Scientific Lecturing

zuutroy

How much post-doc experience would people say is necessary before you'd be considered for lecturing positions? The thing is that during most post-docs, the teaching experience is purely supervising research students rather than delivering classes.
It seems to me that people are primarily recruited on the merits of their research and ability to bring in bags of money and international collaborations, rather than any teaching experience.

mrboswell

Hey zuutroy, I've just dropped out of a PhD after a year of no results but over the years I have seen a number of people getting jobs as lecturers with little post-doc experience. I think your right but the tutorial/supervision thing is important - they will want to see it on your CV. It's important to remember that the title post-doc is generally given to someone that has a PhD but is not a lecturer. In most cases it's people who have a good relationship with the university them studied in or if a particular university has research aims that are suited to the area of experience that you did your PhD in. I have seen people who worked in industry getting lecture spots that didn't necessarily do post-doc research.
I would suggest that you get involved in tutorials and if you can organising labs in 1st year etc. I know DCU are looking for someone for a 3 year spot in 1st year Chemistry labs at the moment. Also try to get involved with a university that has common research platforms with what your PhD was based on.

Best of luck