Home > Navigating COVID-19: Next Steps for International Postdocs
Navigating COVID-19: Next Steps for International Postdocs
International postdocs are facing unprecedented circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on questions and feedback from you, the Office for Postdoctoral Scholars (OPS), International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), and the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) collaborated to develop the following step-by-step guide to help you access support quickly and easily.
1. Which office should you go to first?
All information in the above graphic is included in the text below.
2. Read more about how these three offices can help you:
The Office for Postdoctoral Scholars (this website)
A. I need to discuss my visa situation with my current postdoctoral supervisor, but I'm unsure how to approach this.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with OPS to discuss how to have this conversation with your supervisor. It will be helpful if you understand the parameters and limitations of your particular visa or situation before scheduling this appointment.
Schedule an appointment with Program Director for Academic Careers Laurence Clement, PhD. She can help you understand the options for postdoctoral, faculty, and staff positions at academic institutions at UCSF and other institutions, as well as help you figure out which path is right for you. It will be helpful if you understand the parameters and limitations of your particular visa before meeting with Dr. Clement.
Step 3
Schedule an appointment with OPS to discuss any options, questions, or concerns you may have about remaining at UCSF. It will be helpful if you understand the parameters and limitations of your particular visa or situation.
C. My legal status is maxing out within the next six months, and I am considering options inside and outside of academe in the U.S.
Step 1
Familiarize yourself with the academic career resources offered by OCPD, and make sure you know about upcoming OCPD workshops.
Do a little research to figure out if organizations of interest to you are hiring. To start:
Google three to five organizations that pique your interest and go to their careers/jobs page. Are there positions listed there? (They don't specifically have to be positions that are of interest to you at this moment. You're just trying to figure out if there is a hiring freeze at the organization.) Wondering what jobs pages look like for organizations? Genentech's jobs page is one example.
You might also look at the ogranization's LinkedIn presence. Are there open positions posted there? See Genentech's LinkedIn profile, for example.
Schedule an appointment with Program Director for Research Careers Michael Matrone, PhD, first.He can help you brainstorm and understand your options for postdoctoral, faculty, and staff positions at UCSF and other academic institutions, and strategize with you to develop the best career plan(s) for you. It may be helpful to have three to five organizations of interest in mind before meeting with Dr. Matrone. (It is not a requirement for an appointment, though, particularly if you'd like help on figuring out how to research organizations.) He may also send you to work with Program Director Laurence Clement, PhD, who works solely with those pursuing academic careers.
If you are considering a position within a U.S. academic institution, schedule an appointment with your ISSO adviser. Your adviser can share the visa options that are generally available to U.S. academic institutions for research or teaching.
If you are considering a U.S. position in industry,review the Visa Considerations for Private Industry workshop materialsto identify companies that may hire foreign nationals, to learn about potential visa options, and to identify strategies for responding to the question "Do you need visa sponsorship?" at various points of the application process in the private sector. (Workshop materials are only available to current UCSF students and scholars through MyAccess. Materials should not be misconstrued as legal advice, and are not be shared with individuals or companies outside of UCSF.)
D. My legal status is maxing out within the next six months, and I would like to pursue an opportunity outside academe in the U.S.
Step 1
Review the Visa Considerations for Private Industry workshop materialsto identify companies that may hire foreign nationals, to learn about potential visa options, and to identify strategies for responding to the question "Do you need visa sponsorship?" at various points of the application process in the private sector. (Workshop materials are only available to current UCSF students and scholars through MyAccess. Materials should not be misconstrued as legal advice, and are not be shared with individuals or companies outside of UCSF.)
Do a little research to figure out if organizations of interest to you are hiring. To start:
Google three to five organizations that pique your interest and go to their careers/jobs page. Are there open positions listed there? (They don't specifically have to be positions that are of interest to you at this moment. You're just trying to figure out if there is a hiring freeze at the organization.) Wondering what jobs pages look like for organizations? Genentech's jobs page is one example.
You might also look at the organization's LinkedIn presence. Are there positions posted there? See Genentech's LinkedIn profile, for example.
Schedule an appointment with Program Director for Research Careers Michael Matrone, PhD, first.He can help you brainstorm and understand your options for postdoctoral, faculty, and staff positions at UCSF and other academic institutions, and strategize with you to develop the best career plan(s) for you. It may be helpful to have three to five organizations of interest in mind before meeting with Dr. Matrone. (It is not a requirement for an appointment, though, particularly if you'd like help on figuring out how to research organizations.) He may also send you to work with Program Director Laurence Clement, PhD, who works solely with those pursuing academic careers.
Do a little research to figure out if organizations of interest to you are hiring. To start:
Google three to five organizations that pique your interest and go to their careers/jobs page. Are there open positions listed there? (They don't specifically have to be positions that are of interest to you at this moment. You're just trying to figure out if there is a hiring freeze at the organization.) Wondering what jobs pages look like for organizations? Genentech's jobs page is one example.
You might also look at the organization's LinkedIn presence. Are there positions posted there? See Genentech's LinkedIn profile, for example.
Schedule an appointment with Program Director for Research Careers Michael Matrone, PhD, first.He can help you brainstorm and understand your options for postdoctoral, faculty, and staff positions at UCSF and other academic institutions, and strategize with you to develop the best career plan(s) for you. It may be helpful to have three to five organizations of interest in mind before meeting with Dr. Matrone. (It is not a requirement for an appointment, though, particularly if you'd like help on figuring out how to research organizations.) He may also send you to work with Program Director Laurence Clement, PhD, who works solely with those pursuing academic careers.
If you are considering a position within a U.S. academic institution, schedule an appointment with your ISSO adviser. Your adviser can share the visa options that are generally available to U.S. academic institutions for research or teaching.
If you are considering a U.S. position in industry,review the Visa Considerations for Private Industry workshop materialsto identify companies that may hire foreign nationals, to learn about potential visa options, and to identify strategies for responding to the question "Do you need visa sponsorship?" at various points of the application process in the private sector. (Workshop materials are only available to current UCSF students and scholars through MyAccess. Materials should not be misconstrued as legal advice, and are not be shared with individuals or companies outside of UCSF.)