Anyone notice an increase in unpaid or extremely low paid post-docs

[edieb]

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I am on three separate listserves and, although I could be wrong, I am noticing more and more unpaid fellowships, the last one being an unpaid Part Time position in Tarzana, California. I thought in years gone by that UCSF was the only facility with an unpaid position..

 

[WisNeuro]

I haven't seen many, is at all, reputable internships or postdocs that are unpaid. Although, when you flood the market with high class sizes from for-profits, you'll get people who will take advantage of the ample supply.

This is a problem on the supply side, not the demand.

 

[PHD12]

I am on three separate listserves and, although I could be wrong, I am noticing more and more unpaid fellowships, the last one being an unpaid Part Time position in Tarzana, California. I thought in years gone by that UCSF was the only facility with an unpaid position..

Absolutely. I came across many unpaid and barely paid ones when I applied last year in my state. Many of them are in community clinics or professional schools themselves and are not advertised on listserves either. I think this is a reality for people who don't complete accredited internships or attend professional schools that are not reputable. Psych assistant positions can also often turn into barely paid positions (500-1000) per month due to the lack of patients who can pay out of pocket. If you complete an APA internship (50% of graduates), then you don't have to consider these options at all.

There are many unpaid and low paid ones on CAPIC's website.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

They have been around for years in CA, CHI, FL, and NYC. I think more places are trying it because of the glut of people out there. I think it is unethical and harmful to the field to have post-docs work for free, but it seems that most places are of a different mind.

 

[bmedclinic]

OP, I saw the same thing and had the same response myself. I'm about to start internship and *believe* I have better backup options than that if I dont get the post-docs I desire. That said, I thought I was a shoe in last year with internship....

 

[neuronic]

Yes, this past year I inquired about a few positions that seemed interesting and was informed, "we cannot offer benefits now, but maybe that will change"...responses. Few other professions have individuals who have obtained a Ph.D. working for no compensation. Accruing hours to get licensed should not be compensation enough.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

One of the biggest problems seems to be the difficulty/inability to bill for services provided by unlicensed postdocs. Thus, for a clinically-based fellowship where you aren't necessarily supported by, say, a research grant, the positions really can be money-sinks for the sites that provide them. Yet another reason to do away with the post-doc licensure hours requirements.