What are some of the things to look for when choosing a postdoc position?

Find out, what are former postdocs from the lab doing now? Are they in jobs that you think sound exciting and that match your goals? Ask yourself, does the lab have stable funding for at least four years? Do the group members appear to have a good working relationship with each other and with the PI? How accessible is the PI on a day-to-day basis?

Also, how does the PI describe your process in getting started - does the PI select a project for you, or is it entirely up to you? How much of your project, and what materials, can you take with you when you leave the lab? Will you be able to write grants while there? If your sights are set on an academic job, will you be able to write an RO1? What kind of benefits package will be offered (health, dental, retirement, gym, moving expenses, etc.)? What hours do people in the lab usually work? Is your PI even-tempered and understanding, or difficult to work with?

It’s that last piece of information that should make or break your decision to move to that lab. The personality and interactions that PI has with other postdocs will be critical in helping you understand if you’re making the right move.