[balanoceous]

I am a post-doc in one of the ivory towers. I've been in the system a long time (technician, MD, PhD, residency, fellowship, now post doc). Jeez!

I am a computational immunologist who studies cancer immunotherapy, if it matters. I am not independently wealthy or blah blah. I am a normal everyday person.

I agree academia is nonsensical for the many reasons that are frequently discussed in HN.

Mine is not a perspective I see represented here often: I absolutely love my job as a post doc. Everyone is different - I get a lot of joy from my work. Most of my friends in science at different stages feel more or less the same (albeit everyone complains).

I could get paid 10x more or work half as much, maybe both at the same time. So to answer the question here, why do people do this? Cuz I like it. Don't make everything so complicated (as an academic, that is my job).

[2b3a51]

Good for you.

Would the pay scales below for post-doc positions be about rightish or make you laugh hysterically?

https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/postdocs

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-and-pensions/...

Just to put a rough scale on things

[balanoceous]

Relative to my salary as a board certified physician in private practice, I take about a 10x pay cut.

I guess since I sling code/data I take a pretty nice pay cut relative to that also.

Whoops!

[throwawayarnty]

I think the main issues with postdoc even if it’s enjoyable is that there is an expiry date to how long one can postdoc.

Even if you enjoy postdoc, some places won’t let you stay for more than 4 or 5 years.

If permanent postdoc positions existed, I am sure many people would view it favourably, especially if the lab is a good environment.