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"I think there is an increased awareness of the contributions postdocs make."

Understanding the brain is considered one of the grand quests of science, partly due to the conviction that the brain holds the key to what makes us human.

Collectively, the US government is the largest single employer in America, filling approximately 1.6 million full-time, permanent positions; however, in reality, the US government consists of several hundred smaller employers, each of which has its own individual function and culture. As a result, the opportunities offered by government jobs are wide ranging, and the needs are diverse.

In the idealized career path, a scientist goes straight from earning an undergraduate degree to graduate school, and then on to a postdoc and eventual employment, without breaks between positions. For various reasons, however, not all scientists' career paths are nearly so linear.

Think “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” applies only to the military? This too happens in the sciences, at all levels, from academia and industry to professional societies.

The number of women embarking on science careers has been increasing steadily during the past several decades. Although women scientists continue to be underrepresented at the faculty level, many women have established rewarding and successful careers in science—thanks in part to having had role models and mentors whose paths they could follow.

After completing their graduate studies, many scientists have moved away from the bench and found rewarding careers in areas from grant administration to venture capital. While still making use of the training and skills gained during graduate school, these "alternative" careers are a better match for many.

You've reached a career milestone: managing your own lab. This recognition of your achievements attests to your hard work, attention to detail, commitment to a goal—and outstanding science. But be prepared. You're about to face challenges you may not have considered.

Systems biology and bioinformatics want you. These highly collaborative fields are looking for biologists, engineers, chemists, mathematicians, and computer programmers.

The tapas of Barcelona, the Prado of Madrid, and the architecture of Sevilla are all international draws to the nation of Spain, but its scientific heritage has not always been so noteworthy.

Now over a decade old, Professional Science Master's degrees are proving themselves to be a practical and valuable alternative to a Ph.D.

Scientists who have done a foreign postdoc or sabbatical say it's the experience of a lifetime, and are eager to offer encouragement and advice.

Faced with a shaky economy and an increasingly competitive job market, postdocs are being forced to take a long-term view of their positions.

With the German Government now five years into a major program for investment in scientific research and innovation, we take a look at the new career opportunities that have opened up.

Think “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” applies only to the military? This too happens in the sciences, at all levels, from academia and industry to professional societies.

Academic research careers consist of a succession of ranks within a fairly predictable time frame. There are some steps researchers can take to make sure that this progression goes as planned.

There are clever means and methods to remedy even the most serious of postdoc slip-ups.

With the dawn of personalized medicine, a burst of information has been brought forth that needs wrangling in order to advance cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Bioprocessing is an expanding field encompassing any process that uses living cells or their components to obtain desired products, such as biofuels and therapeutics.

Despite tighter budgets, the attributes contributing to a successful postdoc experience have not changed, according to the postdoc supervisors who completed this year's annual survey for Science Careers.