I am asking because I have reached out to many professors and researchers in renewable energy—an exciting, high‑demand field—and, despite a strong publication record and early‑to‑mid‑level experience, I have often been unsuccessful. Do you think a research career is just not accessible to many, or am I simply not pushing the right buttons?
Thank you for your question. Well, renewable energy is a new field in energy studies and there are few specialists and few post-doctorate opportunities. However, I would encourage you to choose university that has archored renewable energy programme and that have post-doctorate opportunities. Finally, check your journals, perhaps the universities you have applied for post-doc don’t align to those journals. Publish in journals the university you are applying for recommend. I hope this helps! Cheers
Securing a postdoctoral, research-assistant, or tenure-track position is increasingly competitive, especially in high-demand fields like renewable energy. The best approach combines strategic targeting, consistent networking, and alignment between your expertise and the institution’s current priorities. Beyond a strong publication record, success often depends on building personal rapport with potential mentors, tailoring outreach to specific research agendas, and demonstrating potential for independent funding.
Your experience suggests not a lack of qualification but possibly a mismatch in approach. Many researchers face similar challenges—not because research careers are inaccessible, but because the path is often opaque, shaped by timing, informal networks, and institutional fit. You might consider refining your outreach strategy: focusing on collaborative proposals, applying for fellowships with identified hosts, or initiating contact via conferences and workshops.
If you’d like, I can provide you with well-crafted templates or notebook-style summaries to guide your applications and communications more effectively. Would you like that?
It would be great if you could share your experience and such valuable documents with us.
Some tenured staff take their foot off the gas
US academics’ research-publication patterns shift fundamentally after they secure coveted tenure status. By analysing the output of more than 12,000 academics, researchers found that faculty members tend to publish the most in the year before they’re granted tenure. But once they’ve attained the job security of a tenured position, their output begins to vary across disciplines...
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https://physicsworld.com/a/tenured-scientists-in-the-us-slow-down-and-produce-less-impactful-work-finds-study/
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