3

Summary: I have finished postdoc #1 (it was negative experience) and started postdoc #2. I have been invited to present work performed during postdoc #1. Is it normal and expected, since it will take away time from my current job?

I have finished a postdoc a few months ago. It wasn't a pleasant experience both from a perspective of human relationship with my supervisor (a fake, hypocrite, toxic and stressful person/experience, nothing like I had faced before in my whole life) and from a research project (too little challenged mentally, left alone most of the time, and badly managed: set to work on non priority tasks most of the time). I will start another postdoc in a few months, in another research group, in another city, in another topic (which I personally find much more interesting).

However, I have been contacted by the 1st postdoc research group, asking me whether I would attend to a conference, to present some of our work. This would be for a few days during the 1st month of my 2nd postdoc, which would start in a few months from now. On a personal level, I do not think it would help me much to present this work (I am not involved in this topic anymore), I would rather work in the new laboratory (every working day will be extremely precious and valuable, since there aren't many). If I were to attend the conference, it would mean the 2nd postdoc would have to pay me a full salary while I would be "working" for the other laboratory.

I would rather not give more details, at least for now. I am wondering whether it is common for people doing several postdocs, to "work" for previous postdocs, or attend to conferences related to previous postdocs, while it removes working time in the new postdoc.

Improve this question
New contributor
untreated_paramediensis_karnik is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering. Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
  • 1
    Yes, it's common. Of course nobody can force you to do it anymore at this point ...
    – xLeitix
    10 hours ago
  • 1
    If your old group invites you back for a talk, it would appear highly likely that they didn't feel about you having been in their group as you do in reverse. In a probably decade-spanning career, it's always good to not burn bridges. Go back and give that talk.
    – gnometorule
    1 hour ago

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
13

Yes, it is common to publish or present previous work while employed at a new position. Usually, the new academic supervisor supports and even encourages this. But you should of course discuss with them.

If you don't want to do this, it is common practice to say something like "I'm sorry, I'm too busy with my new job and I just don't have the time."

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Indeed, I always let my postdocs go to conferences they had arranged before, and assumed their next employer would let them go to any conferences that occurred after they left the group. Sadly it may not be universal, and often funding can be a bit tricky.
    – Jon Custer
    6 hours ago

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .