Hi all,
The titles are important and to treat post-doc as students is abusive and do not show how post docs are important for the PI, first level, and for the place where they are working Department, second level, and the institution, third level. At Penn State the post-docs are considered as being in "formation". This is not case for a post docs because we are working and we should be treated as workers. Our work is the research that we produce. This remark is important because our "status"=rights, changes if we are treated as students or as workers. In my personal opinion, post-docs are workers not a limbo=not workers, not students. This should be the definition for a post-doc at Penn State:
All researchers engaged in a research career should be recognised as professionals and be treated accordingly. This should commence at the beginning of their careers, namely at postgraduate level, and should
include all levels, regardless of their classification at national level (e.g. employee, postgraduate student, doctoral candidate, postdoctoral fellow, civil servants). www.europa.eu/eracareers/pdf/am509774CEE_EN_E4.pdf
If Penn State wants to attract the best, Penn State should offer a minimal standard to the future post-docs.
Carpe diem,
Paulo
State College 23 July 2008
