Hi Jeremy,
I have also been on both sides recently. Instead of emailing, I would
give postdoc 2 a call. People are more willing to give out "unofficial"
information such as your standing in the competition by phone. If the
answer is vague I would take postdoc 1. If you take postdoc 1, I think
you owe them staying there approximately as long as they are making a
firm commitment for. An exception would be if you told them ahead of
time that you are still applying at other places and may pull out.
Talking about telling them: you just posted your dilemma publicly on a
list with your name attached to it. If your potential postdoc adviser
isn't completely out of touch she/he will learn about your thoughts on
pulling out and such. Therefore, it may be the best to tell them now
directly instead of letting them learn via ecolog-l.
Good luck,
Volker
Jeremy L. Conkle wrote:
<div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed">I
am completing my PhD this spring and have been applying for
post-docs. I have a dilemma and I would like to ask the all knowing
ECO-LOG if they have some good advice for me.
<br>
<br>I have been offered one post-doc (we will call it *post-doc 1*) doing
research that is in line with what I do, and also will expand my
knowledge base drastically. However, I have also recently interviewed
for another post-doc (which we will call *post-doc 2*) that will also be
great for me and is closer to family and in a place I would love to
live. It also pays almost 2x as much. Basically *post-doc 2* is my first
choice, but *post-doc 1* is also a great option.
<br>
<br>The professor at *post-doc 1* needs an answer asap, because the
position
needs to be filled soon. He gave me time to figure out *post-doc 2* or
until he found another suitable candidate. He found another
candidate
and now needs an answer, so he is giving me first right of
refusal. I
won't officially hear back from *post-doc 2* until early April.
I sent
the researcher I interviewed with at *post-doc 2 *an e-mail to
explain
my situation and to ask him let me know if I was at least still being
considered for the position. That way I could make a decision on
*post-doc 1*. I haven't heard back yet from my e-mail to
*post-doc 2
*and I don't want to leave the *post-doc 1* professor hanging and
potentially miss out on both opportunities.
<br>
<br>Do you have any suggestions. I have been told that I should
just accept
*post-doc 1* and then back-out if I get *post-doc 2*. I am not
sure if
this is the best course of action and I wanted to get some
feedback? I
was thinking I should just send the *post-doc 1 *professor an e-mail
explaining my situation and ask for a few more days while I wait for
*post-doc 2 *to respond to my e-mail.
<br>
<br>Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
<br>
<br>Jeremy Conkle
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