Starting and Growing Your Own Research Program

1. Starting and Growing Your Own Research Program Deb Agarwal Senior Staff Scientist Advanced Computing for Science Department Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA Julie A. Adams Associate Professor Computer Science and Computer Eng. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN

2. Background – Julie A. Adams • Academia – 14 years • Vanderbilt (10 years), Rochester Institute of Technology (3 years), University of Rochester (2 years) [10+3+2!=14] • Distributed artificial intelligence • Micro-unmanned aerial vehicle path planning • Multiple robot (ground and aerial) systems • Human-robot and human-systems interaction • Industry – 5 years • Honeywell (1 year) and Eastman Kodak (4 years) • Human Factors • Intelligent Systems • PhD, Univ. of Pennsylvania – Human-Multiple Robot Interaction • BS CS and BBA Accounting, Siena College

3. Background – Deb Agarwal • LBNL researcher 18 years • Science data analysis infrastructure • Collaborative tools • Reliable multicast • Cloud and Grid computing • Cybersecurity for open science • PhD, UC Santa Barbara – Reliable Multicast • General Motors – Robotics • BSME, Purdue University

4. Develop Your ReputationAcademia • Identify a strong research problem with clear short-term, medium-term and long-term goals • Do not heavily overlap with advisors or other faculty • Establish your laboratory as quickly as possible • Identify strong students • You can no longer do all the work yourself! • If you can, hire a post-doc, but do not replace students • Identify and apply to appropriate funding sources • Publish in the publications that matter the most Produce strong results that have an impact on the field!

5. Develop Your ReputationNational Lab or Industry • Typically working on an existing research project • Hired for your ability to learn new things and research capabilities – not necessarily your specific research specialty • Do a good job • Produce deliverables on time • Contribute to reports and papers • Publish papers Be ENTHUSIASTIC about what you are working on NOW!

6. Build Collaborations • Internal and external collaborators • People you enjoy working with • Compatible skill set • Junior researchers who are also starting research careers and have compatible skills • Senior researchers who think well of your work • Be generous with co-authorship on papers

7. Build Collaborations • Do • Communicate effectively and be responsible • Learn to multi-task • Have a contingency plan • Don’t • Be a “student” for someone else • Take it personally if a collaboration does not work • Pretenure: Limit collaborations with advisors, carefully handle interdisciplinary collaborations, etc.

8. Develop Proposals • Look for new proposal opportunities • Early career proposal calls • As a collaborator/subcontractor • Internal funding grants • Private foundations or companies • Faculty Fellowships: AFOSR, NASA, etc. • Learn the rules and constraints of your organization with respect to funding • NSF, DOE, NIH, etc. • Human subjects, animals, environmental etc.

9. Develop Proposals • Learn how different organizations work and select proposals • NSF • AFOSR, ONR, ARO, NASA, DOE, DARPA, etc. • ARL, NRL, AFRL • Private foundations or companies • Ensure that your proposal is a good fit for the call and addresses all review criteria • Serve on review panels • Talk to the program manager

10. Swim With the Sharks • Take credit for your work • Avoid working with people who do not give you credit for your work externally and internally • Ask to present papers when you were a significant contributor • Present to senior researchers when you have the chance (prepare in advance) • Learn how to give an elevator speech about your research • Meet the program managers who will have influence on your funding Do not be shy or understated, but don’t overstate either!