From the archive: Should I stay or should I go?

Is relocation always advisable for a postdoctoral fellowship, and what if it’s not possible?

Postdoctoral fellowships are usually viewed as vital early stepping stones on the way to an independent research career. The idea that candidates could—in fact should—relocate for each stone is often taken for granted.

That idea has become less axiomatic over recent years as funders have accommodated the understanding that the best candidates for fellowships may have caring responsibilities or other reasons that preclude them from moving.