Question: What is a Postdoctoral Scientist?

Jane Charlesworth answered on 7 Mar 2014:

If you want to work as a scientist for a university or research institute, you usually go to uni for a degree, then a PhD. After your PhD you become a “postdoc” which means you work in the lab of a more experienced scientist for a few years, before you get enough experience to start your own lab. Like working for any company, scientists tend to start in a more junior job and get promoted over the years.

That said, it’s possible to follow other routes into science if you’re really lucky/determined/amazing!