About 70 postdoctoral fellows are employed in the different research groups at the NKI. The institute helps postdocs to obtain their own funding and reach a more independent position that prepares them for a faculty position.
Senior postdoc
The criteria for promotion to the next academic position, that of senior postdoc, are productivity (as measured in publications), independence, participation (in both intellectual and in practical terms) in determining the course of research taken in the lab of his/her group leader, and performance in other areas that are crucial for a scientific career (such as invitations as a speaker, ability to acquire funding, teaching). It should be emphasized that no fixed list of qualifications can be given with which to determine whether a postdoc “matches” the senior postdoc profile. Promotion to senior postdoc can be requested by the group leader after consultation with the head of the division. The group leader should send a letter to the scientific director stipulating how the postdoc distinguishes him/herself. The CV of the postdoc should be included. The director will consult the BVO. The BVO will evaluate the request for promotion in the context of the other postdocs within the Institute and the proven quality of the applicant. Usually other staff members will be consulted before a decision is made.
Newly appointed postdocs with postdoc experience follow in principle the same procedure if their group leader considers appointment at the senior level appropriate.
Senior postdocs are more independent than postdocs. They can act as last author on publications, supervise technicians and graduate students. However, the group leader remains formally responsible.
Senior postdocs can apply together with their group leader for external funds. They are permitted to serve as a co-applicant on those grants and usually their own salary will be covered by such grant. These project proposals fall within the research program of the group leader. Before writing the proposal a one-page plan of investigation with the CV of the postdoc should be sent to the BVO. The BVO will advice the director of research whether the postdoc can act as co-applicant. The decision will be based on the CV of the postdoc, and the specifics of the proposed project. Senior postdocs can also apply for grants to start or continue their own independent line of research. A senior postdoc that wants to initiate his/her own line of research should write a one-page plan of investigation and send this with his/her CV to the BVO. This should be accompanied with a short letter of the group leader in which he/she expresses his/her support for the work to be conducted within his/her group. The BVO will advice the director of research whether this request should be granted. The decision will be based on the CV of the postdoc, the specifics of the proposed project and how well the work complements the ongoing research in the group and the Institute. The senior postdoc has to discuss his/her scientific career with the scientific director and should apply for a junior group leader position at the NKI or elsewhere during the duration of the grant(s). Maximally two active grants are allowed at any given time.
Senior postdocs are employed on a temporary contract in scale 60. Promotion from postdoc to senior postdoc includes two increments in scale 55 before transfer to scale 60. If a senior postdoc acquires a VIDI grant (or similar grant) on his/her own line of research, he/she will be promoted to FWG65.
Junior group leader
Junior group leader is an independent position focusing on basic or translational research within the Institute. A junior group leader has his/her own line of research, has his/her own group and has to ensure external funding to support his/her research. Junior group leaders take part in site visits and contribute to the scientific annual report, “activiteitenplan”, scientific brochure, internet and staff evenings. The Institute supports the junior group leader by providing a starting fund of € 300.000, use of the NKI research facilities and additional support judged by the BVO on individual cases. The funding supplied by the Institute is viewed as institutional matching if matching is required for a project of the junior group leader. Every junior group leader will have a mentor with whom the junior group leader meets at least once a year to discuss science and science-related matters such as professional development, career planning, group leader issues, grant opportunities, etc. (see “Mentoring research associates and AvL-fellows”). Junior group leaders will also be mentored by a member or the International Scientific Advisory Board. Preferably, every division has at least one junior group leader among their staff.
A junior group leader position will be considered for postdocs with proven scientific excellence and independence. They should at least have 2 years postdoc experience, exceeded the qualifications for a senior postdoc and initiated new research lines on which their independent research group could be based. The candidate should have performed his/her thesis work or postdoctoral work at another institution to qualify. Acquiring external funding is another important feature for appointment in this position (like a VIDI or KWF-grant).
Usually, the Institute will take the initiative to recruit junior group leaders. However, candidates can also directly apply and elicit a new recruiting round if slots are available. The scientific director might decide to offer the candidate a junior group leader position without launching a new competitive recruiting round. The scientific director will consult the BVO and other staff members about the applicant(s) including the head of the division in which the junior group leader should be housed.
A junior group leader is appointed for 5 years. A first evaluation takes place 3 years after the appointment of the junior group leader by the BVO. The junior group leader should show during this first evaluation sufficient perspective for a successful final evaluation. The final evaluation should be finished 4.5 years after the start of the junior group leader. External reviewers, including members of the international scientific advisory board, will be consulted by the scientific director to evaluate their performance and future potential (see “Research evaluation protocol” for details). The scientific director will also take other considerations into account (like available funding and the overall research program of the Institute). A positive decision means inclusion of the junior group leader in the permanent scientific staff of the Institute and promotion to group leader. After a negative decision the junior group leader is expected to find a position elsewhere.
The mid-term evaluation will be performed by the BVO. The scientific director will invite the junior group to prepare a report on his/her achievements as a junior group leader and the research plan for the remaining period (2-3 pages in total). The junior group leader is invited to meet with the BVO and a member of the National Scientific Advisory Board. He/she will give a short presentation and discuss the progress and research plan. The BVO and the member of the National Scientific Advisory Board will evaluate the performance and future potential and this will be conveyed by the scientific director to the junior group leader.
Junior group leaders are employed on a temporary contract in scale 70. Promotion from senior postdoc to junior group leader includes two increments in scale 60 (or 65) before transfer to scale 70.
Postdoc committee
The NKI has a very active postdoc committee, which aims to make the institute an excellent place to work for postdocs and to help them develop their careers. One of its main tasks is to organize the annual NKI-AVL postdoc retreat. Topics typically discussed during the retreat are: how to succeed as a scientist in academia or outside; communication skills; setting personal expectations; obtaining and negotiating a promotion; responsibilities beyond the laboratory; laboratory management; mentoring and being mentored; project management; understanding the (inter)national funding process and getting funded; getting published; technology transfer; and setting up collaborations.
Postdoctoral fellows interested at training at the NKI are invited to contact one of the group leaders or look at our website.
Postdoc committee
Positions vacant