Research promotions in the middle of post-doc contract

When I recruit postdoc it’s under the assumption that they are taking on a transitional role. In some sense I believe it’s in both our interests to have them leave sooner if possible. It’s good for them (pay bump, tenure career starts etc), and for me it helps since it signals to future postdocs that I’m able to get them on the right track to a faculty position.

In some cases it’s the opposite: a person has secured a faculty position straight out of PhD, and then postponed their start date to take up a one year postdoc (in MSR/Facebook research etc, or with another research group). This is usually done to build up one’s professional network before committing to a department.

Speaking for the UK, it is understood that the local group of postdocs are likely, and even encouraged, to apply for lectureships that come open. Further, it is expected that they will be applying for permanent positions elsewhere as they come up as well. It's not unheard of for a postdoc to be offered a permanent position at another University only to be emergency hired into a permanent position at their post doc institution. As a postdoc is just the first step away from a PhD, everyone expects them to rise and no one begrudges anyone who doesn't stick out their whole contract when something better comes along. This is the normal state of play and it may be the only way to stay continuously employed.

Case in point, we had a post doc on one of my projects who we knew, for reasons of redundancy, would never be hired permanently at our Uni. We told them to keep their ears open for a Lectureship elsewhere because of this, and 2.5 years into the 5 year project/post, they were hired as a Lecturer in another Uni. Well done. We had to hire someone else for the last 2 years of the position. That person, in contrast, did not apply to other positions in that time and when the contract was over, became unemployed.