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PICKING THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU. Post Doc versus Faculty Teaching and/or Research Large versus Small Institution. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF POST-DOCS. Lots of time for research - added publications, time to establish post-graduate career track, grant writing experience
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PICKING THE RIGHTJOB FOR YOU • Post Doc versus Faculty • Teaching and/or Research • Large versus Small Institution
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF POST-DOCS • Lots of time for research - added publications, time to establish post-graduate career track, grant writing experience • Build reputation and network • No or little administrative and teaching load • NOTE: some post docs are tied to specific projects, others are open • Salary is not usually comparable to a faculty position or industry • Not as common in engineering disciplines
APPLYING FOR POST-DOCS • NSERC Canada - www.nserc.ca/schol_e.htm • National Science Foundation (NSF) - www.nsf.gov/home/programs/int.htm • Various fellowships: check database on web (eg. Community of Science at www.cos.com), student services • Foreign embassies (web) • Research institutions and national labs • Ask someone senior in your area
NSERC POST-DOCS • Must be a Canadian or Permanent Resident • Must have obtained doctorate no more than two years before the deadline (Nov 15) • If you have relevant work experience in industry or government after your PhD, the eligibility period is extended to 3 years • If you have withdrawn from the workforce for at least one year after your PhD for maternity leave or to raise a child, the eligibility period is extended to 6 years • Support is for 24 months at $35,000 per year
LIMITED TERM POSITIONS • Get lots of teaching experience • May provide an opportunity to be at a better department than otherwise possible • Flexibility with no commitment • NOTE: In order to be eligible for an NSERC Research grant, the term position must be for at least 3 years!
FACULTY POSITIONS • May require a post-doc to be competitive • Large variation in teaching and research load between institutions • Allows you to build your own research program • Some programs targeted at women – NSERC University Faculty Awards
NSERC UFAs • Must be nominated by a university by Nov 1 • Minimum of 15 selected per year • Five year term (3+2) – must be offered tenure track from the University! • $40,000 per year towards salary • Not eligible if you already hold a tenure track position at a Canadian university • Expected to devote the majority of time to research (reduced teaching and admin) • Need strong support to be successful in obtaining a UFA
TIMELINES • Now - Get to know the people in your field! • Fall - applications for post docs • Most faculties are hiring all year around while some follow a schedule such as: • Dec and Jan - Applications for faculty • Feb to April - Interviews • March to June - Offers
APPLICATION PACKET • Cover Letter • Curriculum Vitae • Research Statement • Teaching Statement • Selected Papers • Letters of Reference (sometimes these need to be sent directly to the University) • NOTE: Research the Department that you are applying to and tailor your application accordingly!
APPLICATION TIPS • Send it on time • Send it to some places you’d love to work even if they aren’t advertising • Don’t send it to anywhere you wouldn’t go • Prepare your packet carefully! • Do not replicate publications • No mistakes • Visually appealing
APPLICATION TIPS 2 • Cover letter should include • your research area • your university • your advisor • Teaching statement should discuss your philosophy, experience and innovative ideas • Research statement should include your major research activities and impact as well as other projects that you may have been involved in (include who supported the research and/or collaborators)
APPLICATION TIPS 3 • Ask referees in advance if they can write you a STRONG letter • Your referees should be • people who know your work well • national and international scholars • someone to comment on your teaching • someone to comment on you and your leadership skills • Send your writers your current CV and supplementary materials to help them
APPLICATION TIPS 4 • Your CV should include • educational and professional experiences • awards, scholarships and other recognition • publications (journals, conference, presented, reports, etc.) • impact of research (tech transfer, patents) • professional activities (e.g. committees, journal reviewer) • Other activities that highlight your leadership skills (e.g. women in science & engineering)
JOB POSTINGS • University Faculty or Department web pages • University Human Resource web pages • Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) web page at www.caut.ca under publications>bulletin • Scientific journals in areas of expertise • Industry partners (research and development) such as those listed on NSERC web page
JOB POSTINGS 2 • CCWEST web page www.ccwest.org listed under ‘clearing house’ • “University Affairs’ publication, from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Web page at www.aucc.ca • Chronicle of Higher Education web address: http://chronicle.com/about-help.dir/bb-ad.htm