Going abroad

1. Going abroad Kevin Verstrepen

2. How to get there? 1. Make decision 2. Find interesting destinations 3. Contact labs / PIs 3. Apply for funding 3. Get OK to come, work out project, visit lab… 4. Apply for visa, submit paperwork 5. Kiss mom and dad goodbye Tricky…

3. Writing an application letter Background research Be personal, specific WHY you want to come (science +personal) Be friendly, respectful Be concise, but also give enough relevant information Show you have a career plan (not too specific or definitive !) Include CV and letters of recommendation (pdf or hard copy) !!! NEVER send an OPEN letter of recommendation (have them emailed separately by your mentors, or include hard copies in separate, sealed envelopes)

4. Writing an application letter – Bad example From:Puneet XXX [mailto:XXX@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 11:58 AMTo: XXX@rediffmail.comSubject: Application for Postdoctoral fellowship Dear Sir, Hope you will find this letter in good health, myself Puneet Singh Chauhan have done my PhD in Biochemistry entitled Physiological and Molecular characterization of rhizosphere competent plant growth promoting Pantoeaagglomerans NBRI-SRM” from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India (Thesis work was carried out at Microbiology Group, Division of Plant Microbe Interactions, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226 001, India). Now, I am looking for Post-Doctoral fellowship. Here I would like to offer my candidature, if you have any Post-Doctoral position, as I have already acquired research experience in the area of basic microbiology and Molecular microbial ecology, I will like very much to have an opportunity of working with you, for my further research, as it will provide to me latitude to acquire experience in the same area or analogous to this, under your able guidance. I have enclosed my resume for your kind perusal. Should you require more details, I may kindly be contacted for the same. I will look forward towards a favorable response from you.

5. Writing an application letter – the way it needs to be done Dear Dr. Einstein, I am currently a PhD student in sociology at K.U.Leuven, Belgium. I will be defending my PhD in August, and I would like the investigate the possibilities of joining your group as a postdoctoral fellow. My choice for your group is a very specific one. I am familiar with your work, and I especially admire your paper on relativity (Einstein, A, Annalen der Physik 1915). I like how you use theory to predict the physical reality (I find the prediction of sun ray bending especially intriguing –I hope to see the day where this prediction is proven). Although my education and previous research may seem not directly relevant to your research, I want to stress that I have theoretical and practical experience with advanced math used in sociology. I would like to broaden my horizons and use these mathematical models in a new setting; and of course also learn a set of new skills… I understand that you may not have the available funding to consider new students. However, given my academic and research results, I have a very good chance of acquiring a postdoctoral research fellowship from the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF). These BAEF fellowships are prestigious, competitive grants that cover my complete salary…

6. A scientific CV 1. Personal data 2. Education do not just give grades/distinction, but put into context (5th of class of 200, distinction given to excellent students…) Highlight specific relevant courses 3. Awards, professional memberships, teaching experience, anything worth knowing… 4. Research experience and interests (brief) 5. Publications If only few publications, highlight them and say what is so special and great about them, which specific problems you overcame… (< 5-6 lines)

7. The interview Try to get interviews in multiple places You can ask for help with travel costs, but negotiate before coming Prepare: read recent papers, look at website, read background Prepare a professional presentation, link to host only if appropriate Always be positive, enthused, polite, fun, smart – but not overly polite (brownnosing & ass-kissing!), boring, unopinionated. Do not gossip, and never be negative about something or someone ! Be sure to meet several lab members, ask smart questions about science but also about social environment (do you lunch together? Go out? Hobby´s? …

8. Letters of recommendation need to contain 5 sections. Ask your mentors to write their letter in this format; you can say that the host institute wants this… HOW DO YOU KNOW THE APPLICANT: It is my great pleasure to recommend Albert for a postdoctoral position in your research group. Albert was an intern in my laboratory between 2001 and 2002, and during our daily interactions, I have gotten to know him very well. GRADES / COMPARISON TO PEERS. Albert is a fabulous student – his grades were the very best of a group of 200 students. However, Albert is more than just an excellent student with good grades – he is known among his teachers as a true scholar. His superior intelligence and… I remember very well when… RESEARCH In the lab, Albert seems to have 3 hands. One anecdote tells it all… PERSONALITY: On a personal level, Albert is truly magnificent. He is friendly, social, responsible, hard-working and a terrific team player who has no trouble managing a team, being part of a team, or working solo. CONCLUSION - Taken together, I recommend Albert without any reservation; I cannot think of a better person to join your group. If you give him the opportunity to join your team, he will thank you with great work and become an alumnus to be very proud of. 1 2 3 4 5

9. Dictionary USA vs EU Absolutely fantastic = good Great = OK OK = Very, very Bad

10. Going there Be positive Be positive Be adventurous Go for it ! Work hard and concentrated, grab opportunities but stay focused on what matters (publications !?). Learn the language, integrate with locals as well as foreigners Have fun !