Higher education administration is a career pathway that benefits from many of the skills you, as a Ph.D., have already acquired. If you’re interested in having an impact on the processes in academia, yet a faculty position doesn’t align with your priorities, administration might be a career path to explore. Many in this field work to create departmental-, college-, or university-wide policies applying to faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral researchers. Their roles include deans, graduate program directors, and postdoc office directors. Staff members employed in institutional research offices, teaching and learning centers, and career services are also considered administrators. This is not a complete list; you can probably ask many Ph.D.s in similar positions at your institution for an informational interview to learn more.

Although many higher education administration roles are accessible via faculty pathways, others do not require a previous faculty position. One way to gain experience for such careers is through a postdoctoral training position that will allow you to learn the ins and outs of administrative processes. Although they still fall into the category of postdocs, these admin positions differ significantly from traditional chemistry postdoctoral research.

Why Choose an Administrative Postdoc?

The work encompassed in an administrative postdoctoral setting may include program management, research, presentations, or facilitation. Higher education administration focuses on the inner workings of an institution. Therefore, the work may relate to how faculty, staff, students, or even other postdocs participate in institutional life. Postdoctoral training always serves as a way for individuals to expand their skill sets. This specific type is no different; most placements require a doctoral degree and relevant experience. You are probably already qualified!

While earning your Ph.D., you already gained experience with:

• Research. Many administrative postdoc positions will require you to use research skills that include literature searching, experiment design, and project management.
• Collaboration. You will need to be able to recognize others’ expertise through collaborations in your office, across your institution, and with your professional network.
• Communication. Clearly explaining your results in writing, with data visualization, and orally will be as valuable here as in any career.

You already have experience in chemistry; postdoctoral work in administration may allow you to add to your experience with:

• Social Science Research. Although many of the principles of experimental design hold across disciplines, you may also learn about the specifics of survey design, quantitative and qualitative methods and analysis, and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process.
• Higher Education. As a doctoral degree student and trainee, you already understand many of the field’s inner workings. However, an administrative postdoc will expand your experience and knowledge of higher ed’s structure and workings from a different perspective.
• Project Management. Your Ph.D. probably gave you relevant experience, even though you may not realize it. Here you may encounter more explicit project management tasks. Depending on your postdoc, you may also have the opportunity to evaluate programs and facilitate workshops.

Ultimately, administrative postdocs are training positions that will draw upon your current skills and challenge you to grow and improve. Whereas the specific focus of the work will be different from what you did for your Ph.D., the skills you will use were originally gained and strengthened during your doctoral degree program. 

How Is an Administrative Postdoc Different from a Chemistry Research Postdoc?

To begin with, the physical workplaces differ. Rather than being in a lab setting within an academic department, admin positions are likely to be located in an office not affiliated with a specific department. Although leaving your graduate school cohort and finding a community is a challenge for any new postdoctoral position, the combination of shifting your career focus with moving away from a familiar type and location of office can be particularly disorienting. Your existing community of grad students or postdocs and the future networks they can develop, both locally and nationwide, can provide a sense of community and support as you advance in your career.

Mentorship is another area where administrative and traditional chemistry postdocs may differ. Depending on the position, you may or may not work directly with graduate or other postdoctoral students. Becoming involved with your local postdoc association can provide social support by connecting you with others at your career stage. Professional associations provide valuable networking opportunities, which are particularly important as you move forward in your career.

Administrative postdocs become a valuable learning experience as they build upon skills you gained in you graduate training and by connecting with a network. They give you a launching pad for a career either within or outside of higher education. No matter where your career path ultimately leads, the self-awareness, willingness to learn, and hard work required by an administrative postdoc will help you accomplish your goals every step of the way.