schmid postdoc success

8/6/2019 Schmid Postdoc Success

1/36

Planning for and

Executing a

SuccessfulPostdoc

ExperienceSandra [email protected]

QuickTime and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.


2/36

Dr. Y ur name here


3/36

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


4/36

Worth reading:

Successful Postdoctoral TrainingSuccessful Postdoctoral Training


5/36

Worth reading:



6/36

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)


7/36

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


8/36

Find and Engage A Mentor


Q

kT

TI (

)

t t

t

(0r mentors!)

S w t t y g ly x t t ( f y lf t )


9/36

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:



10/36

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



11/36

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


A postdoc offers the chance to form a unique

collaborative relationship


12/36

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



13/36

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


14/36

Q

i

kTi

! " # !

TIFF ($ %

W)#

o & ' ( (

o'

! ' " # #

to(

t)

i( &

i

t ' 0

tt :// i i g o g/ _ v lo t


15/36

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'?



16/36

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


17/36


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)



18/36

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


19/36

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


20/36

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


21/36

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


22/36

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


23/36

Aim to accomplish these three tasks:

1) Decide what area of science you want to

pursue

2) Finish at least one significant project


community

4) Learn how to communicate your sciencewithin 3 years !!



24/36

Harvard President Larry Summers

Women are unwilling towork

80 hours/week

Productivity E time efficiency

Qui1

2 3

i4 5

6

7 8

9

7

3

A A

(B

ncompr5 C C 5

9

)9

5

compr5 C C

or7

r5

neededtoC

eethiC

picture.

Time Management


25/36

Productivity E time

Efficiency depends on:

prioritizationplanning and organization

Focus/level of intensity

engaging othersstaying on track

good Time Management

efficiency

Time Management


26/36


Time Management

How can you increase efficiency?


27/36

Multi-tasking is one solution.

Time Management


28/36

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!!


29/36

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


30/36

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


31/36

Think

tangram

Time Management=Planning and Organization



32/36



33/36

so you canspend more

time at home!!

Efficiently useall yourtime atwor

so you canspend moretime at home!!


34/36

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


35/36

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


36/36

Not every day

Maybe not every week

Its an overall sense

Shifting priorities

Engaging PartnersLong-term Planning

Balance:

A balanced life

schmid postdoc success

Documents