Does a PI personally encouraging you to apply for a postdoc mean anything?
I’m in a neuroscience-related field and really like this PI’s work. We met at a conference and have kept a slight connection since, but nothing close.
About two weeks ago, I reached out about postdoc possibilities. He said his NIH funding was committed to a current student. Then yesterday, he emailed me saying he’d just received additional grants that would let him hire a postdoc, sent me the application portal, and encouraged me to apply.
I applied pretty much immediately and let him know. He replied that it was great to hear and that he looked forward to reviewing my postdoc application.
I know none of this guarantees anything, especially since the position is publicly advertised. But would you take this as a meaningful positive sign that I might at least get an interview, or is this fairly standard PI politeness?
I’ve had so many rejections lately that I’ve lost confidence in reading any positive signs and basically don’t trust anything until there’s an actual offer.