Preparing for a Faculty Position

1. Preparing for a Faculty Position Paula M. Oliver, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Division of Cell Pathology Postdoc Seminar Series May 21, 2009

2. Overview of Session Getting the most out of your post-doc Transitioning to a faculty position Getting started in the new lab

3. Making the most of your post-doc Stage 1: finding the right lab for your post-doc. Stage 2: proving yourself Stage 3: preparing for independence Stage 4: getting a faculty position

4. Stage 1: finding the right lab for your post-doc. How do I find the best post-doc for me? What questions should I ask my potential advisor and potential lab mates? Once arrived: how does this place work? What is my plan?

5. How to find the right post-doc. Ask questions and do your homework Of yourself What works best for you in an advisor, in a project? Of your potential advisor Think beyond your post-doc. What are their expectations? How long do I have funding for? What projects might they support? What can I take with me when I leave? Of your potential co-workers How do you like being in this lab? What are your career plans (are they similar to yours? Do they need to be?) How supportive is the PI when people move on to start their own lab? Of past lab members (if you can) Did you like being in the lab? What would you have done differently in this lab? In your career?

6. Resources for finding a post-doc • International Postdoc Survival Guide • http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/publications/international-postdoc-resources/international-postdoc-survival-guide • Going In With Your Eyes Open: What To Ask Before Accepting a U.S. Postdoctoral Position • http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/publications/international-postdoc-resources/international-postdoc-survival-guide/172-going-in-with-your-eyes-open

7. Questions for new post-docs How do things work at this institution and what opportunities are there for me here? Opportunities to give talks, teach, meet with speakers? Learning new techniques, state of the art core facilities? Meetings?

8. Making the most of your post-doc Stage 1: finding the right lab for your post-doc. Stage 2: proving yourself Stage 3: preparing for independence Stage 4: getting a faculty position

9. Career Planning from Day 1 Go into your post-doc with a plan of what you want the end to look like and work towards that goal. Ask important questions and publish papers that people notice. Who will you get letters of recommendation from? Set up those relationships early in your postdoc If you don’t know what you want the end to look like, then work on figuring this out Career Planning Books/Alternative Career Books Web sites Today’s talk will focus on academic careers.

10. Stage 2: Make a Plan – work through it (1) Successfully complete research projects and publish research results (2) Attend scientific meetings -know what people in the field are doing -get ideas for the future -give talks-get your name out (3) Build networks and collaborations, both inside and outside the institution (4) Take classes that expand expertise (5) To prepare for job search: write future plan, develop interviewing skills, etc.

11. Stage 2: Proving yourself;core characteristics of a successful scientist Skills that a scientist should have by the end of their postdoc in order to be successful in the academic track Scientific knowledge Technical skills Communication skills Leadership and management skills Responsible conduct of research Interest in mentoring and teaching

12. Core characteristics of a successful scientist(how this translates on paper) Publications- why? Letters of recommendation Collaborations Teaching experience Speaking and interviewing skills

13. Making the most of your post-doc Stage 1: finding the right lab for your post-doc. Stage 2: proving yourself Stage 3: preparing for independence Stage 4: getting a faculty position

14. Stage 3: Individual Development Plan An evolving map of your career path during your post-doc. Provides focus for your goals, charts your progress, and helps you reach your goals. Should be developed just after getting that first paper published. -planned publications -letters of recommendation -what will you study when you start your own lab? Plan for independence. -techniques you need to develop -reagents you will need Plan your first R01-in detail-write a 1, 2, and three page synopsis of your plan, focusing on the big picture. Use lay language. Update your CV, have others look at it.

15. Build your Network Networking is crucial to successful job hunting, particularly in a bad economy Everyone has a network People from grad school Who your PI knows Friends in and out of institution Relatives Go to meetings

16. Job Search Strategies How to find jobs? Journals Networking Web sites Know that the process might take awhile—give yourself time (~8 months) annual timing CV/Future plan/Cover Letter Writing Attend a workshop or have someone review yours Interviewing Skills One strategy: pick a place that you are less enthusiastic about first as your “learning interview”.

17. Making the most of your post-doc Stage 1: finding the right lab for your post-doc. Stage 2: proving yourself Stage 3: preparing for independence Stage 4: getting a faculty position

18. You have found a potential job opportunity and you want to apply.Getting serious about a job. What do Universities want?

19. What do Universities want? Increase their stature Bring in money Fill a niche in their department -scientific -teaching Bring a technique that people want to use Run a core

20. What do Universities want? Increase their stature Bring in money Fill a niche in their department -scientific -teaching Bring a technique that people want to use Run a core Where do you fit? How can you sell them on you.

21. Do your homework. Do you fill a niche in their department? -scientific-know what people in the department work on and what techniques they use. Identify potential collaborators. -teaching Bring a technique that people want to use? These are things you can use to your advantage during your interview. Make these points in your application.

22. What do you need?

23. What do you need? Collaborators Financial support during the transition Salary support Good core facilities Mentors Grad students, post-docs, techs Job stability???

24. Submit your application….. Prepare to wait. Committees take time. Update as necessary. New publications Awards, grants, etc. not details on manuscript review process, invited to give talk at meeting..

25. (the phone rings)You land the interview! Have you calendar close by and organized. Prepare your talk (40:10:10) Know what people in the Dept do (read their papers, have questions ready) Be engaged, be excited, know who does what.

26. Ask questions; be prepared. When you are invited, ask about format. Seminar? Chalk talk? Don’t be caught by surprise.

27. Interview Etiquette Be prepared-three backup plans for seminar Dress professionally yet comfortably (Go to other faculty candidate talks) Don’t drink too much at dinner, don’t talk negatively about others, etc. Avoid conversations about politics, religion and sports teams. Be yourself, you are a scientist and a human.

28. The second interview. Things are looking good…..prepare your chalk talk. Chalk talk, NIH R01 format, three aims. Develop your chalk talk. Practice it with others. Be ready to defend it (why). Put the most interesting aim first. Keep people engaged. Powerpoint? Chalkboard? Be ready for either. Make use of their input. Take notes.

29. What you need from the second interview. Core facilities (~cost). Salary support (no free lunch-either way). Teaching responsibilities. Requirements for tenure. Make a mental note of shared resources and equipment. Query about equipment that people would like to share within division. Lab and office space.

30. The politics of it all. Why you don’t hear back. -position is filled before add is placed. -not a good fit. -too much overlap with others’ work. -looking for someone with specific expertise. Don’t question it.

31. Negotiating. Preparing a list of equipment. Find out definition of equipment. Work from someone else's (get several if possible). Don’t be afraid to ask. Think about divisional needs. Salary (it’s mostly coming from you). Salaries for others (tech? post-doc?) Room for growth. Duration of start-up. Ask for details.

32. Negotiating (cont.) What happens if you get a grant? What happens if you run out of your start-up funds or have some left at the end of the startup period? Protected time. Get it in writing. Space, start-up, salary, etc.

33. Starting your new lab. Put together a list of supplies (with detailed order info) Go through your lab and write down everything. Put together a protocol book. Look into grants. Apply early, apply often. Make up stuff that will get you started. Mice? Freezer space? Liquid N2? Can you do experiments in someone else’s space while your lab is set up?

34. Grants Prepare a list of grants -In-house (small) -Foundations (int) typically topic specific -R01 (large) and other NIH grants look at paylines for different institutes Get help form a committee and do a chalk talk Get advice about study sections.

35. Good luck!