Narain Mentoring Award: Career Mentoring for Postdoctoral Researchers at Fermilab*

Postdoctoral research is a critical juncture in the career of a high energy physicist, when they hone their skills and accomplish the science expected to stay in the field, or they choose a different career path. At Fermilab we have implemented a career mentoring program to maximize each postdoc's chance to get a scarce tenure-track position at a university or lab. Postdocs distinguish themselves in physics research by leading and publishing novel explorations of the interactions of elementary particles, and in technical research by developing cutting-edge experimental technology.  For Fermilab postdocs working on the CMS experiment, each chooses their research and a mentoring team of up to four Fermilab scientists, who will serve in the critical roles of supervisor, mentor, and analysis and technical research guides. Together they write a brief research plan, describing how the postdoc will achieve within the first three years the results needed to obtain a next position. Each postdoc presents annually at monthly department meetings, that provide a supportive forum for developing excellence in research and communication, and afterwards a mentoring committee provides advice to the postdoc’s mentoring team. Postdocs practice their conference presentations and seminars in front of an audience of scientists, and receive suggestions to improve their talks. Montly meetings with their mentoring team, and annual performance evaluations that also include management, focus on visibility and recognition of the postdoc’s accomplishments, conferences, publications and developing the relationships needed for strong references. When it comes time to apply for permanent positions, the postdoc’s team and the mentoring committee review and advise on the list of references, cover letter, curriculum vitae, and research, teaching and outreach statements. Postdocs are supported for up to five years in their position, allowing time for roughly three annual searches on the job market while supported by Fermilab. As of 2023, the mentoring program has included over 80 postdocs mentored by over 50 scientists.  About 60% of former Fermilab postdocs from this program have gone on to tenure-track positions, and the remaining 40% were supported in the career path of their choice.