There is nothing wrong with the good postdocs, it's the bad ones that are the problem.
There is nothing wrong with the good postdocs, it's the bad ones that are the problem.
1) a postdoctoral that doesn’t lead to a professorship is one where they are looking for someone to do work independently without being trained. Basically, a very senior grad student. You largely follow the law ultimes of grants written by the PI.
2) a postdoc leading to a position is one where you are trained in developing a research program, writing grants, giving career talks, etc.
The easiest way to make sure your postdoc falls in the latter category is to find an advisor with a track record of past postdoc a getting professor positions. If someone has been a professor for two-four decades and has few former postdocs who became professors, you are unlikely to get training to become a professor.