“Getting that first post-doc”

1. “Getting that first post-doc” Anthony Moorman Professor of Genetic Epidemiology

2. Overview of session • Laying the foundations of a good CV • Selecting the right post-doc for you • Applying for the job • Questions

3. Academic Career Pathway

4. Academic Career Pathway

5. Academic Career Pathway

6. Academic Career Pathway PhD Student Research Technician / Assistant / Associate Scientist Post-doc Independent Researcher Fellowship Tenured Academic Position

7. Laying the foundations of a good CV • Finish your PhD on time • Publications • First author > Joint first author > Second author • Present research at conference • Spoken / Platform presentation • Poster presentation • International > National > Local • Techniques • Basic • State-of-the-art

8. Networking • It's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference. [Anon] • It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living. [Bob Burg]

9. Networking • Make yourself known • Talk to PIs etc in your institute • Accept any invitation to meet external speakers • Do “research in progress” talks. Prepare well in advance. • Attend conferences • Don’t be afraid to ask questions • Introduce yourself to leaders in the field • Ask your supervisor(s) to introduce you • If you have a poster make sure to display on time and for full length of time. Be in attendance during “poster” sessions.

10. Your five year plan

11. Your five year plan • Where do you want to be in five years? • Fellowship • Joint application on grant • Expert in particular technique / field • Lecturing • Industry • How is this post-doc going to get you there?

12. Goals for your first-doc? • First author publications • First author publications • First author publications • Experience of grant preparation / writing • Learning new techniques/skills

14. Selecting the right post-doc • “Should I stay or should I go” • Plus going abroad • Changing fields • Technique driven • Subject driven • Cast net early and wide • But be careful ..... Very important decision

15. Assessing a potential position (1) • Are they .... • ... leaders in the field? • ... the next big thing? • ... journeymen? • ... the weakest link? • Aim as high as possible • Look up the RAE rating of department / unit • Literature search – including citation index • Money • How much have they got and from where • Cross reference their website from funders website

16. Assessing a potential position (2) • Group metrics / dynamics • Who is publishing as first author / corresponding author? • Size of group • Ratio of senior : junior staff • Clinically active heads of lab • Who do they collaborate with? • Website PLUS publications • Use your contacts to gather informal information

17. Preparing your CV • Clear & Concise • Divide into sections • Qualifications (including training courses) • Research Skills • Be honest, Quantify, Official training • Other skills (e.g. languages etc) • Meetings / Conferences • Presentations • Publications • Mission / Personal Statements

18. Applying for a position • Do not apply cold. • Contact PI in advance. Ask questions about project and team. • Read their papers. • Try to find project application via funder website. • Covering letter • Write, re-write, re-write and re-write

19. Interview

20. Interview (1) • Smart dress • Don’t bullshit! • Be prepared to …. • Give a brief interesting overview of PhD • What your ideal next experiment would be if there were no financial or logistical problems. • Describe how did you trouble-shoot a technical problem • How you approach writing your first author paper

21. Interview (2) • Ask some questions • Research related • What have former post-docs gone on to do? • Teaching opportunities

22. Feedback • Please complete feedback forms