What's the new top postdoc?

[QQ]

Now that there are no more RWJ postdocs, what are the most prestigious postdoc opportunities for health scholars? For example, is it better to train at an Ivy or other top school vs. something with the government (NIH/NSF)?

[Pop center]

For health researchers probably the most prestigious post-doc is to get an F-32 award form NIH which you can take anywhere you please. Aside from that I would strongly recommend a postdoc at one of the NIH-funded population centers. (michigan, UNC, wisconsin, texas, penn state, penn etc.)

As a former RWJ fellow myself it is so sad to see them go away. They were basically a full-employment program for population health researchers.

Now the market will be glutted with 30 or so high level candidates that would have otherwise done RWJ. Increases the competition even more.

[in the end - no difference]

Oct 17, 2014 9:03:02 GMT -5 Pop center said:

For health researchers probably the most prestigious post-doc is to get an F-32 award form NIH which you can take anywhere you please. Aside from that I would strongly recommend a postdoc at one of the NIH-funded population centers. (michigan, UNC, wisconsin, texas, penn state, penn etc.)

As a former RWJ fellow myself it is so sad to see them go away. They were basically a full-employment program for population health researchers.

Now the market will be glutted with 30 or so high level candidates that would have otherwise done RWJ. Increases the competition even more.

I agree with your advice except for the last sentence.  

Glut?  In the short-term yes.  In the long-term, no.  The RWJ-ers would eventually be on the market and take faculty positions from "other people" anyway.  

Also, not sure where you got 30 from.  I thought they only took 3-5 Sociologists per year?   Do you mean applicants?  

[also]

Oct 17, 2014 9:26:38 GMT -5 in the end - no difference said:

Oct 17, 2014 9:03:02 GMT -5 Pop center said:

For health researchers probably the most prestigious post-doc is to get an F-32 award form NIH which you can take anywhere you please. Aside from that I would strongly recommend a postdoc at one of the NIH-funded population centers. (michigan, UNC, wisconsin, texas, penn state, penn etc.)

As a former RWJ fellow myself it is so sad to see them go away. They were basically a full-employment program for population health researchers.

Now the market will be glutted with 30 or so high level candidates that would have otherwise done RWJ. Increases the competition even more.

I agree with your advice except for the last sentence.  

Glut?  In the short-term yes.  In the long-term, no.  The RWJ-ers would eventually be on the market and take faculty positions from "other people" anyway.  

Also, not sure where you got 30 from.  I thought they only took 3-5 Sociologists per year?   Do you mean applicants?  

Also, a bunch of those people (in recent years) wound up taking faculty jobs and deferring them anyway.

[and i understand]

why they stopped RWJ. It wasn't necessary. These stars would were going to do this research anyway. All it did was allow them to get a headstart on tenure and their research. "The rich get richer", if you will. For those that did not already secure employment, it also was a signaling mechanism that all-but-guaranteed a top 20 job.

[Rice]

I've heard so many good things about this program (only two openings per year). Great faculty to work with and recent Rice postdocs have been insanely productive.

[Ditto]

On pop centers and Rice. Plus centers in your field (eg, Stanford Inequality) and/or with well-connected thought leaders.

In other words: There isn't one.

[whatabout]

I've seen some postings recently for Michigan's NCID postdoc fellowship. Does anyone have any additional information on it?

[try..]

Try asking q's on SJMR. Much larger pop.