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The University of Kansas
Medical Center
Office of
Postdoctoral Affairs
POSTDOC PRESS March 2016
Five Postdocs Received Awards Made Possible by a KUMC Auxiliary Grant
POSTDOCTORAL AWARDS
This past fall, the Office of Postdoctoral
Affairs received a grant from the KUMC
Auxiliary funding Postdoctoral
Professional Excellence Awards. These
awards recognize the promise and
contributions of postdoctoral scholars at
the University of Kansas Medical Center
and elevate those who exemplify
excellence in education and research in
postdoctoral scholarship, which is a
critical part of the mission of the
University and its research enterprise.
Each award includes financial support for
the continued professional development
of postdoctoral scholars at a critical time
in their careers as well as
acknowledgement of the important
contributions made by scholars at the
University. In addition, designated
awards highlight and support
underrepresented minority and women
scholars, recognizing that historically,
these groups of scholars have been
significantly underrepresented in STEM
fields. These awards are an important
part of increasing the visibility of these
early career role models and supporting
their continued success in their fields.
Postdoctoral scholars were invited to
apply for four Allen B Rawitch
Professional Excellence Awards. In
addition, faculty mentors were invited to
nominate a scholar for the Distinguished
Postdoctoral Scholar Award.
On March 1, Jill Morris, PhD was
presented with the Distinguished
Postdoctoral Scholar Award. Four
scholars received Rawitch Awards:
Heather Wilkins, PhD and Damayanti
Chakraborty, PhD each received
Outstanding Woman Scholar Awards,
and Hemant Chavan, PhD and Aritra
Bhattercherjee, PhD received
Professional Excellence Awards. For
more information, visit the awards
website.
Ashley Carlson, Assistant Director of
Postdoctoral Affairs
KUMC Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS)
WIMS is dedicated to advancing the careers of
women in medicine and science through engagement
of faculty, staff, students, and trainees– including
both men and women. WIMS offers many professional
development and social events throughout the year.
Learn more on the WIMS webpage or email the
WIMS leadership group.
Postdoc Press March 2016
In This Issue
Postdoctoral Professional
Excellence Awards
Announcements
Events Calendar
The Ins & Outs of Attending
Scientific Conferences
Networking at Conferences Like
a Pro!
Should I Do a Second Postdoc?
Postdoc Spotlight: Amanda
Szabo-Reed, PhD
Attending Conferences for
Career Development
Reviewing a Journal Manuscript
Postdoc Alumni Spotlight:
Megan Cooley, PhD
English Communication Spring
Helpdesk
Congratulations:
Dhruv Kumar, PhD, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of
Otolaryngology is the May recipient of the Journal of
Postdoctoral Research’s Postdoc of the Month Award.
Announcements:
The Department of Microbiology will be offering a course,
Teacher Training for Postdoctoral Fellows, over the summer
semester. Those interested may contact Dr. Michael Parmely
for more information.
Share your good news and announcements in the next issue of
the Postdoc Press. Email [email protected].
OFFICE OF POSTDOCTORAL AFFAIRS
April 20. 2016
12:00-1:00pm
Professional Development
Varnes 4024, School of Nursing
Join guest speakers from the KUMC Organizational
Improvement Office to build leadership, management, and
communication skills. Register and learn more online.
May 19, 2016
12:00-1:00pm
Putting your PhD to Work With a
Career in the Nonprofit Industry
Lied Auditorium
Marc Hulbert, PhD, Chief Mission Officer for the Breast
Cancer Research Foundation will speak on putting your PhD
training to work for a successful and rewarding career in the
nonprofit industry. Lunch provided to registered attendees.
Register and learn more online.
June 15, 2016
11:30-1:00pm
Career Panel: Avenues in Academia for
Postdocs and Grad Students
Lied Auditorium
Career panel event for postdocs and graduate
students. Topic will focus on careers in academia,
education, and traditional research paths. Panelists to be
announced. Lunch will be provided. Register and learn
more online.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Postdoc Press March 2016
KUMC POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATION
April 8, 2016
9:00-10:00am
KPA Career Development
2070 Hemenway
April's session will feature Kimberly Connelly, Irina Aris, and
Alexandra Harkins from the KUMC Office of International
Programs. Breakfast provided, registration not required.
May 13, 2016
9:00-10:00am
KPA Career Development
2070 Hemenway
May's session will feature Dr. Paul Terranova speaking on
the development of the Institute for Reproductive Health
and Regenerative Medicine. Breakfast provided,
registration not required.
June 10, 2016
9:00-10:00am
KPA Career Development
2070 Hemenway
June's session will feature Dr. Danny Welch and discussion
of the faculty interview process. Breakfast provided,
registration not required.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICE
Thursdays
12:00-1:00pm
Culture Hour
Calkins Conference Room, G004 Orr
Major
A Casual Forum for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Insights, Questions, and Concerns about Culture. Bring your
lunch and join us for Culture Hour! Light appetizers served.
Email Zachary Rogers for more information!
April 19, 2016
12:00-1:00
The Value of Diverse Terms in
Academic Medicine
SON Auditorium, G013
A noon hour presentation, part of the Clinical Culture and
Diversity Series. Lunch is provided. Learn more online.
UNIVERSITY EVENTS
April 1, 2016
12:00-1:00
Student Research Forum A.L. Chapman
Keynote Lecture
SON Auditorium, G013
Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies will give the 2016 SRF
Keynote lecture. Lunch provided on first come, first served
basis. Learn more online.
April 8, 2016
12:00-1:00
Campus Wide Leadership Series: Self-
Doubt: The Roadblock to Leadership
SON Auditorium, G013
Tami Greenberg, MS, CEO, Ronald McDonald House, will
share her insight from believing the greatest challenge is
one's roadblock from self-doubt and how to overcome or
manage it. Time will be saved for Q&A with the audience.
April 11, 2016
12:00-1:00
Journal Matchmaking: Help for
Deciding Where to Publish
SON 1047
Your manuscript is complete. Which journal should you
submit it to? How can you balance multiple considerations
including peer review, open access, and impact factors?
Learn about Dykes Library resources that can help you weigh
these factors and get tips on how to avoid predatory
journals.
April 12, 2016
12:00-1:00
Community Supported Agriculture
Lunch and Learn
SON Auditorium, G013
Please join the Food is Medicine student organization and
Good Natured Family Farms for a lunch and learn session
about our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Lunch will be provided for the first 50 attendees, and Good
Natured Family Farms will bring samples of produce to
enjoy. Come learn about a great way to eat healthy while
supporting local farms!
April 12, 2016
12:00-1:00
WIMS Diversity & CCHD Event–
Nothing About Us Without Us: The
Importance of Diversity on Teams
Lied Auditorium
Topics for discussion will include: Importance of diversity in
race/ethnicity and in disciplines on research and medical
care teams, working with family members of persons with
disability in clinics, Autism Awareness Month. Panelists will
be announced soon! Lunch to first 80 people registered.
Lunch provided by CCHD.
April 13, 2016
12:00-1:00
Who’s Citing Me? Measuring Your
Research Impact
SON 1049
This presentation addresses ways to assess researcher
impact through a variety of bibliometric and altmetric
strategies. Recommendations for researchers wishing to
increase visibility and discoverability will be shared.
April 25, 2016
7:00-8:30am
Unconscious Bias Keynote Address
SON Auditorium, G013
Join faculty, staff and students from across KUMC to learn
about the phenomenon of Unconscious Bias and how it
affects processes and the environment at an academic
health center.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Postdoc Press March 2016
UNIVERSITY EVENTS
April 1, 2016
12:00-1:00
Student Research Forum A.L. Chapman
Keynote Lecture
SON Auditorium, G013
Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies will give the 2016 SRF
Keynote lecture. Lunch provided on first come, first served
basis. Learn more online.
May 7 & 8, 2016
10:00-10:00
10th Annual AIHREA Health & Wellness
Pow Wow
Johnson County Community College
The Center for American Indian Community Health at KUMC
is one of the founding members of AIHREA. Volunteers
welcome. More information available online.
June 15, 2016
12:00-1:00
Campus-Wide Leadership Series: There
Is No I in Team
Battenfield Auditorium
Bill Self, KU's Men's Basketball Head Coach and Joe Carter,
Baseball Legend will share stories about their personal
journey to fame, their mentors and others who have
influenced them, and how they work together on numerous
projects.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Postdoc Press March 2016
RESIDENT, POSTDOC, AND FELLOW RESEARCH FORUM SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
May 4, 2016
12:00-1:00
Opening Plenary Panel Discussion:
PCORI Grants and Funded Projects
SON Auditorium, G013
Panelists: Richard Barohn, MD; Christie Befort, PhD; Nikke
Nollen, PhD; John Spertus, MD; Russ Waitman, PhD;
Moderator: Kim Kimminau, PhD. Lunch provided to first 50
attendees.
May 4, 2016
1:00-5:00pm
Session I: Oral and Poster
Presentations
SON Atrium, Orr Major 1006 & 1010
Residents, postdocs, and fellows will present research.
May 5, 2016
8:00-11:00am
Session II: Oral and Poster
Presentations
SON Atrium, Orr Major 4004 & 4014
Residents, postdocs, and fellows will present research.
May 5, 2016
12:00-1:00
Plenary Address: Responsible Conduct
of Research (RCR)
SON 4024
Guest speaker William Neaves, PhD will lead this
Responsible Conduct of Research session. Lunch provided
to the first 50 attendees.
May 6, 2016
12:00-1:00
Awards and Closing Keynote: Bench to
Bedside
SON Auditorium, G013
2016 RPF Research Forum awards will be presented.
Following, James Calvet, PhD and Alan Yu, MB,BChir will
present the closing keynote: Bench to Bedside. Lunch
provided to the first 50 attendees.
Postdoc Press March 2016
Making the most of scientific conferences
THE INS & OUTS OF SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES
Professionals in scientific fields regularly
receive notifications about conferences.
These conferences vary in topic,
audience, objectives, size and location. It
can be overwhelming, but there are
practical ways to approach them in order
to maximize benefits. In this article, I will
analyze aspects of scientific conferences
to help navigate them.
Why attend conferences
With a flood of accessible information on
scientific topics and researchers, it may
seem redundant and even a waste of
time to consider attending conferences.
Add the limited time we all have outside
long working days in the lab and we have
another solid excuse to skip them. But
ask seasoned scientists and conference
attendees and they will list the following
as the pros of participating in
conferences:
Networking
Learning about cutting edge or new
areas of science
Hearing the latest unpublished work
in the voice of enthusiastic
researchers first hand
Practicing to meet and greet scholars
(communication skills)
Practicing to present your work
(communication skills)
Finding out who you are and what
you want from your work
Making life-long friends, colleagues
and potential collaborators
Seeing new places on planet earth
Beefing up your CV for job hunting
How to choose the right conference
We usually receive announcements
about local, national and international
conferences on topics either closely
related to our current area of research or
on its periphery. Choosing the right
conference depends on your short and
long term career goals as well as
logistics. The focus of short-term goals
can be on successfully wrapping up your
current research, receiving your degree,
promoting your groundbreaking
discoveries or networking for
transitioning into a new postdoctoral
opportunity or real job (yes, there are
real jobs waiting outside of long years of
training!).
Long-term goals on
the other hand, can
help you discover
and identify new
territories of science
for future research
endeavors or career
path. Once you
identify your goal, you can then consider
the logistics associated with attending a
conference. Financial support, distance
and transportation, and participation
eligibility are just a few factors you need
to think about before selecting the right
conference(s) for you.
Also, ask other colleagues or mentors
about conferences they deem beneficial,
especially if you are a novice researcher
or new to an area of research. Their
insights will help you identify the best
conferences for you, and plan for your
attendance accordingly.
How many is enough
No one can answer this question but you.
Each person has different goals and
situations (as discussed above), which
can determine how many conferences
we would like to or can afford to attend.
The answer that works best for all of us,
however, is at least one national and one
or two local conferences. Plan as best as
you can, time and support-wise, to make
it to one national conference in the area
of your research once a year. If despite
all your attempts, that won’t be feasible,
make sure you attend a local conference
even if it is not in the exact area of your
research. If none exists, organize one.
What you gain from
that is beyond your
goals for attending a
conference. On the
other hand, if you have
the abundant time,
resources, patience and
curiosity or aptitude,
attend as many
conferences as possible. It will enhance
both the personal and professional
aspects of your life.
How to plan for attendance
Planning your attendance in a conference
depends on having figured out what
conference(s) to attend. The earlier you
do that, the more successful your chance
of successful attendance. You need to
first figure out the eligibility for
attendance. Can anyone register or do
you need to submit an abstract and be
selected? Are there sources of financial
support (registration, travel, housing,
“Choosing the right
conference depends on your
short and long term career
goals as well as logistics.”
etc.) through the conference you can
seek out? Is there an entity within your
institution or department which can help
with that? What are the deadlines for
abstract submission, registration, and
financial aid? Are there other colleagues
who will be attending with whom you
can share costs? Is there child care
available in the venue? Can significant
others attend the conference with paying
fees? Having answers to these basic
questions will help you collect relevant
data, submit a winning abstract, and
attend with minimum costs and
maximum peace of mind.
How to maximize benefits
Okay, all your planning and hard work
has finally paid off and you are about to
attend your desired conference. But you
are not done yet! Now you need to plan
for your actual presence in the
conference. Go over the conference
schedule. These are usually published a
few weeks before the first day of
conference. Download a copy of the
schedule or install the conference app if
one is available.
Once the list and
summary of
abstracts are
available,
download them
as well. Read the
biographies of
key speakers and
abstract
summaries to find out what attracts you
the most. Be as greedy as you would like
to be. Then narrow down your list based
on your available time and prioritize
them. Remember the main goals of
attending a conference discussed above.
You don’t want to sit through one talk
after another. Attend a few
presentations while meeting people in
other settings. Find time to discuss your
research or career
goals with other
attendees in
various settings
within the
conference. You
can also prepare a
list of questions for a specific speaker or
attendee. Communicate with them in
advance if possible to reserve time for a
one-on-one meeting.
Meet as many new people as possible
while reconnecting with old colleagues.
Don’t be shy; be proactive and introduce
yourself to whoever might be of help to
you or you can be of help to them. Carry
a notebook to write down names of
people, techniques, reagents, resources
or ideas. If you are presenting your work,
whether it is a platform or poster format,
dedicate some time to practicing
beforehand. There is always room to
polish your presentation, but don’t make
drastic changes
based on what you
just learned from
another presenter.
Remember those
lessons for future
presentations and
suffice to minor
improvements.
Also make sure you
rest in between events. Conference are
usually jam-packed in a few days and can
be overwhelming and exhausting. It is
okay to miss a few items at the bottom
of your priority list. Also make sure you
go out and explore the city. It recharges
you to better absorb science. Most
importantly, take a deep breath, and
congratulate yourself for making it into
the conference. Relax and enjoy.
What to do after
the closing event
Closing events and
ceremonies are
official endings to
that year’s
conference, but only beginnings for you.
Think about this beginning as early as
your walk to your hotel room while
reminiscing about the delicious food and
fun you just had at the party. Reflect on
all steps involved in your attendance:
what worked best, what needs to be
improved, what you learned, how you
can advance your research with the
newly acquired information, who and
what had the most impact on you, who
you would like to be in touch with in the
future and so forth.
As you can see, once you break up the
parts that go into attending conferences,
you can easily approach them.
Remember this is only one aspect of your
training or scientific life. What matters
the most is the experience you gain
which will stay with you forever and
enrich all aspects of your personal and
professional life.
Faezeh
Koohestani, PhD
is a postdoctoral
scholar in
Molecular and
Integrative
Physiology.
Postdoc Press March 2016
“Read the biographies of key
speakers and abstract summaries
to find out what attracts you the
most. Be as greedy as you would
like to be. Then narrow down your
list based on your available time
and prioritize them. “
“Carry a notebook to write down
names of people, techniques,
reagents, resources or ideas.”
Postdoc Press March 2016
Conferences provide one of the best opportunities for professional networking
NETWORKING AT CONFERENCES LIKE A PRO!
Last year I attended the Society for
Neuroscience (SfN) meeting in Chicago. I
had just graduated, was looking for a job
and was attending the conference on my
personal funds. So I was
super-motivated to charm
everybody I met till they
offered me a job! There was
only one problem. I was an
introvert who didn’t know
the first thing about
networking. So I did what
we academics are best at – I
did some research. I read
articles from Forbes, The
Muse, The Cheeky Scientist
Association, Careeralism,
The New York Times and
everything else I could
possibly find on the internet that looked
like a credible source. Then I came up
with a strategy so I could successfully
network my way through the conference.
This is an overview of what I read
combined with my personal experiences:
Plan and
prioritize:
It is easy to get
overwhelmed
by the deluge of
posters and
symposia at a
large national
conference. SfN
was awesome
because they had a mobile app that I
could use to navigate my way through
the five days without losing my sanity.
Because I was interested in an industry
position as a research scientist at the
time, I decided to stake out all the
symposia and posters being presented by
pharmaceutical companies. A simple
search of the company name in the app
allowed me to see when and where
industry talks and posters were going to
be held. A couple of days prior to the
start of the conference I planned my
schedule also factoring in the amount of
time it would take me to walk between
venues.
Speak up:
Show up to a talk early if
you can and always sit in
the front. This will not only
help you get noticed but will
also force you to pay
attention instead of
doodling away. Even if you
are delayed and the talk has already
started, chances are you will find a few
empty seats in the front because people
usually like to huddle in the back. When
it is time for the Q&A session in the end,
introduce yourself and ask your question.
No matter how silly you think it is, always
speak up! It is easy for people to miss
you in a crowd but when you ask a
question they notice you. And more
often than not, they will remember you.
Poster sessions also allow you to make
new connections and it might be easier
breaking the ice because the person is
already talking to you!
Get business cards made:
The first time I went to a networking
event I became acutely aware of the fact
that I did not have a business card. It
made me look unprepared and
unprofessional. There was also no way
for the people I met to connect with me
after the event was over. The first thing I
did after I got home that day was design
and order business cards online. Make
sure your name, phone number and e-
mail address is clearly legible. Instead of
leaving the back blank, you can use it to
“Show up to a talk early if you
can and always sit in the front.
This will not only help you get
noticed but will also force you
to pay attention instead of
doodling away.”
highlight your skills and interests. This
will humanize you
and make sure that
you don’t get
relegated to the pile
of business cards
that never get a
second look.
Be an active
listener:
Being an introvert, my greatest fear was
that I would end up being tongue-tied in
front of new people. A few networking
events later I realized that people loved
talking about themselves and that
provided me with enough fodder to ask
them a few questions. All I had to do was
be attentive to what they were saying,
which I was good at anyways! After the
conversation I would jot down a few
interesting things about them on the
back of their business cards so I would
know where to pick up the next time.
Have some fun:
Most big conferences have an industry-
sponsored social hour in the evening. I
would highly recommend attending
those. Not only do you get to make
industry contacts but you actually get
some decent appetizers and drinks.
There’s no reason why networking
shouldn’t be fun after all! Hanging out
near the food will
ensure that you will
meet a lot of people
and also have
something to talk
about. You can also
mention an interesting
seminar you attended
during the day as an
icebreaker. The vendor
booths are another excellent networking
opportunity. The company reps there are
happy to chat with you as long as they
get to scan your badge. You can get to
know of unadvertised open positions and
company culture from talking to them.
And you also get to collect freebies in the
process!
Follow up:
All the effort you put into connecting
with a new person will amount to
nothing if you do not follow up with
them. Shoot them an email after the
event (preferably the same day while you
are still fresh in their memory) telling
them you enjoyed your conversation.
Based on what you learned about them,
provide them with something that would
add value for them. For eg, if the person
was interested in sports cars you could
send them a magazine article about the
latest BMW sports model. It doesn’t have
to be life-changing but they will
appreciate the fact that you
remembered the little detail about them
and tried to help. The idea is not to get a
referral immediately; you need to build a
rapport first. Don’t expect them to offer
you a job based on one meeting. Keep
adding value to them and eventually they
will return the favor.
So at your next major conference, don’t
be a socially awkward lab rat. Be the
affable scientist!
Raeesa Gupte, PhD is a
postdoctoral scholar in the Hoglund
Brain Imaging Center.
“Have some fun: Most big
conferences have an industry-
sponsored social hour in the
evening. I would highly
recommend attending those.”
Postdoc Press March 2016
Postdoc Press March 2016
Faculty members offer their advice to scholars considering a second postdoc
SHOULD I DO A SECOND POSTDOC?
We asked faculty members to give advice
to postdocs considering “Should I do
another postdoc?” and focus on any of
the following questions:
How do I decide between a new
postdoc position vs. a faculty
position?
What are the pros/cons of doing a
second postdoc?
How much will I be set back by
starting a second postdoc? or How
do I get up and running quickly once I
join a new lab for my second
postdoc?
Dr. William Kinsey
Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology
I believe that a second postdoc would
benefit most scientists if the purpose is
to expand your technical background (a
very worthwhile goal) and/or change
research fields if you have come to
realize the one you began with is not
really what you want. The postdoc is the
best place to learn new technology. If
you move to a different institution, it also
gives you the opportunity to see how
different laboratories operate and how
different lab cultures evolve and
perform.
How do I decide between looking for a
new postdoc position vs. a faculty
position? If you have been really
productive in your 1st postdoc and like
your field, you should start looking for a
faculty position right away. But, if the
project has been difficult and
productivity low, a second postdoc
would definitely be advisable. Of course,
if you have come to think that a different
field has better promise over the next 10-
15 years, you may want to change
direction and a 2nd postdoc would allow
you to start putting together a track
record and make contacts in the new
field.
Dr. Prachee Avasti
Assistant Professor, Anatomy and Cell
Biology
Disclaimer 1: The below suggestions are
rather specific for preparing for a tenure
track research position. These may not
hold true if your goal is an alternative
career (teaching job, science policy,
publishing etc).
Disclaimer 2: I personally did one
postdoc so view my responses
accordingly.
How do I decide between looking for a
new postdoc position vs. a faculty
position? Ask yourself the following
questions:
Are you competitive for a faculty
position? Go to the departmental
websites of places you’re thinking of
applying. Who have they hired
recently? A simple Pubmed search of
the Assistant Professors will tell you
what their publication record looked
like before they got their position
(typically look for non-last author
publications prior to the string of last
author publications).
Are you ready? Do you have a
research plan that you can propose
in your faculty applications that is
sufficiently independent of your
postdoc mentor’s research program
(or can your postdoc mentor write in
his/her letter that they will not be
competing with you on the direction
for your future lab)?
Do you have all the skills you want to
have prior to starting your new lab?
Is additional year or two learning a
specific technique or skill required in
order for you to pursue your own
research goals?
What are the pros/cons of doing a
second postdoc?
Pros:
The publication record and
networking from your first postdoc
could help you land a postdoc in a
prestigious lab or at a prestigious
institution, which unfortunately and
unfairly greatly increases your
chances of getting a faculty position.
Additional time as a postdoc can help
you beef up your publication record
to become competitive with those
that are securing tenure track jobs.
Additional time for networking so
“If you have been really
productive in your 1st postdoc
and like your field, you should
start looking for a faculty
position right away. But, if the
project has been difficult and
productivity low, a second
postdoc would definitely be
advisable. “ -Dr. Kinsey
your name can be recognized in the
pile of faculty applications.
Cons:
Low salary…again.
Additional training time after an
already long training period. Too
many years spent as a postdoc is
sometimes seen as a red flag for
hiring committees. If you have done
a longer or two postdocs, you will be
expected to have a publication
record to match. All this holds true
usually only when paper applications
are being sorted initially. If you are
invited for a job interview, this no
longer matters and you will be
judged on your interview, your
future research plans and the
programmatic needs of the hiring
department.
You are no longer likely eligible for
many postdoctoral fellowships and
are now much more expensive than
a postdoc straight out of graduate
school so it may be more difficult to
find those second postdoctoral
opportunities.
How much will I be set back by starting a
second postdoc? or How do I get up and
running quickly once I join a new lab for
my second postdoc? You will not be set
back, but if you do a second postdoc, you
may consider a short one to avoid the
appearance that you have had too many
years as a postdoc without getting a
faculty position.
Select a second lab based on a specific
goal or set of goals and work directly
without delay towards those goals
(publications, gaining additional skills
etc). Catch up on the new literature
before starting and plan a set of
experiments before starting. You’ll learn/
read more once you start and your
experimental plan may change as you
gain new skills, but you can lose precious
months if you wait to get your ducks in a
row until after you start and get
comfortable.
Dr. Patrick Fields
Associate Professor, Department of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
How do I decide between looking for a
new postdoc position vs. a faculty
position? A number of factors to
consider: Are you satisfied with your
current publication record in your field of
interest? Is it sufficient to obtain a faculty
position? Are you adequately trained in
this area?
The answers to these questions are
somewhat subjective. You won’t know
the answers to these until you apply for a
position.
Are you planning to begin your
independent research program in your
current area of investigation, or will you
change your area of focus enough to
warrant additional training?
What are the pros/cons of doing a
second postdoc?
Pros:
Additional training (esp in a new area
of interest)
Increasing publication record
Cons:
Time-it can take up to 3-5 years to
accomplish the goals of switching
fields and increasing publication
numbers or acquiring transitional
funding.
How do I get up and running quickly once
I join a new lab for my second postdoc?
Be proactive about your career path.
Choose a laboratory based on any
number of these criteria:
Laboratory is well funded-can (and
will) support your additional
postdoctoral position irrespective of
independent funding.
Identify an area of interest/study
within the new laboratory to which
you can contribute. Ideally, this will
be an area where you can bring a
unique perspective or contribution
that will enable the development of
an independent path.
Devise a specific research plan that
will enable you to be productive in a
relatively short time.
Obviously, discuss your objectives
and research plan with the PI, to
make sure that this is a good fit for
the laboratory that you choose.
“Too many years spent as a
postdoc is sometimes seen as a
red flag for hiring committees. If
you have done a longer or two
postdocs, you will be expected
to have a publication record to
match.” -Dr. Avasti
“...Consider: Are you satisfied
with your current publication
record in your field of interest? Is
it sufficient to obtain a faculty
position? Are you adequately
trained in this area?” -Dr. Fields
Postdoc Press March 2016
KUMC is a Sustaining Member of the
National Postdoctoral Association.
Postdocs, faculty, staff and
students are able to join the
NPA with a free affiliate
membership.
Visit www.nationalpostdoc.org
to learn more and sign up.
Call for contributions! Contributions to the Postdoc Press
newsletter are invited:
articles, photographs, illustrations,
editing, questions, suggestions for
topics
Email the Office of Postdoctoral
Affairs for more information!
Dr. Michael Parmely
Professor and Chair
Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and
Immunology
There are a number of practical issues
that can be addressed by continuing
postdoctoral
training in a
second
laboratory. These
might include the
lack of expected
scholarly
productivity
during the first
training period,
failure to identify
a niche area of
expertise that can
support an
independent career in academic science
or seeing your training as a progressive
set of stages as you move, for example,
from very basic to applied research
problems. Timing may be such that you
are forced to take a second position
because the number of academic
positions available at the time is
insufficient to assure your obtaining a
desirable faculty appointment.
Regardless of the reason for seeking a
second training position, it is wise to
have an overall career plan that is
supported by the
decision to continue
training as a perfection
of your knowledge,
experiences and skills,
including professional
skills. Rather than
seeking a second
postdoctoral fellow
position, your training
trajectory would be
better enhanced by
securing a position with
more responsibility,
including supervisory, management and
even grant-writing responsibilities. It the
second postdoctoral position is a lateral
move, especially if it involves learning an
entirely new area, it may not be the right
move. If this is a necessary step for you
personally, select a position in which you
can apply your expertise in a new way to
a new or related problem. After your
training period, does your story hold
true? Is it clear how your progression
from graduate school to your first faculty
position seems logical and intentional or
does it appear that you were simply
moving from one opportunity to the next
without a clear plan for developing your
career skills and knowledge?
Pavla Brachova, PhD is a Postdoctoral
Scholar in Molecular and Integrative
Physiology and KPA President. If you
have a topic or question you’d like to see
in the faculty advice column, email
“Regardless of the reason for
seeking a second training
position, it is wise to have an
overall career plan that is
supported by the decision to
continue training as a perfection
of your knowledge, experiences
and skills, including professional
skills.” -Dr. Parmely
Postdoc Press March 2016
Postdoc Press March 2016
This issue’s Postdoc Spotlight features Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, PhD
POSTDOC SPOTLIGHT
In each issue of the Postdoc Press we
feature a postdoctoral scholar in the
Postdoc Spotlight. This month we are
featuring Amanda Szabo-Reed, PhD,
postdoctoral scholar in internal
medicine, cardiovascular research
institute, center for physical activity and
weight management.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I enjoy exercising, gardening, cooking,
baking, hanging out with my husband
(Heath) and out 4 pets (Cats: Maizey and
Blue; Dogs: Rosie and Cable).
Describe your educational background.
I am originally from a small town, Oxford
Michigan. I completed a B.S. in
movement science, and a B.A. in sports
management and communications from
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in
2007. I then completed my MS in bio-
behavioral kinesiology/exercise
psychology in 2011 and my PH.D. in in
bio-behavioral kinesiology/exercise
psychology in 2012. In graduate school I
focused on how exercise, specifically
changes in cardiorespiratory fitness,
influences cognition and brain structure/
function in older adults. Now I am
examining the relationship between
cognition, specifically executive control,
and it influence on weight and weight
loss with Dr. Joseph Donnelly and Dr.
Cary Savage.
Describe your current postdoc position.
I am currently a National Institute of
Health Kirschstein Post-doctoral Fellow
in the department of internal medicine,
cardiovascular research institute, center
for physical activity and weight
management.
How did you come to be a KUMC
postdoc? What led you to pursue this
position?
I found my post-doc position on the
Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) job
board. The positing said something about
neuroimaging and exercise, which is
exactly what I wanted to do. I applied,
interviewed, and the rest is history.
What does your typical day look like?
I actually get asked this question a lot. It
is hard to describe, as I never do the
same thing two days in a row. Some days
I have to test (i.e., cognitive,
anthropometric, etc.) study participants
as early as 6am and as late as 8pm. Other
days I teach weight management classes.
I may even spend an entire day in my
office working on a manuscript for
publication, analyzing data, or working
on a grant. I also mentor graduate and
undergraduate students in the research
process. Essentially I wear a lot of
different “hats” and not two are the
same.
What was the biggest challenge you
faced in your career path and how did
you overcome it?
Over committing myself. I want to make
the most of my post-doc experience by
getting as many experiences and
obtaining as much training as possible. It
is also important to recognize when you
are doing too much. A post-doc
represents the beginning of a research
career so it is important to plan things
out so you don’t end up working 100
hours per week. You need to have a life
outside of the lab. This is important for
your health and well being.
What skills, including non-technical,
have helped you the most in your
postdoc and/or do you think will be
most helpful as you transition into the
next phase of your career?
Grant writing. Since starting my post-doc
in August of 2012 I have written and
assisted with writing over 8 grants for
both internal and external-funding
sources. This includes my funded F32, a
“A post-doc represents the
beginning of a research career
so it is important to plan things
out so you don’t end up working
100 hours per week.”
Network, learn, and have a good time!
For more information on upcoming events from the Office of
Postdoctoral Affairs, visit the Postdoctoral Events webpage. For all
university events, visit the Events Calendar.
Are you connected? Join the KUMC Postdoctoral Association on LinkedIn and Facebook
Postdoc Press March 2016
funded pilot study through the
Alzheimer’s disease center and R01 from
the NIH that is about to be funded.
What advice would you give to someone
who recently began their postdoc here
at KUMC?
There are a lot of resources at KU and
KUMC outside of your mentor/lab that
are available to you as a post-doc. Don’t
hesitate to put down your work for an
hour to attend a seminar/workshop.
Also it only cost $100 to audit a class!
This is a steal! Auditing a class can help
to benefit you in the long run.
Are there any more comments you
would like to include?
Don’t give up. Whether it is applying for
post-docs, grants, submitting
manuscripts, whatever it may be. Even
though you think it may be perfect the
first time around you can always make it
better.
If you would like to volunteer or
nominate a postdoc or postdoc alum to
feature in the Spotlights please email
Postdoc Press March 2016
Helpful tips to enhance career development when attending conferences
ATTENDING CONFERENCES FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Conferences have a great impact on a
postdoc’s career development. There are
three main reasons to attend
conferences: to hear speakers, to
network with other people, and to
explore yourself. Listening to the
speakers can give you ideas of what
other people are doing in your research
area, and interacting with other people
will give you an opportunity to create a
good and effective network for
collaboration, grant writing, and finding
opportunities for a job.
How to maximally prepare for a
conference
These are tips that will help PhD-
students and postdocs alike when they
plan to attend a conference:
Start thinking about attending the
conference 3 to 6 months in
advance;
Search for a conference which is
closely related to your research;
Submit abstract for an oral/poster
presentation;
Look for travel awards or any other
fellowships to attend conferences
Check whether the conference venue
is convenient to reach or not;
Contact 20 to 30 people of your
interest one to two weeks prior to
conference to set up a meeting at
the conference;
Get your business card ready
How to get actively involved in a
conference
The best way of getting actively involved
in any conference is by either giving a
talk or presenting a poster. For postdocs,
oral presentations are the most
beneficial, but if that is not possible, then
definitely go for the poster presentation.
One to two weeks prior to the
conference, send an email to people or
speakers of your interest. Request them
to come to hear your presentation or see
your poster. The benefit of contacting
people ahead of your presentation is that
they will read your abstract and think
about your
research. When
you present your
work, they will
discuss your work
with you and
suggest you some
important points
related to your
work that could be helpful for your
project. Contacting people through an
email before the meeting/conference
also has a great benefit in creating a
good and efficient collaboration and
networking.
Networking
Networking is one of the great benefits
of attending conferences. There are
several ways to network during
conferences. You can identify the
potential abstracts and presentations of
your interest, and contact them before
the meeting to show your interest in
their research. Listen to their talk and go
to their poster, see how their work
would fit within your research project. If
you are further interested in that
particular work, then you can talk to
them about your work and discuss the
possibility of setting up a collaboration.
Dr. Robert A. Weinberg, Daniel K.
Ludwig Professor, Whitehead Institute for
Biomedical Research and Professor of
Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, said during AACR-Tumor
Microenvironment in Cancer Progression
Conference, “A conference allows you to
get exposed to the
different areas of
science. It’s a great
opportunity to learn
something different
from your field. Talk to
the people, ask
questions if you have
any and of course as a
PhD or postdoc you must
be having many questions for the
speakers. Try to do networking, try to
collaborate with the people on your
project, and remember to collaborate in
a way so both groups will get equally
benefited”.
Talk to the people during breakfast,
coffee hours, lunchtime and around the
dinner table. Sit with people you don’t
know, because you never know who
might be sitting next to you. Introduce
yourself and ask about others, tell them
about your work and don’t forget to ask
them what they are doing. See how your
work is going to fit with other’s work. By
chatting with them, you will not only
create a valuable interaction, but also
“A conference allows you to get
exposed to the different areas of
science. It’s a great opportunity
to learn something different
from your field.” -Dr. Weinberg
A.R. Dykes Library of Health Sciences
The A.R. Dykes Library is more than a great source of information.
The talented staff provide several services, including research
consultations, systematic review, publication consultation, author
copyright consultation, and citation management consultation.
Learn more on the Dykes Library webpage or email the library team.
Postdoc Press March 2016
you will find some good friends.
Dr. Anil K. Rustgi, Division Chief, Division
of Gastroenterology University of
Pennsylvania Perelman School of
Medicine, said during AACR-Tumor
Microenvironment in Cancer Progression
Conference, “Graduate students and
postdocs should make a note as much as
possible during the talk, revisit those
notes after conference, and present your
notes in your lab
meeting. This way
you will get some
new ideas. Try to
implement the
information you
gathered during
conference in your
project”.
Talk to the speakers after presentations,
introduce yourself, talk about your
project, and ask questions if you have
any. Speakers always want to talk with
the attendees, so take the opportunity to
get some advice on your project, about
your career, or about fellowships and
grant.
Don’t ignore poster sessions; poster
sessions provide you with a networking
area outside the presentation room.
Recognize potential poster abstracts
before you visit them, read abstracts, see
how their work is related to your
research work, ask them to explain
poster when you visit their poster.
Dr. Srivatsan Kidambi, Assistant
Professor, Department of Chemical &
Biomolecular
Engineering, University
of Nebraska-Lincoln
said during AACR-
Tumor
Microenvironment in
Cancer Progression
Conference, “Do not
hesitate to talk to the people in the
conference. Try to make a contact with
them and collaborate with them. If
possible, write grant together, that will
make a great impact of your work”.
Business card
Business cards play an important role in
networking. Typically, people get very
busy to attend several sessions during
conference and they do not find
sufficient time to talk to the many
people. In that case, if you have a short
discussion with the people and you
exchange your business card with them,
you can revisit those business cards and
contact them after the meeting/
conference. Business cards will remind
you what you have discussed with the
people and then you can follow up your
discussion after the meeting/conference.
Dhruv Kumar, PhD is a postdoctoral
fellow in the Department of
Otolaryngology.
“Speakers always want to talk
with the attendees, so take the
opportunity to get some
advice on your project, about
your career, or about
fellowships and grant.”
Postdoc Press March 2016
Postdoc Chu-Yu Lee shares useful information and personal experience reviewing manuscripts
REVIEWING A JOURNAL MANUSCRIPT
Right after my PhD graduation, I received
the first invitation to review a
manuscript. Unlike some people who
have the experience and guidance from
their PhD mentor as part of their PhD
training, I had no such experience nor
training, so reviewing manuscripts has
been a trial-and-error learning process
for me. After performing multiple
reviews, I feel more comfortable and
have gradually established my own style.
But I felt that there is still a lot to learn to
achieve a high-quality reviews, so I have
taken this opportunity to summarize
useful information based on several good
references and my own experiences.
Reviewing a manuscript is a time-
consuming task, but it provides several
benefits, particularly for a junior
researcher. It helps establish your
reputation and aids networking because
journal editors are well respected in the
field. It also helps with writing your own
manuscripts, because you can better
identify and address issues that
reviewers are likely to raise. In addition,
it increases your exposure to other new
research. For those reasons, it is
certainly worth the time and effort to
perform a good review. Here I list a few
important things about reviewing a
manuscript. Interested readers should
find the references useful at the end of
the article1-3.
First, submit your review on time. Most
journals only allow two weeks to finish a
review. Even though you are keeping up
with your schedule, other unexpected
commitments can come along after you
have accepted the review. It is
important to meet the deadline or
request an extension beforehand if you
need more time. I normally request a
three-day extension when I realize that I
may need more time to finish the review.
Second, treat the manuscripts the way
you like your own to be treated1, 2. No
one likes to receive disrespectful
comments about their manuscripts, so it
is important to keep the comments
professional and objective. One way to
do this is to keep the comments only to
the manuscript, such as figures, tables,
and methods, instead of to the authors.
For example, the comment: 'The authors
should ...' may be replaced by 'The
method ...'
Third, provide the comments to the
editor3. Not every journal requires the
comments be directed to the editor. I
used to skip this step until I realized that
the comments are very helpful for
editors when making a decision. Because
comments to the authors should avoid
any implications about the
recommended outcome, e.g. acceptance
or rejection, they allow you to explicitly
explain the rationale behind your
recommendation, making it stronger and
more understandable.
Finally, take the time to see other
reviewers' comments. In other
reviewers' comments, look for issues
that are also raised in your review; you
can learn how those issues are presented
differently. Consider the issues that are
not raised in your review and think about
why you did not raise those issues in
your review.
The peer review process has been
essential for advancements in science.
Many common rules in publishing are
easier said than done so it is important
to take the opportunity to gain the
experience. You can easily see the
benefits when you prepare and submit
your own manuscript.
[1]. Provenzale JM, Stanley RJ. A systematic
guide to reviewing a manuscript. AJR Am J
Roentgenol. 2005;185:848-54.
[2]. Lovejoy TI, Revenson TA, France CR.
Reviewing manuscripts for peer-review
journals: a primer for novice and seasoned
reviewers. Ann Behav Med. 2011;42:1-13.
[3]. Rosenfeld RM. How to review journal
manuscripts. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.
2010;142:472-86.
Chu-Yu Lee,
PhD is a
postdoctoral
scholar in the
Hoglund
Brain Imaging
Center.
“Reviewing a manuscript is a
time-consuming task, but it
provides several benefits,
particularly for a junior
researcher. “
Postdoc Press March 2016
This issue’s Postdoc Alumni Spotlight features Megan Cooley, PhD
POSTDOC ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
In each issue of the Postdoc Press we
feature a postdoc alumni in the Alumni
Spotlight. This month we are featuring
Megan Cooley, PhD who completed her
postdoctoral training at KUMC in Cancer
Biology and now works as a Staff
Scientist for MRI Global in Kansas City,
Missouri.
Describe your educational background
and your postdoctoral training.
I received my bachelors in science from
University of Colorado at Colorado
Springs. From there I went on to earn my
doctorate from the University of Kansas,
Lawrence. My graduate work was in
Analytical Chemistry developing
separation methods for liquid
chromatography and capillary
electrohphoresis systems. I helped to
design and optimize a new
electrochemical detector for capillary
electrophoresis. The goal of our research
lab was to develop analytical methods
that could be used to evaluate biological
pathways associated with oxidative
stress responses.
I joined Dr. Jeremy Chien’s lab as a
postdoctoral research fellow. My
research focused on understanding the
effects of the tumor microenvironment
on acquired chemoresistance and
metastasis.
Describe your current position.
I am currently a Staff Scientist at
MRIGlobal. I work in the Product
Development and Repository Division.
My work is focused on development of
formulations for toxicity studies and
bioanalysis of tissues, plasma and urine
from toxicity studies. This work is
performed under the direction of the
National Toxicology Program.
How did you get to your current position
from your KUMC postdoc? What led you
to pursue this position?
The two positions are unrelated. My
graduate studies are directly applicable
to the work that I am
currently doing at
MRIGlobal. However,
the experience that I
gained in cancer
biology research has
only broadened me as
a scientist.
What does a typical
day look like in your current profession?
Part of what is great about my current
job is there is nothing routine. There are
new challenges every day, twists on
projects or a new chemical that needs to
be analyzed.
What skills or experiences, including non
-technical, do you feel have been most
helpful to you in the transition from
your postdoc and in your current
position?
The diversity in my research experiences
has been really helpful. It has helped me
to look at various research problems
from many perspectives. I also feel I can
communicate with scientist with
different backgrounds now because of all
I was exposed to as a postdoc.
What do you know now that you wish
you knew as a postdoc?
Ask me in 5 years. I don’t think I have
enough experience at this point to say.
What was the biggest challenge you
faced in your career path and how did
you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was being a
postdoc. I entered a field that I knew
really nothing about. I’m not sure that I
really overcame
anything, so much
as I grew as a
scientist during
that time and
learned and
absorbed more
than I ever thought
I could.
What advice would you give to a
postdoc preparing for the transition to
the next phase of their career?
Find a mentor, someone that can help
you learn how to be a manager or a
leader. It’s not something you learned in
school and its challenging.
“The diversity in my research
experiences has been really
helpful. It has helped me to look
at various research problems
from many perspectives.”
Kirmayer Fitness Center
Kirmayer Fitness Center offers a variety of fitness programs and services including group fitness,
personal trainers, and fitness consultations. Current employees of KUMC are eligible for member-
ship. Visit the Kirmayer webpage or email the Kirmayer team for more information.
Postdoc Press March 2016
The Office of International Programs is offering new services for non-native English speakers
ENGLISH COMMUNICATION SPRING HELP DESK
Mark Twain, great American author and humorist, once said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good
impromptu speech.” Preparing for a presentation or any public speaking engagement as we know can be tough and stressful
for many. This only becomes more difficult when you have to do it in a non-native language.
The Office of International Programs would like to offer a new service to help all of our postdoctoral fellows who are also non-
native English speakers. In partnership with American Speech, LLC, the Office of International Programs is proud to announce
the launching of the English Communication Spring Help Desk.
Led by Mr. Michael Dix, Director of American Speech, LLC,
the Spring Help Desk is designed to help non-native
English speakers with presentation, pronunciation, writing,
or any other communication needs. Mr. Dix will have free
individual sessions throughout this semester. Please see
the schedule on the right for a complete listing of available
dates and times.
If you would like to schedule your appointment, contact
Mr. Dix directly at [email protected]. For more
information about the Spring Help Desk, feel free to email
Alexandria Harkins in the Office of International Programs
Irina Aris is Assistant Director
for Inbound Programs in the
Office of International
Programs.
OIP English Communication Spring Help Desk Schedule
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, March 17, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM SON B011
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, March 24, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM SON B011
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, March 31, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM SON B011
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, April 7, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM SON 1047
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, April 14, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM O-M 4006
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, April 21, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM O-M 4006
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 2:00-3:30 PM SON 1049
Thursday, April 28, 2016 10:30-12:00 PM O-M 4006
SON= School of Nursing, O-M= Orr Major
The Postdoc Press is presented by:
The University of Kansas Medical Center
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
www.kumc.edu/academic-affairs/postdoctoral-affairs
913-588-2369
Edited by:
Ashley Carlson, Assistant Director of Postdoctoral Affairs
Faezeh Koohestani, PhD, postdoctoral scholar in Molecular and Integrative Physiology