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Within about 4 months, J. received three offers for faculty positions.

Most people would say I've made all the correct calls, but I'm still disappointed with how it's all come out, even if I have learned a lot in the process.

"Andrea treats me like someone who’s intelligent enough to run a laboratory experiment by himself, but she’s always there for questions. She’ll have a long conversation with a former student who’s visiting from med school, or talk to us about our futures, or hang out and discuss TV. She’s your friend, and she cares about you." --Matthew Mansh

The trick is to meet conflict head on with the goal of managing it, not winning.

GREAT is now transforming its committee on postdocs into a body that will have its own independent, university-appointed membership, elected leadership, and meetings.

"When you have happy employees that know that you care about them, they're more loyal and work hard to show you that they can make things work." --Donna Davila

"I have no doubt that I would have more published papers if I didn't have my family, but I wouldn't be as happy as I am now, by any stretch." --Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Boston University

"Substantially more scientists and engineers graduate from U.S. universities than can find attractive career openings in the U.S. workforce, [and] the postdoc population, which has grown very rapidly in U.S. universities and is recruited increasingly from abroad, looks more like a pool of low-cost research lab workers with limited career prospects than a high-quality training program for soon-to-be academic researchers." --Michael Teitelbaum

Sometimes, accepting a contract position is what an employee needs to jump-start a career.

"We are trying to define new syndromes and new diseases in human genetics," says M.D.-Ph.D. Heather Mefford.

The single most important evidence of productive research in industry is the development of research applications that can return value on shareholders' investments.

If you want to find hidden value in the market for employment, you have to cast a wide net.

"Functionally, there's no unemployment of geoscientists right now." Cindy Martinez, American Geological Institute

Stick to your dream and keep at it. There will be difficulties--anybody who does things experiences failures. Take them as a lesson in life and keep trying.

"If we hadn't done this, the danger would be a bit of a revolving door." CFI president Eliot Phillipson

I've learned that when starting and moving through a career, it is critical to remain flexible and open to all opportunities and challenges, to stay curious and confident, to explore new ideas and areas, and to continually create and nurture networks with colleagues and mentors in related fields.

To attract the best candidates, it will be in the interest of the university to formulate guidelines and policies that reflect the value of the postdocs to the university's mission.

"Science is one of these things where one does need their eyes more so than their legs or arms or hearing, so a lot of people are surprised when they find out I am in the biomedical research field."