Research Career Development

1. Research Career Development Gail P. Taylor Spring 2005 2005

2. Career Goals and How to Meet them…

3. Personal Attributes: Background Past Mentoring Skills Education Experience Temperament Values/Priorities Life responsibilities Work environment Job Impact Challenge/growth Recognition Hours/stress Human interaction Buy-in on direction Overall job stability Annual income Percent growth/job availability Career selection and satisfaction influenced by match between:

4. Focus of this Set of Lectures • We will look at Careers in Science and Engineering • Specifically the Ph.D. • Highest Degree that can be earned…

5. Love science Benefit world/humanity Disease Hunger Pollution Green Chemistry Curiosity Kids who ask “why” Thrive on intellectual stimulation “Explorers” Space; How works? “Inventors” Next best laser Autonomy You carry your career Set your own hours… Financial Companies Not hugely, but comfortable Educators Only way to be college fac. Want to educate others Want to mentor others Public Policy Want to impact nation… General Motivating Factors for Pursuing Science

6. Which is Most Legitimate? ALL!

7. Learn to perform research Further field Love doing it Skills sets Specific Non-specific Critical thinking Administration Planning, etc. Opportunity Teach at College/Univ. Required for running research programs Can be “in charge” Required for advancement Financial Prestige/authority Highest degree Why Earn an Advanced Degree – Ph.D.?

8. Most Biological Scientists Work: • Colleges/Universities • Industries • Government: • Federal • State • More than ½ outside of academe • Fewer academic positions available • Increases in small and medium corporations

9. Research Academic Government Industry Teaching All levels Journalism Engineering Firms Technical writing Publishing Intellectual property Patent law Public policy Museum curating Investment banking Research admin Educational admin Grants admin Program admin Public Health Bioinformatics Biotechnology Independent consulting … and much more Ph.D. Career Paths

10. Training… • All of these careers come out of basic training as a research scientist, in an academic institution

11. Standard Ph.D. Training Path Academics Post Bacc Research Academic Postdoc Government Postdoc Government Undergrad Studies Doctoral Studies Industry Postdoc Industry M.S. Degree Continue Education Other Career Other Engineering

12. Prestige/Impress others Boost weak ego Job guarantee (not) For your parents Personal intelligence test Delay entry to work force Wealth Why NOT to enter Grad School

13. Attributes of a Successful Scientist • Depends on whom you ask…. http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/careers/appb.html

14. Graduate Programs are arduous… Do rewards and compensations outweigh disappointments and toil? Yes, if hooked… Exhilaration of discovery Satisfaction of solved problems “One does not have to be terrifically brainy to be a good scientist…” Virtues: Common sense Application Diligence Sense of purpose Concentration Perseverance in adversity… Advice to Young Scientist Peter Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist

15. Scientist Characteristics II • S tudy skills (discipline to learn and maintain field) • C uriosity and flexibility in adjusting beliefs • I ntelligence (knowledge base/critical thinking) • E nthusiasm to overcome disappointments • N ever-ending attention to detail • C ommittment to personal and professional honesty and responsibility • E nduring respect and appreciation of foundation work • ProfHoff Newton Website, DOE http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99983.htm

16. Scientist Characteristics III • 1. imagination • 2. concentration • 3. integrity Peter Faletra Ph.D. Office of Science Department of Energy Newton Website, DOE http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99983.htm

17. Scientist Characteristics IV • 1. A keen sense of curiosity • 2. Natural skeptic- • strong reliance on "the data“ • “show me your numbers". • 3. Tenacity • 4. Analytical skills • 5. Critical thinking

18. Work on laboratory Programs such as RISE/MARC Volunteer Take courses Mentor, friends & acquaintances Shadowing someone Summer programs & internships Internet Placement offices Professional societies Advertisements Where to Find out about Careers?

19. Neurobiology/Neuroscience Physiology Microbiology/Immunology/Endocrinology Cell/Molec./Dev. Biology Biochemistry/Biological chemistry Biomedical Engineering Chemistry (various sorts) Pathology/Molecular Toxicology Pharmacology Radiological Sciences Biostatistics Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Environmental Health Sciences Epidemiology Oral Biology Biological and Medical Informatics Biophysics Genetics Pharmacogenomics Forestry Integrative Biology Molecular and Biochemical Nutrition Plant Biology Vision Science And Many MORE!! Graduate School Fields/Programs

20. What is a good field? • What inspires you? • Matches your passion? • Matches your values? • What do you think will be “hot” in 5 years? • Biodefense? • Microbiology • Cell Biology • Health? • Age-related illnesses (in neuro, diabetes, cancer, etc) • Biomedical applications of Genetics? • Drug development – Pharmacology/toxicology • Immunology – good for future biotech industry… • Computational Biology • Engineering • ????

21. My Career Plan • Personal Values/Priorities • Top Career Choices • Research Tools (where learn materials) • Educational Plan • Goals/Timeline

22. Work on Exercise #1 • Please fill out Exercise 1.