Definition

1. Noun:
   • A postdoctoral researcher or fellow: A scholar who holds a doctoral degree (PhD) and is engaged in temporary, supervised research or scholarly work to gain further experience and training in their academic field.
   • A postdoctoral position or grant: The temporary appointment or the funding that supports advanced research or study after the completion of a doctorate.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Person):
  • After earning her PhD, she secured a post doc at a prestigious university to continue her work on quantum computing.
  • The lab is looking to hire a new post doc to assist with the clinical trial data analysis.
• Noun (Position/Grant):
  • He was awarded a two-year post doc to study ancient manuscripts at the national library.
  • Funding for her post doc comes from a government science foundation.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used informally and can be written as "postdoc." The formal, adjectival form is "postdoctoral."
• "To do a post doc": To undertake a postdoctoral research position.
  • Most new PhDs in the life sciences plan to do a post doc before seeking a permanent faculty position.

Variants and Related Words

• Postdoctoral (adj): Relating to or characteristic of postdoctoral study or researchers.
  • She is in a postdoctoral fellowship program.
• Postdoctorate (n/adj): A less common variant synonymous with postdoctoral.
• Postdoctoral researcher/fellow/scholar (n): More formal terms for a person in a postdoctoral role.

Synonyms

• Postdoctoral fellow/researcher: (Formal synonym for the person)
• Research associate: (A common job title for a postdoctoral researcher in some institutions)

Related Phrases

• Postdoctoral advisor/mentor: The senior researcher who supervises a post doc.
• Postdoctoral training: The period of advanced research and skill development undertaken as a post doc.

Noun

1. a scholar or researcher who is involved in academic study beyond the level of a doctoral degree
2. a grant that funds postdoctoral study or research