[This article is featured in the next issue of the Biophysical Society newsletter]
This year’s Early Careers Committee panel at the Biophysical Society meeting in Boston was entitled, "Negotiating the Transition: Differences between Academia and Industry". Our four guest panelists completed postdoctoral fellowships in academia, with two choosing to continue the academic career path as tenure-track faculty, and two choosing instead to transition from academia into industry.
Here are a few of the questions raised by the audience and answered by our two industry panelists.
Q. What motivated the transition into the private sector rather than continue along the academic career track?
The strong emphasis of grant writing in order to maintain research programs in academia was a factor in one panelist’s decision to move into the private sector. In large pharmaceutical firms, research goals and fund allocation is tied specifically to product outcomes that are generally dealt with at the senior management level. This leaves the research staff and project managers to concentrate on planning and executing the research rather than expending considerable effort acquiring funding.
On the other hand, spirited entrepreneurs attempting to steer small startup companies through their early years are often required to spend a considerable effort attracting investment, which can be equally as demanding as applying for public funds in academia. While startup companies are higher risk, our panelist emphasized how the increase in responsibilities inherent in a startup increases one's experience and chances of getting a better job later.
Q. If one is considering a career in industry, is it preferable to do a postdoc in industry or academia?
Given that the research environment in industry can be very different from that in academia, there are certain advantages to acclimatizing oneself to the environment sooner rather than later. However, our industry panelists were not convinced that opting to do a postdoc in academia would necessarily harm one’s ambition to continue their career in industry.
However, our panelists raised the caveat that industry postdoc positions are not currently compensated as well as regular scientist positions, and are arguably less stable since they may not lead to a permanent position. Thus, if one is set upon a career in industry during graduate school, it may be preferable to simply apply for scientist positions rather than the postdoctoral positions.
If one does decide to do a postdoc in academia first, perhaps to gain a more thorough knowledge of a certain area or set of techniques, one should consider how these additional technical skills and experience will be valuable to a prospective employer in industry.
Q. How does one go about making the necessary networks in academia that would facilitate a transition into industry?
If you are seeking to transition from academia into industry, it is important to identify academic colleagues who have contacts in industry, or that have perhaps worked in industry themselves. Through these initial contacts it will be possible to make a more informed decision as to whether industry is right for you.
Scientific meetings are also excellent places to make your own contacts. Note that it is not always necessary to cold-call complete strangers in order to extend your network. Indeed, this can backfire. More importantly, make sure you take advantage of opportunities that naturally arise, such as when somebody from industry takes an interest in your work or is presenting research relevant to your own.
The importance of networking in industry doesn’t stop after securing a position, though. In times of economic downturn, our panelists were eager to point out that networking is crucial to survival in industry, where there is no tenure to provide a safety net!
Q. How important is one’s publication record to prospective employers in industry?
Your publications are not as relevant to a career in industry as they are to an academic career, but they still have value. First and foremost they are the best indicator of your productivity, which is as important a metric in industry as it is in academia. Prospective employers will be interested in defining your contributions in the publications versus what was done by others. Second, these publications can highlight skills that are relevant to working in industry, whether it be in regard to certain techniques used, or perhaps simply your ability to collaborate with other scientists. If your publications indicate skills that seem relevant to an industry position you are applying to, highlight these in your cover letter.
Be mindful of whether an advertisement for a job in industry requests a CV or a resume. If the latter is requested one should be selective of which publications are listed, if any. If they are not relevant to the position being applied for, it’s better to omit them.
Prepared by Susy Kohout and Damien Samways
Monday, August 31, 2009
Negotiating the Transition – spotlight industry
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Linkage: It’s the season…Academic Job Search Reposts
Blue Labcoats has reposted a timely compilation of pointers for postdocs preparing to apply for faculty positions in the coming months.
Go read.
Monday, August 17, 2009
"Professional Women and Minorities..."
Courtesy of the Drugmonkey blog, I came across this link to a recent Interventions Research Diversity conference. The following .ppt presentation entitled "Professional Women and Minorities: A Total Human Resources Data Compendium" was available for download and is worth perusing.
It covers US statistics on the nature of gender and ethnic diversity within different subjects at different levels of education, training and employment. It also has interesting information on H1B worker representation.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
"The Path of a Postdoc"
This article, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center website, charts the experiences of a number of postdocs now successfully transitioned into tenure-track faculty positions. In it, they describe the process of applying for positions and attending subsequent interviews.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
More on applying for faculty jobs
With regard to negotiating one's way onto the tenure-track, this is a good blog article from the perspective of a recently successful faculty position applicant.
It covers,
"1. Cover Letter.
2. Your impressive CV.
3. A statement of your Research Interests.
4. A statement of your Teaching Philosophy & Interests."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Papers from the crypt: The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses
Do you find yourself becoming emotionally attached to your hypotheses? Do you struggle to remain objective, and wonder whether the integrity of your judgment has been compromised by an affectionate bias towards a particular idea or explanation?
If so, then the following article might be for you.
T.C. Chamberlin (1890). The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses. Science. 148, 754-759
Monday, November 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Poster help
A group in Flickr, called Pimp My Poster, gives feedback on poster designs that you upload. Join to upload a poster, or to comment on other people's posters.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
What have PDAs achieved?
Nature Jobs has an article about Postdoctoral Associations and what they have achieved so far.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Undergraduate research
A new website called WebGURU (GUide to Research for undergraduates), aimed at undergraduates, provides information about different aspects of research, from how to choose a lab to research integrity, not forgetting funding and safety. Lots of useful information.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Postdoc competencies
Nature has an article this week about establishing postdoctoral "best practices".
The document outlining core competencies for postdocs is being developed by the National Postdoctoral Association, in the US, and is going to be released on the web in the Autumn. I couldn't find any information about it in the NPA's website, but I'll look forward to the online version!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Negotiating the transition to an academic job - Q & A
Organised by the Early Careers Committee, Biophysical Society meeting, Long Beach, 2008
Panelists
- Kenneth Campbell
- Tharin Blumenschein
- Brian Delisle
- Dana Lawrence
- Seth Robia
This session was a well-attended Q&A organized to respond to a variety of concerns of the audience with respect to applying for faculty positions. The following is summary of the main discussion points.
PUBLICATIONS
How many publications are expected for an average length postdoc?
One would expect a postdoc to have at least generated sufficient data for a single original research publication during their fellowship! But beyond that, the strength of a postdoc’s publication record has more to do with the quality of the publications produced, the nature of the work being conducted, and the frequency, rather than total, number of publications.
Note that it is not uncommon for the writing and submitting of manuscripts to occur mainly towards the end of a postdoc fellowship, meaning that they will be listed in your CV as submitted, or in preparation. This is not necessarily going to count against you, although submitted is generally preferable to in preparation.
Should I take time to write reviews?
Although review articles are sometimes useful for putting your name out in a field (they often more widely read and cited than original reseach articles) these are not considered evidence of research productivity, so only involve yourself with these if it doesn’t distract you from doing your own original research. Later, as faculty member, you will likely begin to receive endless solicitations to write reviews.
What constitutes a good quality publication?
Clearly, high impact papers published in high impact journals are very useful for an early career scientist. They demonstrate that your work is of a high standard and has broad significance beyond your own specific field. Then there are strong publications of a more focused sort that, while not rocking the heterogeneous readers of Science and Nature, may still be considered important advances within a certain field. Further down are gap-filling research publications that perhaps clarify certain or enhance current knowledge in a certain field. Ultimately, project choices should be made on the basis of aiming for the highest impact possible.
How are non-first author papers rated?
The primary aim of a postdoc is to demonstrate competence in designing and executing a research project from start to finish as part of establishing oneself as a viable future independent investigator. First author publications are the most accurate indicator of success here. By all means engage in collaborations, but unless you are the leading author, these should take a lower priority under your own self-directed work.
Bear in mind that search committees are well aware that a first author paper does not necessarily mean that the first author designed the project. There are countless publications in which the first author has simply been operating under the instructions of the PI, and a key part of the search process is to establish whether an applicant can prove that they have contributed to the research design, and not just the manual labour.
TEACHING-ORIENTED INSTITUTES
What is the pace of research at a teaching-oriented college?
Generally slower than research-oriented institutes, because much of the laboratory work is conducted by a PI with the aid of undergraduate students.
What should a graduate aim to accomplish during their PhD and following postdoc in order to best position themselves for a career at a teaching-oriented institute?
Teaching experience is a tremendous advantage. So be proactive in pursuing opportunities that allow you to prepare and give lectures and tutorials, and if possible even involve yourself in curriculum design.
Are teaching postdocs worth doing if a graduate student wishes to work at a teaching-oriented institute?
There are both pros and cons to these kinds of postdoc. The pro side is clearly that you should receive more instruction on aspects of curriculum design and execution. However, this comes at the expense of research productivity, which arguably limits one’s career choices. Teaching-based postdocs are relatively new, and there value remains to be determined.
To coin a Fox News term, “Some people say…” that the skills required for teaching can be easily picked up in a conventional research-based postdoc (see below).
What can a research-oriented postdoc do to enhance their teaching resume?
Many research-oriented universities have ample opportunities for enhancing one’s teaching skills. Giving research talks both within the institute and research meetings will boost one’s communication skills, and one’s confidence in a public speaking role. Also consider giving visiting seminars to local schools and undergraduate colleges. In addition, it’s very likely that you will be allowed (nay, encouraged!) to give an undergraduate lecture or two at your own institute.
Many institutes also have courses on teaching, ethics and curriculum design that are worth attending, time permitting.
A good source of experience in instruction can also be gained from being actively involved in the training of undergraduate and graduate students working in the laboratory. This also provides solid experience in mentoring, which will be an important element of your future career as an independent investigator.
Obviously, take care to organize your time well, and ensure that your attempts to enhance your teaching resume do not distract you from your research.
APPLYING FOR A JOB
How do you express non-numeric abilities when searching for your first faculty position?
These abilities should be highlighted in your cover letter, research proposal and, of course, in your references. Put considerable effort into crafting your research proposal, and try not to make your cover letter look in any way generic. Read the advertisement for the position carefully, and do a bit of research into the institute and department you are applying to. What research is the present faculty engaged in? What graduate and undergraduate course on offer, and do you feel you would be particularly qualified to coordinate any of these?
How long should a research statement be?
As concise as possible! This is why a figure is useful. Some say one page, some say two but few rarely say more than three pages. Think about the summary/abstract section of a grant, with an added figure. It must be easy to understand, because there will likely be a diverse search committee consisting of many members who are not familiar with your research and methods. Take care to emphasise why your research matters, and try and focus on a particular area of physiological/pathophysiological relevance (circulatory, respiratory, pain, neurodegenerative disorders &c.). What contribution will it make to the field and beyond? It’s also worth suggesting likely sources of funding.
Should you use citations in a research statement?
No, this isn’t necessary. Only list references for your own work.
What should go in a teaching philosophy statement?
Try to resist the temptation to bullsh*t here. Focus on your teaching qualifications, and draw attention to any important contributions you have made as an instructor (course design &c.). It is important to have done your homework and know something about the courses currently on offer at the institution you are applying to. This allows you to highlight specific qualifications that you feel make you particularly well-suited to contribute to, or improve, the existing course structure.
If you have an offer, how do you go about negotiating startup, salary, teaching load &c?
Regarding startup funds, there is usually a limited degree of flexibility here. It is primarily important to have a firm and realistic idea of your budget for the proposed research for when you go for interview. Try and be as accurate as possible regarding equipment expenses, personnel salaries, and consumables. Again, do a little homework on the department you are applying to. An institute with a well-funded departmental confocal suite is going to demand that you present a particularly good case for having your own. So try to separate the equipment that you absolutely need from that which could, potentially, be shared.
Salary negotiation is also relatively limited, with institutes usually following a set of approved guidelines. When you become a superstar with multiple NIH grants under your belt, you might have a bit more bargaining power on this issue!
Teaching loads, usually quantified as contact hours, vary considerably between institutions. Be sure to ask about this during the interview. New investigators are sometimes given a lighter teaching load for their first few semesters as Assistant Professors, allowing them to concentrate on setting up their lab and initiating their research projects.
Who should I choose as referees?
Ph. D advisor and postdoc mentors are important for highlighting your qualities as a researcher. Collaborators may also be useful here. If possible, choose at least one referee who can speak for your teaching qualities (perhaps the coordinator for a course that you gave a few lectures in).
How long does a search committee member spend reviewing a CV?
About 1 minute! So keep it punchy and concise.
How important are Awards and Services?
Clearly, successful grant applications demonstrate your ability to craft and execute competitive research proposals. If you also have papers published from this work, you are really in a strong position.
Services become more important after you obtain a faculty position.
Does age matter?
No. The key issue is your productivity, which is usually indicated by the number of publications in the previous 5 yrs or so.
What are the criteria to be met in order to achieve tenure?
Most institutes provide a rough guideline, although there is no hard-and-fast rule. Generally, a successful R01 application is a key requirement, along with a regular publication record.
How many applications should I send out?
As many as possible. However, each and every one of them should be, to some extent, tailored to the position and institute you send them too.
What if I don’t get called for an interview?
Well, to paraphrase Denis Leary, “Life sucks, wear a helmet!” In the application process, the only things you control are what qualities you have to sell, and how well you sell them. Above and beyond that, it’s all down to fortune. For example, how competitive your qualifications are against the rest of the applicants; whether your particular expertise is desired by that particular department at that particular time; whether you have a particular search committee member who is prepared to fight your case… or maybe just because, out of a pile of 250 applications, whether yours stands out because it has an interesting font! All that’s important is to remember that the best way to get fortune on your side is to persevere, because chances are that if you keep at it, and get better at it (giving talks, writing research statements) your number will come up. Exactly the same could be said of writing grants.
Monday, May 19, 2008
From Nature this week...
If you have online access to Nature, there are a couple of articles about job interviews at different levels.
The first lists a few questions to ask in a postdoc interview, while the other is a personal account of being interviewed for a lecturer position - equivalent to assistant professor. This
unrelated article can also be a reminder of the importance of talking to other students and postdocs when choosing a lab.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Career in academia - would you like to improve your teaching skills?
If you are considering a career in academia and would like to improve your teaching skills, the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) offers online courses that can be taken for credit or not.
Their website also offers a number of other resources, from articles to workshops, and it could be interesting to browse if you're interested in teaching.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Awards of National Research Council of the National Academies
National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for postdoctoral and senior researchers at federal laboratories.
These awards provide generous stipends ($41,000 - $70,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients and higher for additional experience), and the opportunity to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the country.
Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply online, and a list of participating laboratories, is available on the NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at:
www.national-academies.org/rap
Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (phone) or rap@nas.edu.
There will be four review cycles annually. Upcoming deadline dates are:
May 1, 2008
August 1, 2008
November 1, 2008
February 1, 2009
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Long Beach, 2008: graduates and postdocs...
Welcome to the humble blog of the Biophysical Society's Early Careers Committee. Let me first draw your attention to the highly sophisticated quantum search engine in the side bar known as, "The Label Cloud". These labels should direct you to blog posts with relevant topics.
In the meantime, I'm in the process of separating my extensive notes on the meeting from the disturbing mass of expense forms, flight itineraries, outrageous bar tabs, and unwashed socks that currently occupy my suitcase. As soon as I've assembled them into some sort of meaningful order, I'll post the reports for the various Early Career-associated events. This is all part of our master plan to ensure that people who were unable to make these events, for whatever foul and egregious reason, will nevertheless be able to catch up on The Essential Information.
Thanks to all those who attended the breakfasts, panel discussions and workshops, by the way. We hope you found them useful, and please feel free to leave comments on the reports we post regarding these events. Feedback is always welcome.
One last thing:
Regarding the K99/R00 workshop, for those of you who provided me with email addresses, I will send out the slides for Professor Balke's presentation as soon as I can.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Income Tax information for overseas postdocs working in the US
The NPA has recently updated its advisory section dedicated to overseas candidates applying for, or embarking upon, a postdoc position in the USA. As part of the update, they have added a new article on US income tax. However, it's a bit too general and lacking in sufficient detail to be informative. Check it out all the same, but also have a read through the advice below, which I have shamelessly self-plagiarized from Across the Bilayer.
Taking advantage of Tax Treaties - Some countries have tax treaties with the US that will affect whether or not you have to pay US Federal Income Tax for the duration of your postdoc in America. The Internal Revenue Service has a full list available here.
For example, Britain and the US have a tax treaty that allows visiting British scientists to work in the US for a period of no more than 2 yrs without paying Federal Income Tax on wages earned. Note, however, that the visitor is still required to pay city and state taxes. The caveat here is that should the visitor remain in the US for one day longer than the specified 2 yrs (working or otherwise) they will be required to pay the back taxes for the entire duration they were receiving a salary. In this particular case, the conventional wisdom dictates that newly arrived British postdocs instruct their institution's payroll office to withhold Federal Income Tax (by filling out a W4 form) . If the postdoc leaves before the 2 yr limit expires, they can simply file an amended tax return (see below) and the IRS will post a cheque reimbursing the full amount. Either that, or the organised postdoc could open a savings account and make monthly deposits comparable to Federal Withholding, so that if they do decide to stay beyond 2 yrs they can easily pay the back taxes.
Some countries, such as China, have an even better deal with the US government. Visiting Chinese scientists are allowed the initial 2 yr tax exempt period regardless of whether the worker continues to work in the US.
Which Tax Return? – When it comes to filing the annual tax return (usually around April 15th), the form you should use will depend on your answer to the IRS's Substantial Presence Test. Briefly, if you have been present in the US for less than two tax years, you will generally be considered a Non-Resident Alien for tax purposes, and should file either form 1040NR or 1040NREZ. 1040NREZ is simply a basic version of 1040NR for people who don't have to worry about dependents, property taxes and other complicating factors. If you have worked in the US for longer than two years you will generally be considered a Resident Alien for tax purposes, in which case you file a conventional 1040 form (the same form filed by your US citizen colleagues).
Most of the time, your institute will send you the correct forms, but you can also download the forms from www.irs.gov.
City and State Taxes - Most relevant tax treaties will be between the postdoc's native country and the US Federal government. As a result, state and city taxes do not come under the treaty, and so the postdoc is rarely exempt from paying these. That said, some states do have their own separate treaties with foreign nations (Tax Treaty Overview). Make sure you are aware of the correct filing deadline for city and state taxes (usually near or on the deadline for Federal returns), and know where to download the relevant forms. University international centers can sometimes neglect to inform new arrivals of the finer points of the local tax infrastructure, and if this is the first experience you've had paying taxes (quite possible for a first time postdoc), there's ample room for getting it wrong. If in doubt, check with your colleagues.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Writing and submitting research proposals
The following sites give useful advice for new scientists beginning the grant writing process:
- National Cancer Institute - Quick Guide For Grant Applications
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - All About Grants Tutorials
- Science Magazine - Grant and Grant Writing ; GrantsNet
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Defence Against The Dark Arts - enhancing your skills in molecular biology
The New England Biolabs Molecular Biology Summer Workshop, is held annually at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. It involves a two week intensive crash course in molecular biological techniques, including gene cloning, bioinformatics, PCR and RT-PCR and many others.
I attended this course shortly after starting my first postdoc in 2004 and would highly recommend it to both beginners in molecular biology and those with a more intermediate knowledge of the subject who might nevertheless be seeking to broaden their skill set. Attendants range from pharmaceutical sales reps with limited experience in biology all the way up to professors in various disciplines looking to diversify the techniques used in their own laboratories.
The course is very well designed, consisting of daily hands-on practical experiments paired with extensive lectures on the topics related to the experiments performed. This close association between theory and practical application serves to reinforce the material and significantly enhances knowledge retention, where it might otherwise evaporate from one's memory within days of the workshop's completion (a common problem with intensive learning courses). Despite being designed such that even newcomers to the field of biology can understand them, the lectures are surprisingly thorough and it certainly pays to take full advantage of the coffee breaks to keep the attention span well-caffeinated.
In addition to being a very well run course, the workshop also happens to be held in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Unfortunately, they work the attendees pretty hard during the two week (lectures and lab from 8am to 10pm most nights), so it's important to make the most of the one full day of "vacation" set aside during the course. Myself and a group of others used this time to cross the border into Vermont and climb mount Monadnock. Not exactly K2/, but a refreshing and picturesque jaunt nonetheless. There are also two evenings set aside for intramural volley ball and softball. Competition between the lab groups is encouraged and can be quite fierce, sometimes culminating in outright sabotage. We arrived in our lab after lunch break on one occasion to find that we had been the victims of a TP'ing!
The 2004 workshop staff waiting to take to the field in the interlab softball tournament
Workshop attendees taking advantage of the one solitary vacation day by climbing Mount Monadnock, Vermont.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Top Postdoc Locations, 2007
The Scientist (Vol 21, Issue 3) highlights the best places to work for postdocs in 2007.
[From the July, 2007, edition of the Biophysical Society Early Careers Committee's Next Step electronic newsletter]
