As PhD students approach the end of their contract, one question often comes up in career conversations: ‘Should I do a postdoc?’ The answer isn’t straightforward – it depends on goals, circumstances, and career plans. Isabelle Kohler shares her perspectives on the pros and cons of a postdoc fellowship and breaks down the decision that can shape a career trajectory.

‘Should I do a postdoc?’ – this question comes up in many conversations I have with PhD students approaching the end of their contract. It’s understandable: many PhD graduates remain unsure about their next step, don’t know what a postdoc can bring them, wonder whether they need to go abroad for a postdoc, and doubt whether it could be considered a negative move for a career in industry. There’s also a growing trend online of dismissing postdoc fellowships, highlighting the low salaries and bad working conditions of postdocs in some countries.

My postdoc at Leiden University Medical Center was one of the nicest periods of my career. I had my own grant, worked with different clinical partners, built a lot of new skills, extended my network, made friends, and grew immensely on both a professional and personal side. Although the last weeks were very challenging as I struggled to find a new job, I would choose the same path in a heartbeat.