點搵同點揀博士後。
第一件另我有少少驚奇既事，係差唔多所有既PI都有邀請我去interview。我申請既差唔多都係大粒佬。個個都係我呢行數一數二既大人物。我當時有D玩野，諗住試下冇壞，唔得咪唔得。點知個個一個禮拜內就有回覆。我心諗，乜佢地原來咁得閒ga。
所以，我認為申請博士後可以大膽D。冇乜所謂。最好係整個表，好似中一派位咁，DB，喇渣，華仁，英華，先email頭四個，唔得，再下四個，餘此類推。一次唔好email太多, 頂嚨四個, 以免攪到你要同十個人say no。咁人地好冇癮架。搞到你好似運桔咁，就唔好啦。
下次再傾下點去推銷自己。