As I learned recently, a branch of the government (USCIS) requests evidence that a doctorate is the standard industry requirement for a postdoctoral fellowship.

The only way I can make sense of this is by speculating there may be confusion over the word "post." Other options include:

• Postdoctoral: a doctoral position supported by a piece of timber or metal.
• Postdoctoral: a doctorate one gets by mail order.
• Postdoctoral: a doctorate that is publicly displayed for added effect.
• Postdoctoral: a doctorate found in a box of popular cereal.