Research Career Development Academic Science

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Research Career DevelopmentAcademic Science

• Gail P. Taylor
• Fall 2010

10/19/2010
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References

• Academic Scientists at Work Giving It 110,
  JEREMY M. BOSS,  SUSAN H. ECKERT 13 FEBRUARY 2004
  http//sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_deve
  lopment/previous_issues/articles/2870/academic_sci
  entists_at_work_giving_it_110
• David A. Katerndahl , M.D. Developing your
  Scholarship http//familymed.uthscsa.edu/facultyd
  evelopment/elearning/scholarship.htm
• Bland CJ, Schmitz CC.  Characteristics of the
  successful researcher and implications for
  faculty development.  J Med Educ  1986 6122-31.

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So..Youve gotten your Ph.D.

• Now What?

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Standard Ph.D. Professional Path
1-2 Yrs
Post Bacc Research
3 - 6 Yrs
Academics
Academic Postdoc
4 - 7 Yrs
Government Postdoc
UG BiologicalChemistry
Government
Doctoral Studies
Industry Postdoc
UG Engineering
Industry
Continue Education
M.S. Degree
Other Career
Other
Engineering
Work
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And...Youve Finished up a Postdoc or two

• Now What Happens?

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What Happens after Your Postdoc?

• Get a job
• Academia
• Tenure Track
• Non-tenure Track
• Government
• Industry
• Other
• Have prearranged to take some of your research
  projects with you, if academic

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Academia
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What is Academia?

• Academia
• Collective term
• Scientific and cultural community
• Usually Universities and Medical Centers/Schools
• Engaged in Scholarly activities
• Higher education
• Peer-reviewed research

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The Academic Life Faculty/Tenure Track Positions
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Professors

• In the US
• Qualified individuals who do the following
• Tenure track
• Profess lectures and seminars in their field of
  study
• Perform advanced research
• Provide service, in their community or with their
  organization
• Train students
• Grad and UG
• Med/Nursing/Professional
• Other training Postdoc, New Faculty, etc

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What does Tenure Track Mean?

• Tenure
• A status of continuing appointment as a faculty
  member
• Will not be fired, unless there is due cause
• Normally, illegal activity
• Allows academic freedom
• Lack of retaliation for ideas, etc.
• Must be Associate or Full Professor to have
  tenure 
• Associate or Full Prof do not guarantee continued
  job

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Professors in U.S. have Rank

• Assistant Professor
• Entry level probationary appointment
• Usually after a postdoc or two
• Is tenure track (promotion in 3 7 years)
• After 7 years, must leave
• Associate Professor
• Mid level position
• Obtained tenure (usually)
• (Full) Professor
• Senior position

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Activities Academic Scientist

• Further Institutions mission of
• Scholarship/Instruction
• Research
• Service
• Relative importance of Research, Teaching,
  Services varies with location
• St. Marys/Incarnate Word- Teaching, Service,
  Research
• UTSA- Research/Teaching, Service
• UTHSCSA/Harvard Research, Teaching, Service

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Research Activities

• Research
• Writing grants
• Coordinate all projects in laboratory
• Mentor graduate students/postdocs
• Laboratory Meetings
• Prepare for and teach an advanced course related
  to your research field
• Review manuscripts or grants
• Discuss science with a seminar speaker
• Design of a new core facility that you will use
  for your research program

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Teaching

• Undergraduate Institution
• Requirements vary
• Depends on Institution
• Harvard (little student contact, if desired)
• May be released from all courses
• UTSA (more hands on)
• Up to three courses
• Medical Schools Much less teaching
• Depends on Level
• Professors may have all seminars
• Medical/Graduate School
• Teach parts of individual classes

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Service Activities

• Admissions Committees
• Search Committees
• Curriculum Committees
• Budget Committees
• Student Recruitment

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Perks of Academic Life

• Run your own small business
• Manage your own time (very flexible)
• Research in desired direction
• Can explore questions all of your life!!!
• Work in vibrant, living, stimulating community
• Travel all over the world to conferences
• Talk to the smartest people in the world!

• Research is not routine
• New techniques
• New discoveries
• Collaborate all over the world
• Have prestige and impact
• Influence in community
• Influence on world
• Have a voice

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Problems with Academic Life

• Can be time-intensive
• Many things to balance at once
• Can have funding problems
• Impact depends on location
• Increased administrative responsibilities
• Decreased research time

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Obtaining Tenure
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Getting Tenure

• Work 5 years (Probationary period)
• Build up your CV
• Establish Relationships
• Letters needed from Colleagues on campus
• Letters needed from Scientists off-campus
• Establish teaching
• Establish research and reputation
• Grants
• Publications
• Invited lectures
• Training record
• Establish service
• Committee
• Community
• Put together a box with materials

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The Tenure Decision

• Made by Tenure Committee
• Research
• Grants
• Income to Institution
• Very important RO1 is almost guarantee
• Creative Products
• Publications (vary in importance)
• Inventions/Patents
• National Reputation
• Invited lectures
• Teaching
• Decent rating, but generally least important
• Service
• Committees
• Become Associate Professor
• Increase in Salary
• Yay! Tenure!

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UTSA Tenure at Assoc. Level

• Effective teaching accompanied by program support
  such as curriculum development or
  thesis/dissertation supervision as appropriate
  for the discipline.
• A focused program of research, creative
  activities, and/or scholarly work that
  contributes to his or her field as judged by peer
  review.
• Service demonstrating peer-recognized
  contributions to the university, profession, and
  community as appropriate for the discipline.

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UTSA Tenure at Full Professor

• Teaching and program support that are effective.
• A nationally-recognized body of quality research,
  creative activities and/or scholarly work, as
  defined above, that contributes significantly to
  the field and represents continuing
  accomplishment as judged by peer review.
• Service demonstrating peer-recognized leadership
  to the university, the profession, and the
  community as appropriate for the discipline.

http//www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter2/2-10.cfm
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Higher Levels.

• As professor, can move to higher levels
• President
• Provost and VP of Academic Affairs
• Lots of vice-provosts
• Vice Presidents
• Deans
• Asst and Assoc Deans
• Dept Chairs
• Profs

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Academic Science Who is Successful?
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Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers

• Success depends on balance of
• Personal preparation, characteristics, focus,
  effort
• Assistance and support from others
• Characteristics of local environment

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Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers Personal I

• Know and enjoy what they are getting into!
• Socialized to career and activities
• Enjoy academic freedom and research
• Have a focused area of research
• Also, know literature of this field
• Work Habits
• Strive for high productivity in first five years
• Papers at least 2 per year
• Grants At least one Federal or foundation in
  last two years
• Reading keeping up with the literature!

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Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers Personal II

• Simultaneous projects - Multiple at different
  stages!
• Research
• Planning
• Under review for funding
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Manuscripts
• In preparation
• Under review
• Awaiting publication
• Focuses on internal and external business
• External- collaborate and conferences
• Internally govern department or
  institution/curriculum

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Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers Interpersonal

• Good Match with Scientist
• Harvard vs UTSA vs St. Marys
• Have mentors
• Collaborations
• Networks
• Understanding of academic culture
• Emotional Support
• Tend to Communicate with Others and Network
• Tend to develop collegial NETWORKs!
• Involved in and out of university
• Go to Conferences and become known!
• Provides access hot fields, etc
• Provides brain power- Bounce ideas off of others

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Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers Environment I

• Good Match with Scientist
• Harvard vs UTSA vs St. Marys
• Sufficient Work Time
• Must limit committees and prep time for teaching
• Supportive Environment
• Autonomy
• Senior Faculty/Dept Chairs who help with
• Grants
• Publications
• Professional Contacts
• Advice
• Finding local mentors
• Peer Support
• Individual
• Groups
• Recognize what the individual researcher needs
• Recognizes strengths of individual researcher

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Getting a Tenure Track Position
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Where are Positions Advertised?

• Individual Web Sites
• Journals
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• http//chronicle.com/
• Science Magazine
• http//sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
• Nature
• http//www.nature.com/naturejobs/index.html

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Job Talk

• If you look good
• Search Committee invites you to campus
• You give a job talk
• Like seminar
• Shows breadth and what you will bring
• Meet with faculty
• Meet with Administrators
• Meet with HR

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Job Offer

• Offered a position
• Negotiate for various Perks
• Startup funds
• Equipment
• Tech
• Research Assistant
• Space
• What building
• How much for laboratory
• How much for Office
• Salary recovery how much of your salary MUST
  come from grants?
• Course releases
• Summer salary
• Politely get this in writing.
• Email, This is what I understand

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Moving to Higher Levels
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Administrative Structure

• University President
• Executive Officers
• Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Vice President for Student Affairs
• Vice President for Research
• Vice President for University Advancement
• Vice President for Extended Services
• Vice President for Business Affairs
• Deans (Dean, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans)
• Department Chairs

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Online Academic Hierarchy

• http//www.mgmt.purdue.edu/faculty/rau/funny/hiera
  rchy.html

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Other (Non-tenured) Positions in Academia

• Researcher
• Research Assistant Professor
• Lecturer
• Research Associate Professor
• Adjunct Faculty
• Various positions
• Grant funded
• University supported