Chris Smith
@drchristsmith.bsky.social
A neuroscientist by training, I now work to support and advocate for early career researchers. In addition, I enjoy writing and blogging about neuroscience, the future of work, Ph.D. career pathways, career and professional development topics, and more.
Today, on the Winter Solstice, we will have the fewest hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Two years ago I wrote this piece reflecting on our most precious resource - time - and how we can work to spend it better.
www.christophertsmith.com/reflections/...
www.christophertsmith.com/reflections/...
Past, Present, Future: Reflections On Time
Life Advice, Neuroscience, Personal Perspective
www.christophertsmith.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today, on the Winter Solstice, we will have the fewest hours of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Two years ago I wrote this piece reflecting on our most precious resource - time - and how we can work to spend it better.
www.christophertsmith.com/reflections/...
www.christophertsmith.com/reflections/...
Very cool work from the Chemistry Department @vt-science.bsky.social and NIMH published @science.org that developed a new way to add fluorine-18 to trifluoromethyl groups, a part of a molecule found in many FDA-approved drugs. This work can make PET research easier.
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
New PET imaging breakthrough expands possibilities
Chemist Wei Liu and his graduate student Chao Wang have found a new way to tag molecules to aid in PET scans, expanding tracer options and opening possibilities for earlier diagnoses and more precise ...
news.vt.edu
December 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Very cool work from the Chemistry Department @vt-science.bsky.social and NIMH published @science.org that developed a new way to add fluorine-18 to trifluoromethyl groups, a part of a molecule found in many FDA-approved drugs. This work can make PET research easier.
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Just crossed the 1,000 lifetime citations count on Google Scholar.
When I started my Ph.D. journey back in Fall 2008 it would have been hard to imagine.
scholar.google.com/citations?us...
When I started my Ph.D. journey back in Fall 2008 it would have been hard to imagine.
scholar.google.com/citations?us...
December 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Just crossed the 1,000 lifetime citations count on Google Scholar.
When I started my Ph.D. journey back in Fall 2008 it would have been hard to imagine.
scholar.google.com/citations?us...
When I started my Ph.D. journey back in Fall 2008 it would have been hard to imagine.
scholar.google.com/citations?us...
The Xin Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering @vtengineering.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to drive the development of agentic AI systems for accelerating computational catalysis and experimental design.
Apply by Jan. 2nd, 2026!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Jan. 2nd, 2026!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The Xin Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering @vtengineering.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to drive the development of agentic AI systems for accelerating computational catalysis and experimental design.
Apply by Jan. 2nd, 2026!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Jan. 2nd, 2026!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The Kohl Center in the Dept of Agricultural and Applied Economics @vtcals.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work at the boundaries of data science/econometric methods and the social sciences.
Anticipated start date is May 2026. Apply by Dec 31st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Anticipated start date is May 2026. Apply by Dec 31st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The Kohl Center in the Dept of Agricultural and Applied Economics @vtcals.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work at the boundaries of data science/econometric methods and the social sciences.
Anticipated start date is May 2026. Apply by Dec 31st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Anticipated start date is May 2026. Apply by Dec 31st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The latest paper from our faculty job market collaboration team @nafisajadavji.bsky.social @drkozik.bsky.social is out in Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education investigating the humanities and social sciences academic job market. @futurepislack.bsky.social
www.emerald.com/sgpe/article...
www.emerald.com/sgpe/article...
December 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The latest paper from our faculty job market collaboration team @nafisajadavji.bsky.social @drkozik.bsky.social is out in Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education investigating the humanities and social sciences academic job market. @futurepislack.bsky.social
www.emerald.com/sgpe/article...
www.emerald.com/sgpe/article...
Reposted by Chris Smith
Career Advice | Plan to Pivot: A Survival Guide for Scientists
Career agility is no longer optional for Ph.D.s. Here’s how to build it. https://bit.ly/4pEADD5
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
Career agility is no longer optional for Ph.D.s. Here’s how to build it. https://bit.ly/4pEADD5
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
December 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Career Advice | Plan to Pivot: A Survival Guide for Scientists
Career agility is no longer optional for Ph.D.s. Here’s how to build it. https://bit.ly/4pEADD5
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
Career agility is no longer optional for Ph.D.s. Here’s how to build it. https://bit.ly/4pEADD5
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
The Dept of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech seeks a Ph.D. w/ expertise in engineering, materials science, or related computational fields to contribute to a growing research program in sustainable food packaging as a #postdoc.
Apply by Jan 2nd!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Jan 2nd!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate - Paper Coating with Bioplastics for Food Packaging Applications | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The Dept of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech seeks a Ph.D. w/ expertise in engineering, materials science, or related computational fields to contribute to a growing research program in sustainable food packaging as a #postdoc.
Apply by Jan 2nd!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Jan 2nd!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The Center for Packaging & Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech seeks a #postdoc w/ expertise in engineering, materials science, or related computational fields to contribute to research focused on transport packaging optimization & distribution systems.
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate - Transportation Packaging and Distribution Systems Research | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Center for Packaging & Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech seeks a #postdoc w/ expertise in engineering, materials science, or related computational fields to contribute to research focused on transport packaging optimization & distribution systems.
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
At a time when gathering information & applying to positions online is so easy, we often forget the importance of connecting with others. Your community will help navigate setbacks and plan for new opportunities as I discuss in this @insidehighered.com piece:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Don’t Underestimate Value of a Human Network (opinion)
In your career search and in life, don’t underestimate the value of cultivating a human community.
www.insidehighered.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
At a time when gathering information & applying to positions online is so easy, we often forget the importance of connecting with others. Your community will help navigate setbacks and plan for new opportunities as I discuss in this @insidehighered.com piece:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
At a time when gathering information & applying to positions online is so easy, we often forget the importance of connecting with others. Your community will help navigate setbacks and plan for new opportunities as I discuss in this @insidehighered.com piece:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Don’t Underestimate Value of a Human Network (opinion)
In your career search and in life, don’t underestimate the value of cultivating a human community.
www.insidehighered.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
At a time when gathering information & applying to positions online is so easy, we often forget the importance of connecting with others. Your community will help navigate setbacks and plan for new opportunities as I discuss in this @insidehighered.com piece:
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
Join @vtengineering.bsky.social for a #postdoc position based in Northern Virginia focused on investigating safety-critical human-in-the-loop systems that collaborate with automated/autonomous decision-aid tech. Position up to 2 years. Apply by Dec 1st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Join @vtengineering.bsky.social for a #postdoc position based in Northern Virginia focused on investigating safety-critical human-in-the-loop systems that collaborate with automated/autonomous decision-aid tech. Position up to 2 years. Apply by Dec 1st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The Dept of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech seeks a #postdoc for a mixed-methods project: Advancing the Competitiveness of Virginia’s Forest Sector Industry. Postdocs here receive excellent employee benefits & a robust training environment.
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate - Forest Sector Competitiveness | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The Dept of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech seeks a #postdoc for a mixed-methods project: Advancing the Competitiveness of Virginia’s Forest Sector Industry. Postdocs here receive excellent employee benefits & a robust training environment.
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Physics Dept @vt-science.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work on quantum information theory, quantum error correction, & machine learning. Position for min of 2 years, starting Fall 2026. Excellent employee benefits & training environment. Apply by Feb. 1st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Physics Dept @vt-science.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work on quantum information theory, quantum error correction, & machine learning. Position for min of 2 years, starting Fall 2026. Excellent employee benefits & training environment. Apply by Feb. 1st!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
#postdoc opening in Dept of Entomology @vtcals.bsky.social studying the cytogenetics & genomics of arboviral vector Aedes aegypti-yellow fever mosquito. Excellent employee benefits (retirement matching, health ins) & training environment. Apply by Nov 28!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate - Cytogenetics | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
#postdoc opening in Dept of Entomology @vtcals.bsky.social studying the cytogenetics & genomics of arboviral vector Aedes aegypti-yellow fever mosquito. Excellent employee benefits (retirement matching, health ins) & training environment. Apply by Nov 28!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Join the National Postdoctoral Association for this online summit planned for Friday, November 14th.
Through a series of interactive online sessions, the summit aims to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the broader postdoctoral community.
www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2025SSH...
Through a series of interactive online sessions, the summit aims to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the broader postdoctoral community.
www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2025SSH...
November 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Join the National Postdoctoral Association for this online summit planned for Friday, November 14th.
Through a series of interactive online sessions, the summit aims to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the broader postdoctoral community.
www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2025SSH...
Through a series of interactive online sessions, the summit aims to identify barriers – and find paths forward – in the broader postdoctoral community.
www.nationalpostdoc.org/page/2025SSH...
Work @vt-science.bsky.social as a Math #postdoc. Several positions available for 2-year appointments w/ possibility of 1 additional year. You will conduct research in collaboration w/ a Math faculty mentor & teach 1 course per semester. Apply by 11/20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Work @vt-science.bsky.social as a Math #postdoc. Several positions available for 2-year appointments w/ possibility of 1 additional year. You will conduct research in collaboration w/ a Math faculty mentor & teach 1 course per semester. Apply by 11/20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Join the Dept of Mathematics @vt-science.bsky.social for a 2-year postdoc (w/ possibility of 1 year extension) where you will work on modeling & simulation of infectious diseases and teach two classes per year. Excellent employee benefits!
Apply by Nov. 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Nov. 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Join the Dept of Mathematics @vt-science.bsky.social for a 2-year postdoc (w/ possibility of 1 year extension) where you will work on modeling & simulation of infectious diseases and teach two classes per year. Excellent employee benefits!
Apply by Nov. 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Nov. 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
#postdoc opportunity: Candidate will have expertise in wood science, sustainable materials, or engineering & contribute to ongoing research on improving the hygrothermal performance, structural modeling, & durability of cross-laminated-timber. Apply by 11/10!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:19 PM
#postdoc opportunity: Candidate will have expertise in wood science, sustainable materials, or engineering & contribute to ongoing research on improving the hygrothermal performance, structural modeling, & durability of cross-laminated-timber. Apply by 11/10!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The Virginia Seafood AREC @vtcals.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work in the Seafood Economic Analysis and Marketing Research Team located in Hampton, VA, on the east-coast of Virginia. Apply by Nov. 5th.
Excellent employee benefits & training environment!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Excellent employee benefits & training environment!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate/Research Scientist Seafood Economics & Marketing | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The Virginia Seafood AREC @vtcals.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to work in the Seafood Economic Analysis and Marketing Research Team located in Hampton, VA, on the east-coast of Virginia. Apply by Nov. 5th.
Excellent employee benefits & training environment!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Excellent employee benefits & training environment!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
#postdoc opening in Dept of Physics @vt-science.bsky.social researching areas of computational physics with the goal to develop a framework for understanding excess energy from defect formation in neutrino detectors.
Apply by Oct 25 for full consideration!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Oct 25 for full consideration!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate/Research Scientist - Physics | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM
#postdoc opening in Dept of Physics @vt-science.bsky.social researching areas of computational physics with the goal to develop a framework for understanding excess energy from defect formation in neutrino detectors.
Apply by Oct 25 for full consideration!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Apply by Oct 25 for full consideration!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Postdoc position available @fralinbiomed.bsky.social working in the Addiction Recovery Research Center examining long-term trajectories of addiction recovery.
Salary at NIH NRSA stipend level along w/ excellent benefits. Apply by Oct 29!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Salary at NIH NRSA stipend level along w/ excellent benefits. Apply by Oct 29!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Postdoc position available @fralinbiomed.bsky.social working in the Addiction Recovery Research Center examining long-term trajectories of addiction recovery.
Salary at NIH NRSA stipend level along w/ excellent benefits. Apply by Oct 29!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Salary at NIH NRSA stipend level along w/ excellent benefits. Apply by Oct 29!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
The Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycle Center in the Dept of Mechanical Engineering @vtengineering.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to lead and support projects on corrosion and materials performance in advanced nuclear reactor environments. Apply by October 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
Details | Postdoctoral Associate | Careers | Division of Human Resources | Virginia Tech
careers.pageuppeople.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycle Center in the Dept of Mechanical Engineering @vtengineering.bsky.social seeks a #postdoc to lead and support projects on corrosion and materials performance in advanced nuclear reactor environments. Apply by October 20!
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us...
"Virginia Tech continues to be an institution of choice among the nation’s leading public universities as a result of our commitment to engaged and experiential learning and student-centered faculty and staff."
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Virginia Tech 13th among U.S. public schools in new ranking
Overall, Virginia Tech landed at No. 35 among all 500 universities included in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranking of U.S. colleges released Oct. 2. The rankings focus on two key metric...
news.vt.edu
October 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"Virginia Tech continues to be an institution of choice among the nation’s leading public universities as a result of our commitment to engaged and experiential learning and student-centered faculty and staff."
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Reposted by Chris Smith
Attention biomedical science postdocs! If you are on the faculty job market we are recruiting you to help us understand your experiences of being on the job market. Your participation will help us better understand the various factors that influence faculty job offers.
October 2, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Attention biomedical science postdocs! If you are on the faculty job market we are recruiting you to help us understand your experiences of being on the job market. Your participation will help us better understand the various factors that influence faculty job offers.