MORE POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR RESOURCES
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Download the Postdoc Info Sheet
PROSPECTIVE POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
How to Apply for a Postdoctoral Position at UCSB
Application for postdoctoral training at UC Santa Barbara is made to a specific faculty member or members in an academic department or research unit. Many positions are also posted on UCSB’s Recruit system for academic job openings. All correspondence regarding any potential openings, the application for any such openings, and one's status must be directed to the faculty member or department in question. The faculty member and the department are solely responsible for determining if there is a match with the applicant and area of interest and for facilitating the appointment in regard to space and financial resource allocations. Postdoc appointment titles vary in compensation, benefits, and taxation and is determined by the source of support.
Tips for Postdocs
Find a Funded Postdoc Position
Below is a sample list of databases or job pages that regularly list postdoctoral opportunities.
Find Grant Funding for Postdoctoral Research
Below is a sample list of databases or grant funding opportunities and resources for postdoctoral research.
- UCSB Office of Research Finding Funding Resources – UCSB’s Research Development team provides monthly newsletters, access to COS Pivot funding database, and consultation on grant proposal submissions.
- COS Pivot - COS Pivot is an online database of over 400,000 individual funding opportunities and 3 million researcher profiles in the social sciences, humanities, fine arts, sciences, and engineering. Subscribers can choose to receive a weekly e-mail with a customized list of funding opportunities based on previously specified criteria. IMPORTANT: Since UCSB is a paid subscriber, be sure to create your profile and login with your UCSB email address.
- The Grants Learning Center is the gateway to the federal grants world. Bookmark this page and participate in the growing communities on Blog.Grants.gov and Twitter (@grantsdotgov).
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Grant Programs
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Grant Opportunities
- National Institute of Health (NIH) Grants and Funding Opportunities
- National Science Foundation Funding
- ScienceMag Funding List
- GrantForward is a grant database where users can search for funding opportunities (federal-, state-, foundation- and institution-sponsored research) across all fields, including the sciences, humanities, and arts. NOTE: You may search this site in general; for advanced searches or features, you or the university needs to be a paid subscriber.
CURRENT POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
Housing
Single postdocs are eligible to apply for housing in the San Clemente Center, and postdocs with partners and/or children are eligible to apply for housing in UCSB’s Family Student Housing residences. Priority for both of these communities goes to full-time students, and spots fill up quickly, so it is recommended to apply as soon as possible. Postdocs may also receive guidance on off-campus housing options through the Community Housing Office.
San Clemente: housing.ucsb.edu/contracts/post-doctoral-student-application
Family Student Housing: housing.ucsb.edu/contracts/family-students
Community Rental Listings: rentallistings.housing.ucsb.edu
Children’s Center
Our campus supports 2 Children’s Centers that offer childcare for student, staff, faculty, and community families. The Center is heavily utilized by our community, so we recommend getting on the waitlist early (e.g. as soon as you have a due date for childbirth or a placement date for adoption). For questions about enrollment, email Sandi.Quinly@sa.ucsb.edu
Recreation Center
The Department of Recreation’s facility, known as the Rec Cen, offers a variety of fitness spaces, classes, and programs for which postdocs can purchase memberships. Access to the Rec Cen facilities may be purchased through a membership, or postdocs can sign up for individual classes and programs as well.
Beyond Academia
The Beyond Academia conference at UC Santa Barbara is an annual event aimed at preparing graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in all stages and disciplines to pursue a wide range of career options after graduate school. Postdocs are invited to attend the annual conference and to get involved on the planning committee. For more information, you can email contact@beyondacademiaucsb.org.
Library
Located at the center of campus, the UCSB Library is the academic and cultural hub for students and scholars. It is part of the 10-campus University of California Library System which houses more than 45 million volumes, making it one of the largest research libraries in the United States. Postdocs can access numerous collections and exhibits in the Library, as well as subject librarians to help facilitate access to resources that support their research.
Resources:
Scholarly Communication Page
Open Access Publishing Fund
Scholarly Communication and Publishing Discussion List
Scholarly Communication and Publishing Brochure
Human Resources
Academic & Staff Assistance Program (ASAP)
The UCSB Academic & Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) supports the health and well-being of faculty, staff, and family members. They assist with identifying, managing, and resolving work-related and personal concerns that may affect job performance and relationships. They offer confidential short-term counseling, consultation, wellness workshops, and assistance with threat management.
Transitional Work Program (TWP) Brochure
Lactation Accommodation Program Flyer
Transportation & Parking Services (TPS)
Transportation & Parking Services is an innovative and self-sustaining department that supports the UCSB mission by providing safe and reliable parking, fleet services, and transportation alternatives to the campus community. Postdocs can purchase campus parking permits and sign up for a number of commuter programs designed to promote sustainability and ease of access to the campus.
Office of Research
The Office of Research provides support for postdocs involved in proposal writing and submission, as well as training in human subjects and research compliance.
Employment Union for UC Postdocs
Information about employment rights, collective bargaining, and other resources.
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
Through UCSB’s institutional membership, graduate students and postdocs get access to free professional development and pedagogical resources including webinars, readings, and discussion forums.
National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
Postdocs, faculty, grad students, administrators, and alumni may sign up for free as UCSB Affiliate Members by registering with their UCSB email address. The website also hosts information for international postdocs such as the International Postdoc Survival Guide and Going In With Your Eyes Open: What to Ask Before Accepting a U.S. Postdoctoral Position.
University of California Council of Postdoctoral Scholars
System-wide representation for UC postdoctoral scholars that works collaboratively with the UC administration to improve the training and scholarship of postdoctoral scholars.
Versatile PhD
The largest online community dedicated to non-academic and non-faculty careers for PhDs in humanities, social sciences, and STEM. With UCSB’s institutional subscription, you gain access to premium content such as career transition portfolios, active members-only discussion boards, and online and in-person networking resources. To sign up, visit the Graduate Division’s Versatile PhD subscription page.
Office of the Ombuds
The Office of the Ombuds at UC Santa Barbara provides confidential consultation services to faculty, staff, students, parents, or anyone else with a campus-related concern. The ombuds addresses workplace issues, interpersonal conflict, academic concerns, policy questions, and many other problems, whether as a first step, last resort, or at any point along the way. The Office of the Ombuds is dedicated to ensuring fairness throughout the University and regularly makes recommendations for systemic change.
Resources:
Ombuds brochure for postdocs
Campus Advocacy (CARE)
The CARE Office works to support all of those impacted by interpersonal violence, including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking. We offer confidential services to all graduate and postdoc students. CARE's resources are available 24/7 for postdocs and are tailored for your needs and concerns.
Resources:
CARE Advocacy Handout
MENTORING RESOURCES
At UC Santa Barbara, faculty mentors are responsible for guiding and monitoring the advanced training of postdoctoral scholars. In that role, faculty mentors should make clear the goals, objectives, and expectations of the training program and the responsibilities of postdoctoral scholars. They should frequently communicate with postdoctoral scholars, provide regular and timely assessments of the postdoctoral scholar’s performance, and provide career advice and job placement assistance.