PhD and Postdoc - (Mar/08/2007 )
Can any body tell me whats the difference in PhD and psotdoc. One have to do research at both position. I know postdoc is after PhD but what are the actual responsibility of being a postdoc.
I guess you want to know the difference between PhD student and post-doc.
The PhD student is still studying, he is learning, and need a supervisor to help him. You can't be asked to find a good project and manage to get papers. Someone has to help you choosing the project and directing it.
the post-doc is much more independent, and should be able to know what can be done, what is achievable in a short time, what would be smart and so on. he has a little more experience.
at least here, a PhD is a more like a student, because the person is learning a lot in a specific field (theory about the specific issue he/she is working on & practice, involving all the neccesary techniques to develop the thesis project) and at the end writes the thesis. After reading and passing the thesis, he/she becomes a Dr. and usually goes abroad for a few years. When you are a Dr. ( = postdoc) you can request money for a project because you can figure as the principal investigator.
Nevertheless, both can be/are the slaves of science. 
Can you earn much from postdoc? Just curious.
the status of a PhD student is much clearer than of a postdoc; being a postdoc is the chance to earn more money, or being on a track of a academic carreer, or preparing for a good job in industry
Certainly. As others have said, PhD is a studentship, so the best you can hope for is whatever student scholarships are available where you are. Postdoc positions are funded salaries. Depending on where you are , they can be terrible or good.
The important thing to remember is a PhD is only one stepping-stone in a science career. The degree is there to prove that you are an independent scientist, who can take a project from idea stage to completion, and report it to their peers. It's an apprenticeship for academically gifted. A postdoc is where you get to use your skills.
Certainly. As others have said, PhD is a studentship, so the best you can hope for is whatever student scholarships are available where you are. Postdoc positions are funded salaries. Depending on where you are , they can be terrible or good.
The important thing to remember is a PhD is only one stepping-stone in a science career. The degree is there to prove that you are an independent scientist, who can take a project from idea stage to completion, and report it to their peers. It's an apprenticeship for academically gifted. A postdoc is where you get to use your skills.
Just wondering: if a full-fee paying scholarship with a pretty lumpy annual stipend comes tagged with a 5 yr bond upon completion of the PhD... you guys think it's worth it? Comments anyone?
Planting myself firmly on the fence, it all depends! What is the postdoc stipend? Can you do more than just live on it? What say do you have in the PhD and postdoc projects? What penalties are you up for if you decide to drop the PhD mid-course? The postdoc mid-bond? Can you see yourself staying put for up to 9 or 10 years, depending on how long the PhD takes to complete? What benefits will you have at the end of the process?
You could be enrolling for a great opportunity, or a gilded cage. Personally, I would be most cautious about doing the same thing, or being in the one field for that length of time, unless I was confident I really wanted to work in it. Is the bond tied to a single lab (I am presuming it is)?
Planting myself firmly on the fence, it all depends! What is the postdoc stipend? Can you do more than just live on it? What say do you have in the PhD and postdoc projects? What penalties are you up for if you decide to drop the PhD mid-course? The postdoc mid-bond? Can you see yourself staying put for up to 9 or 10 years, depending on how long the PhD takes to complete? What benefits will you have at the end of the process?
You could be enrolling for a great opportunity, or a gilded cage. Personally, I would be most cautious about doing the same thing, or being in the one field for that length of time, unless I was confident I really wanted to work in it. Is the bond tied to a single lab (I am presuming it is)?
I know what you mean... that's why I'm asking around for opinions... thanks for your insights!
well, the post-doc stipend is decent... I'll say I can live comfortably with that amount of money... but yeah, the penalties are pretty harsh... a 5-figure sum... probabaly at least 300k... depending on when I break I guess... it's not tied to single lab but to the institute that's offering this scholarship... but they offer overseas post-doc to any lab that I want but I have to at least be back in the institute for 3 yrs... I personally feel it's not a bad deal but yeah, if things go wrong half way in the lab... life can be a real living hell....