…and then this summer at band camp

Institute Goals

1. Presentations/ communication

2. Teaching methods

3. Ethics

4. Opportunities/ prep for micro careers

5. Proposal prep, review, critique

Representation

• Colorado College, CO• University of Colorado, CO

• Colorado State University, CO• University of Connecticut, CT• Michigan State University, MI• University of Rochester, NY

• Swarthmore College, PA• University of Texas, TX

• Virginia Commonwealth University, VA

Institute Eligibility

• ASM member

• Senior level grad student or post doc

• Microbiology project

• http://www.asmgap.org/

The Application

• Required materials– CV (2 pages)– Research project summary (2 pages)– Summary of participation

goals/expectations (1 page)– Summary of career goals (1 page)– Recommendation letter from PI

Post-Acceptance Requirements

• June application for July Institute• Email notification in 2 weeks• Return materials in ~1 week

– Registration ($250)– Lodging ($200-400)– Air Travel– Prepare 10 page grant

• Prepare 10 min research presentation

Implementation – Presentations & Communication

• ‘How to’ guide

• One-on-one slide critique

• Audience presentation critique

• Open forum discussions

• Practice at meals

Implementation

• Teaching methods– Lecture

• Ethics– Conflict resolution– Mentoring open forum– Data authorship/ ownership open forum

Implementation – Career Prep

• Curriculum Vitae– One-on-one critique– Cover letter/ CV prep

• Obtaining Postdoc• Pathways to Professoriate• Interview tips• Balancing personal/professional life• Networking

Implementation – Career Opportunities

1. Graduate/ Medical Institution2. Biotech Industry/ Diagnostics Co3. Government/ Federal Agency4. Patent Law5. Foundation/ Non-Profit6. Undergraduate Institute7. Science Writing8. Public Health

Implementation – Proposal Prep

• Mock grant review

• NIH/ NSF Submission Process

• Grant development

• Individual critiques

Preparing the Presentation

• Why?

• Who?

• What?

• Where?

Effective Presentations

• No templates

• Light backgrounds

• Sans serif type

• Use cases

• Fill white space

• 1-6-6 rule

Effective Presentations

• Define objectives

• Use title for conclusions

• Summarize throughout

• Repeat each question

• Be prepared to present Without Slides!

Teaching/ Mentoring

• Envision the completed product

• Teach functionality– What can they DO with knowledge– Now & later

• Think about ‘take home’ for EACH lecture

Making Your CV Count

• Cover letter (1 page)1. Discuss current project

• Summarize major discoveries

2. Discuss their work and project you’re interested in

3. Discuss obtaining your own funding4. End by saying you’ll send

recommendations– Discuss weaknesses in CV

Making Your CV Count

• Don’t list skills for post doc positions

• List pedigree

• List references w/ contact info (3)

Getting the Postdoc

1. Identify research interests/ career goals

2. Identify potential mentor– Read pubs, ask current mentor & others

3. Make the contacts– Make the cover letter count– CV – don’t be shy– Ask mentor to write

The Postdoc Interview

• Phone vs In person

• Questions for PI– What’s my project?– How’s it funded & how long?– Can I take it with me?– Feasibility of other opportunties?

• Teaching, grant writing, pubs, attend meetings

The Postdoc Interview

• Talk to lab members– Are they happy?– Will they discuss project?– Is there project overlap?– What are the hours like?

• Get a contract

Getting the Faculty Position

• Get a schedule

• Find out who you’re meeting

• What are you expected to present?– Who’s in the audience?

• Will there be social engagements?

• Who will make travel arrangements?

• Get emergency contact

Getting the Faculty Position

• The Business Interview– Seminar– Chalk Talk– Class Lecture!!!

• Teaching philosophy

– Practice 1, 3, 10 minute research synopsis– Relate interests to hosts– Don’t ask about salary/ benefits until 2nd

interview

Getting the Faculty Position

• The Personal Interview– Do your homework– Ask questions and take notes

• Let them talk about themselves

Getting the Faculty Position

• You’re a colleague!

• You’re a top candidate!

• You have things to offer!

• They’re not the enemy!

Postdoc/ Faculty Position Acquired

• Seek out your mentors– Assigned mentors

Career in Graduate/Medical Education

• Duties– Research/ scholarship– Teaching– Service

• Salary for public university– $80,000 to start– $110,000 for full professor

• Planning for promotion– Develop/ direct course

• Teach lectures• Keep evaluations

– Consistent pubs/ funding– Develop national reputation– Find a mentor

Career in Graduate/Medical Education

Career in Industry

• Getting the job– Post doc with 4-5 pubs– Productivity in multiple research areas

• Keeping the job– Meet deadlines and make milestones– Rated yearly for bonus/ raise

Career in Industry

• Pros– No budget management– Flexible hours– Money not limiting– Access to bioinformatics group

Career in Industry

• Cons– Service still required– Lots of presentations– Completely profit-driven– Change projects often– Ideas come from business people– Starting salary same as for faculty position

NIH Career

• Non-lab– Science writers– Administration

• Lab– Techs– Fellows– Staff scientist

• Permanent, non-tenure

– PI

NIH Lab Career

• Pros– No grant writing

• Productivity evaluation every 4yrs

– No teaching or service

• Cons– Small research groups– Bureaucracy– Lack of university atmosphere

• Don’t confer degress

FDA Career

• Non-lab (majority)– Adminstrative– Facility inspectors– Reviewers of drug/license applications

• Lab– Techs– Fellows– Staff Scientists– PI

FDA Career

• Pros– Importance

• Mainly applied

• Cons– Regulatory work– Bureacracy

Career in Undergrad Teaching

• Terms of appointment– Reviewed for re-appt after 1st 3yrs– Reviewed for tenure after 2nd 3yrs– Considered for full prof after 8yrs– Requires student/faculty recommendations

Career in Undergrad Teaching

• Teaching– 5-6 courses per year

• Research– Mostly in summer

• Service– Institutional and civic

Career in Science Writing

• Plan, generate, deliver medical communications– Protocols– Study reports– Package inserts– Newsletters– Training articles

Career in Science Writing

• Regulatory for regulatory agencies

• Commercialization for scientific/medical community

• Medical Info for healthcare providers

CDC Career

• Numerous fellowships• Pros

– Job stability– Opportunity for career moves

• Cons– Regimented, less innovative– Less basic research– Bureaucratic– Career moves slow, but steady

Final Reflections

• If at first you don’t succeed…

• You DON’T have to be a superstar!

• You CAN have it all!