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The Ohio Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience May 16, 2014 Making your way on the journey to a postdoc. Patrick Sonner , Ph.D. Labib Rouhana , Ph.D. Nadja Grobe, Ph.D. Who are we? It’s all relative. Current challenges in academia. Declining grant success rates
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The Ohio Miami Valley Chapter of the Society for NeuroscienceMay 16, 2014Making your way on the journey to a postdoc Patrick Sonner, Ph.D. LabibRouhana, Ph.D. Nadja Grobe, Ph.D.
Current challenges in academia • Declining grant success rates • 800,000 PhDs versus 100,000 faculty positions in science and engineering NIH IMPAC, success rate file Schillebeeckx et al. 2013, Nature Biotechnology 31: 938-941
Why is a PhD worthwile? contribute to understanding of nature pursue a subject out of love design own research be creative and meaningful constant intellectual challenge mentor young scientists
Career options Academia (research- or teaching-intensive) Science education for general public or schools/universities Healthcare Science writing Government (NIH, NSF, EPA, DOE, USDA, DOD) Policy Intellectual property career (patents) Business Sales, marketing Biotech/Pharma(research- or administrative-intensive) Check out http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/
Benefits of a postdoc • No longer a student - not yet faculty • Explore career and environment • Expand network of experts • Flexibility • Opportunities • Mentoring experience • Practice grant writing • More stable funding rates for fellowships • Increase publication record • Additional time for decision about future career choices
Case studies • break-out groups read 3-4 case studies • Discuss each case study within group • chooses favorite profile • groups report and discuss their choices and rationale to the full audience • rationale for profile choices are noted on a white board