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human
Want to leave academia, how to talk to post-doc supervisor?

I’ve been in this post-doc for 8 months and while it’s not going poorly, I don’t think it’s going all that well either. I’m increasingly feeling like this type of theoretical research (and chasing grants) isn’t what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.

 There is an internal posting at the University where I’m doing my post-doc for a director of career and professional development services for post-docs and it feels like a great fit with my experiences, but I’m not quite sure what the protocol is for telling my current supervisor and/or fellowship program manager. I want to stay in the area because my partner is here, so I’m nervous about burning bridges and sabotaging my current job/future prospects if this opportunity doesn’t work out. What’s the protocol here for informing my supervisor? Up front? If I get an interview? Thanks!
gpt
You have two options here:

Be forthcoming and up front with your advisor. Tell them that you just aren’t feeling the postdoc and that continuing in the long term would probably waste both your and his/her time. Try to line up a few things if you can, but if it’s just the one thing discuss staying in lab while you try to pursue it/an alternative if that position falls through.

This, of course, is risky because your PI may or may not be onboard about you leaving so soon.

The second option is to apply and, if it comes to it, interview at the job without discussing it with your PI. This isn’t unheard of and it is understandable why someone would do so. If you secure the position, make sure to give your PI advanced warning. Try to hold off starting by a month or two so that you can wrap up and transition whatever your current project is. Unless your PI wants you to just leave, this should help make the exit less stressful and prevent anyone from applying fire to any bridges.

Our lab just hired someone as a research associate from his postdoc. He explicitly included in his application that his, then current, PI was not to be contacted about the position or his interview. He gave his PI about a month’s notice that he was moving on after he received an offer. No one here found it weird though.

It’s impossible to give you the “right” answer because only you know what you truly want and how your supervisor is/may act.

Hope you figure it out.