Am I qualified for a postdoc?

[rytydy]

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I am a MD that did all of my training in Germany (at a German university, but I am an American citizen). I have the title Dr. med- which is an academic titel but in most cases not comparable to a PhD attained in the US.

I wish to come to the US for several years as a postdoc (in the area of Psychiatry- psychopharmacology) before returning to Germany to finish my residency. I have quite a bit of research experience and good references- I worked as a research assistant part time for several years and I did my Dr. med. work in an experimental setting- but my publication list is very weak. I have three publications but none are first author and two are in an unrelated field (hemotology). Will this pose a big problem when looking for postdoc positions?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!! 🙂

 

[Scottish Chap]

I am a MD that did all of my training in Germany (at a German university, but I am an American citizen). I have the title Dr. med- which is an academic titel but in most cases not comparable to a PhD attained in the US.

I wish to come to the US for several years as a postdoc (in the area of Psychiatry- psychopharmacology) before returning to Germany to finish my residency. I have quite a bit of research experience and good references- I worked as a research assistant part time for several years and I did my Dr. med. work in an experimental setting- but my publication list is very weak. I have three publications but none are first author and two are in an unrelated field (hemotology). Will this pose a big problem when looking for postdoc positions?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!! 🙂

"Postdoc." training in research is just a term used for research after a doctoral degree, so you qualify. It's less common to find MDs in pure research than PhDs but, with your research training, you should find a postdoc. I would start by informally e-mailing and/or sending your CV to lab directors in the U.S. whom you would like to work with. Emphasize that you won't need a work visa. Good luck!

 

[rytydy]

Thank you for the response!

I am most concerned about my lack of first author papers- I have been told that 3-5 is average when applying for a postdoc!? The system over here is very different and it is not uncommon to be Dr. med. with no first author papers and still go on to build a good research career.

I will give it my best!!

 

[Neuronix]

You shouldn't have much trouble. American labs are hurting for post-docs. The lack of publications is only a minor issue. A EU trained American citizen shouldn't have any handicap versus an American MD (except for the relative lack of connections). As an MD if you can talk intelligently about your goals and put together a good presentation about your former research, I bet you'll land somewhere in your top-5.

 

[bd4727]

You shouldn't have much trouble. American labs are hurting for post-docs. The lack of publications is only a minor issue. A EU trained American citizen shouldn't have any handicap versus an American MD (except for the relative lack of connections). As an MD if you can talk intelligently about your goals and put together a good presentation about your former research, I bet you'll land somewhere in your top-5.

Not to mention that most psychiatry labs would love to have an MD doing a postdoc (I assume) and that definitely does not happen often in the US.