Day
after day, certain themes sounded in scheduled presentations from the podium, in questions and comments from the audience, in breakout
session discussions, and in informal chats in the halls and over meals: the uneven quality of
mentoring; the failure of many universities to provide services to postdocs; the difficult and uncertain transition from postdoc positions to real careers; postdocs» often ambiguous status and often inadequate compensation and benefits; and the deteriorating position of postdocs from abroad.