Seeking advice from women who navigated pregnancy during the transition from postdoc to faculty
I’m a 30F postdoctoral researcher currently six months into my position. When I started this role, I initially planned to begin trying for a baby early in the postdoc, but I postponed this due to some circumstances. I am now reconsidering that plan.
Professionally, my postdoc is going well, and I feel settled and confident in my current responsibilities. My work is primarily research-focused, with some student mentoring, and I feel I could continue managing this effectively even during pregnancy.
At the same time, I’m thinking about my next career step and whether I should start applying for Assistant Professor positions. I feel ready to progress in my career, but I’m also aware that a faculty role would bring significantly increased responsibilities, including teaching, supervision, grant writing, and administrative duties.
One additional consideration is that my current salary is already comparable to what I would expect in an entry-level Assistant Professor position, so the financial difference is not a major deciding factor.
One thing that weighs heavily on my mind is career progression. Academia often feels like a field where taking a break can have long-term career consequences, and that thought honestly feels overwhelming. Because of that, I'm not really considering delaying family planning for several more years simply to avoid career interruptions. Instead, I'm trying to figure out which stage of my career would be the most manageable to combine with starting a family.
I would really appreciate hearing from women who have been in a similar situation. If you were deciding between staying in a postdoc while planning for a baby or moving into a faculty position first, what influenced your decision? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had considered that wasn't obvious at the time?
I'd especially appreciate hearing about practical considerations (workload, maternity leave, tenure expectations, institutional support, partner support, childcare, etc.) as well as anything you wish someone had told you before making the decision.