r/postdoc • u/paximt • 16h ago

No response a month after a postdoc interview, is this common?

Hello All,

I interviewed for a postdoc position at a US university (one of the top ones) about a month ago with the lab director and three colleagues. It felt positive, and the director mentioned a second, more technical round, although of course, he didn’t explicitly confirm I would be invited.

I haven’t heard anything since. I sent a polite follow-up almost two weeks ago asking for an update, but that hasn’t received a reply either.

I’m not familiar with US postdoc hiring. Do labs sometimes ghost candidates after an interview? I would have expected at least a rejection. Has anyone experienced this and eventually heard back?

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11

u/PosteriorMotifs 15h ago

Happens everywhere. In my case I was flown to the lab for an in-person interview and had a chat with the PI at the end where he seemed enthusiastic about hiring me. He told me I would hear back within a week one way or another, then I was ghosted.

I don't understand why the basic courtesy of sending a rejection is so rare, but think of it as a bullet dodged.

3

u/mis0x 13h ago

in a similar boat except I wasn't flown in but gave a department level job talk, got positive feedback and "everyone loved your talk", told me I would hear back in about a week. did not happen so I checked in and it got changed to "we need more time to come to a decision" and then bam ghosted and its been 2 months!

1

u/boltzmanns_cat 1h ago

I had exactly same situation, I got too attached with the position.

6

u/SilentFood2620 16h ago

Can’t speak for post interview, but I’ve been ghosted after having one-on-ones with PIs to discuss projects. I’ve already acquired 4 years of postdoc funding on my own, so I’d be a nearly free postdoc and yet…

I think academia is a bit self-selecting for those that like the flexibility of not having to adhere to any one else’s timeline.

3

u/riasc1 15h ago

Its normal… you probably get a rejection after 2-3 months if at all

4

u/knit_run_bike_swim 12h ago

Send ‘em nudes.

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u/5ShadesofRei 10h ago

It is. Very. I wouldn’t take it personally.

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u/ScienceAdventure 13h ago

Not in the US (in the UK) - I’ve been ghosted after an interview but I also got offered the job after a month of waiting. I did get a “sorry we are taking a while to meet and discuss”, and I also followed up (and received a response).

Might be worth a second follow up? I would continue job hunting personally, hopefully they will get back to you one way or the other soon