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Planning for and
Executing a
SuccessfulPostdoc
ExperienceSandra [email protected]
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Dr. Y ur name here
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This is the first step of your career as
an independent scientist
Work with youradvisorto attain both
yourresearch and career goals
Postdoctoral Training is a
pivotal stage in your career
It's a transitional position, not a job
You are responsible for your success
Define yourown goals
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Worth reading:
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
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Worth reading:
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
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Schmids Cliff N es:1. Figure out where you want to go
(Prioritize, Focus)
2. Plan the best way of getting there
(Plan and Organize)3. Mind your own business
(Focus, Stay on track)
4.-6. Get others to help
(Engage others)7. Keep refueling,
(Priorities shift)
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Define your objectives :
short-term (days/weeks) daily experimental planintermediate term (months) a paper
long-term (years) be hirable/get a job
Dont get side-tracked
What career track is best suited to your goals and talents?Do you want to teach?
Do you want to work in teams?
Are you a good experimentalist? Are you creative? Are you a problem-
solver?
Are you interested in applied research?Are you passionate about pursing a specific research objective?
Where are you going?
How will you get there?
Set a path, place steps along the way
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Find and Engage A Mentor
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
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1) Decide what area of science you want
to pursue (or alternate path you want to
take)2) Finish at least one significant project
3) Establish your identity in the research
(or teaching/political/editorial) community4) Learn how to communicate effectively
(written and verbal)
Four things you must accomplish:
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
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ATTRIBUTE #1
: Get ahead of the curve ATTRIBUTE #2: Follow your heart
ATTRIBUTE #3: Remember the big picture
ATTRIBUTE #4: Acquire a track record
ATTRIBUTE #5: Do your homework ATTRIBUTE #6: Demonstrate grantsmanship
ATTRIBUTE #7: Be proactive
ATTRIBUTE #8: Be a team player
CAREER ADVICE:Eight Attributes of Highly Successful PostdocsConstance Holden
Science (1999) 285:1527-1529
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1) Decide what area of science you want to
pursue
Get ahead of the curve(#1)
Follow your heart (#2) Find what excites you
Meld your own interests with an area that
has a lot of growth potential.
BECOME AN EXPERT
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
A postdoc offers the chance to form a unique
collaborative relationship
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Become an expert in your field
Read
Go to seminars
Talk to others
Look for the WHITE spaces
(open questions, new approaches)
Know how your area/expertise fits with others
Remember the big picture (#3)
Go to seminars !!!
Set up a journal club
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You want independence/security?
h p://www.gran sne . rg
ex ensive, searchable gran da abase
Demonstrate grantsmanship (#6)Write a proposal, and get it funded;
even if your advisor can pay you!!
PLAN, PR OR ZE, SE A CLEARPA H
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2) Finish at least one significant project
Finished means published!!
As importantas apedigreeis atrackrecord(A ribu e #4 ).A strong listofpublications says This personis a 'closer'?
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Publons (Feibelman)
What is the single important question youre addressing? How does it fit in the context of the field? What data is needed to tell a compelling (but short) story?
Home-runs are great, but think strategically and
take the base hits
Collaborate with and contribute to other projects
(make yourself useful)
1) Play the numbers game:
Plan your research as a series of focused, complete
projects. Ask important, but well-defined questions
How many papers is enough?
2) Successfully tackle a very difficult, very important
and/or very novel problem
3) Both: inside every big problem are several smaller
problems
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3) Establish your identity in the research
community
You will need 3-4 letters of recommendation for
an academic job
Talk to other faculty members about theirresearch and yours (Attributes 3,5,7)
Go to seminars and ask questions
Present your work, whenever possibleLearn what others around you are doing and
be helpful (Attribute #8)
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Top 10 Reasons To A end Seminars
1. To ge your mind off yourown problems
2. To efficien ly and effor lessly expand your nowledge: Youge an overview and 3-5 papers wor h in 1 hour3. To see examples of good (and bad) al s: learn from others
mista es
4. To see and be seen by your colleagues: rec letters!
5. To learn toorganize your lab time around othercommitments: get used to it!
6. To as questions: sharpen and display your ability to assimilatenew data
7. To learn to engage in meaningful scientific discourse: listen
and participate in the discussion8. To learn the unexpected that could help your research: a
new method or approach, a relevant paradigm
9. To meet leading scientists: theyll be hiring!10.To be a scholar: its not a bad idea to now a little about a lot
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The N H Pathway to ndependence Award provides anopportunity for promising postdoctoral scientists to receive bothmentored and independent research support from the same award.
1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoralresearch. $90,000/year. 3 years of independent support contingenton securing anindependent research position, up to $249,000/year. US and nonUS citizens are eligible
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Transitional cache funding.cont.
Leu emia and Lymphoma Society - CareerDevelopment Awardminimum 2 years postdoc, $56K salary, $4Koverhead x 3 yrs
DoD- Era of Hope Postdoctoral Awards Breast Cancerannounced each year, watch forthem
Burroughs-Wellcome und: nfectious Diseases, Medical Scientists,nterfaces in Science
(up to2 years postdoc, 3 years faculty support)
http://www.grantsnet.orgextensive, searchable grant database
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To get an interview, you will need:
A strong CV/resum:- Solid accomplishments at each stage of your career- Evidence of competitiveness (awards, fellowships)
- Evidence of ambition, self-determination
A statementof research interests: past, present andfuture (2-3 pages):
- ma e it linear, self-deterministic- emphasize significance of your wor in the Big Picture
- briefly describe future plans, i.e. an N H grant summary
A little help from your mentors:- as them to ma e a phone call- help them by giving them names and phone numbers- have them read and critique your research statement
A compelling cover letter, tuned tothe job
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To get a job, you will need:
A well-prepared and interesting seminar:- tell a story- be authoritative- ma e the future directions clear
The ability to interview well and thin on your feet:(broad nowledge obtained by attending seminars helps)
To be a good fit:research and now your prospective colleagues and the
institute
A well thoughtout plan of research:an N H grant's worth of Specific Aims, bac -up plans, big
picture future directions
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Aim to accomplish these three tasks:
1) Decide what area of science you want to
pursue
2) Finish at least one significant project
3) Establish your identity in the research
community
4) Learn how to communicate your sciencewithin 3 years !!
Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training
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Harvard President Larry Summers
Women are unwilling towork
80 hours/week
Productivity E time efficiency
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Time Management
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Productivity E time
Efficiency depends on:
prioritizationplanning and organization
Focus/level of intensity
engaging othersstaying on track
good Time Management
efficiency
Time Management
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Productivity E time efficiency
Time Management
How can you increase efficiency?
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Multi-tasking is one solution.
Time Management
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Most email
Lab trivia
Computer games
Internet browsing
Youve got mail alert
Ringing telephone
Inquiring colleague
A lab fire
Tomorrows
grant deadline
Not Important Important
NotUrgent
Urgent
On-going expts
Goal acquisitionNext months grant
deadline
Career objectives
Work on Important things before theyre Urgent
A Simple Time Management Matrix
STAY OUT OF THESESPACES!!
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Get your email under controlTurn off the Youve got mail alert
Correspond with friends from home or during lunch
breaks
Dont browse the Internet, use it efficiently and purposefully
Organize your work place
Create a quiet place (or time) to workGo the library (or come in early)
Plan your week and each day
Time wasters and savers
Time Management
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Stay in
Important, but not urgent
Space Plan ahead, know your deadlines
Break large tasks down into smaller tasks,
make a To-Do list
Set aside blocks of time for specific tasks,
match the time with the task
Complete the tasks in the logical order
dictated by your planning
Plan and organize your day around the tasks at hand
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Think
tangram
Time Management=Planning and Organization
Productivity E time efficiency
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Productivity E time efficiency
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so you canspend more
time at home!!
Efficiently useall yourtime atwor
so you canspend moretime at home!!
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Schmids Cliff Notes:1. Figure out where you want to go
2. Plan the best way of getting there
3. Mind your own business
4.-6. Get others to help
7. Keep refueling,
upgrade your vehicle,increase your power,
go more places
Time Management
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Engaging
others Inpractical termsIn the lab:Train a tech, a student co-wor erto be organizedRun a lab journal clubLook foropportunities to collaborate/synergizeSeek advice early when things dont work
At home:Share the work-load with your spouse/partner
Empower your children totake on responsibilityTell your children about your jobKeep things simple
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Not every day
Maybe not every week
Its an overall sense
Shifting priorities
Engaging PartnersLong-term Planning
Balance:
A balanced life