The Postdoc Accord in Theoretical High Energy Physics

Abstract

We present the results of a survey meant to assess the opinion of the high-energy physics theory (HET) community on the January 7th postdoc acceptance deadline - specifically, whether there is a preference to shift the deadline to later in January or February. This survey, which served for information-gathering purpose only, is part of a community conversation on the optimal timing of an acceptance deadline and whether the community would be better served by a later date. In addition, we present an analysis of data from the postdoc Rumor Mill, which gives a picture of the current hiring landscape in the field. We emphasize the importance of preserving a universal deadline, and the current results of our survey show broad support for a shift to a later date. A link to the survey, frequently asked questions, a running list of supporters, and next steps can be found on our companion web page.