Celebrating Our Postdoctoral Researchers for Post-Doc Appreciation Week

The week of September 16-20 is Postdoc Appreciation Week, an occasion the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) is marking by reflecting on the contributions of our post-doctoral researchers. This annual celebration was originally created by the National Postdoctoral Association to recognize the pivotal role post-doctoral researchers play in advancing scientific discovery and innovation as well as the challenges they face.

In many cases, post-docs are the hands-on leaders of laboratory research, designing experiments, collecting data, and guiding junior graduate students. Their work is often responsible for generating the preliminary data needed for grant applications, resulting in crucial funding for labs. “Post-doctoral researchers contribute significantly to advancing scientific knowledge by driving innovative projects, mentoring junior scientists, and bringing fresh perspectives to a lab's research focus. Their expertise and dedication are invaluable, often leading to critical discoveries and enhancing the overall productivity and success of the research team,” shared Prof. Vincent Giguère of his experience hosting a number of post-docs in his laboratory.

Phillipe Hutton, a student of Prof. Giguère, explained the impact of mentorship from postdoctoral researchers on his scientific training: "Mentorship from experienced postdocs has been invaluable for my academic journey. Their guidance has helped me develop the technical skills needed to approach scientific challenges with confidence."

Despite their indispensable contributions, post-doctoral researchers face considerable challenges, particularly within the Canadian research ecosystem. A primary issue is the limited availability of stable funding, a crucial requirement for researchers who often have family dependents and may need to re-locate to labs in cities with high costs of living. Canadian post-docs often rely on short-term grants and fellowships, which are fiercely competitive to obtain and still leave many successful applicants with insufficient compensation for their high levels of education and expertise.

Younes Medkour, a post-doctoral researcher in the Giguère lab, shared thoughts on his experience: "I'm thrilled to be working at the forefront of cutting-edge research, where each day brings the opportunity to advance cancer research. I'm also incredibly grateful to have secured funding, as without financial stability I would not be able to fully focus and dedicate my energy to making scientific progress."

Additionally, post-doctoral positions are often characterized by uncertain career prospects. There are a relatively small number of tenure-track positions available in Canadian universities, forcing many post-docs to struggle with long-term job insecurity or consider non-academic career paths. Despite these challenges, many former GCI post-docs have secured principal investigator positions and established their own laboratories after their time at the GCI. The successes of GCI alumni are exemplified in the stories of researchers such as Janane Rahbani, Dominic Roy, and Elena Kuzmin.

Post-docs are a critical engine for scientific advancement, bringing specialized knowledge and skills that significantly contribute to the success of research projects. They represent the future generation of scientific leaders, and are highly deserving of appreciation through Postdoc Appreciation Week and at all times.