Postdoc is a colloquial term used to describe an individual who has completed their doctoral studies and is pursuing further research in their field of study. Some popular synonyms for the term postdoc include fellow, research associate, research fellow, visiting scholar, and research scientist. These terms are often used interchangeably but can have slight variations in meaning depending on the institution and specific role. For instance, a research associate may have more administrative responsibilities while a research fellow may have a more intensive research focus. Regardless of the title, individuals who hold these positions are typically in a transitional phase in their career as they prepare to pursue a tenure-track faculty position or other leadership role in academia or industry.