Research Career Development
Academic Science
Gail P. Taylor
Fall 2010
10/19/2010
References
►
Academic Scientists at Work: Giving It 110%, JEREMY M. BOSS, SUSAN
H. ECKERT 13 FEBRUARY 2004
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/arti
cles/2870/academic_scientists_at_work_giving_it_110
►
►
David A. Katerndahl , M.D.; Developing your Scholarship
http://familymed.uthscsa.edu/facultydevelopment/elearning/scholarshi
p.htm
Bland CJ, Schmitz CC. Characteristics of the successful researcher and
implications for faculty development. J Med Educ 1986; 61:22-31.
So…..
You’ve gotten your Ph.D.
Now What?
Standard Ph.D. Professional Path
1-2 Yrs
3 - 6 Yrs
Post Bacc
Research
Academic Postdoc
4 - 7 Yrs
UG –
Biological
Chemistry
Doctoral
Studies
UG –
Engineering
Academics
Government
Postdoc
Industry Postdoc
Government
Continue
Education
Industry
Other Career
M.S. Degree
Other
Work
Engineering
And...
You’ve Finished up a
Postdoc or two…
Now What Happens?
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…
Academia
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
The Academic Life –
Faculty/Tenure Track
Positions
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
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…
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
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
“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
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…
Service Activities
► Admissions
Committees
► “Search” Committees
► Curriculum Committees
► Budget Committees
► Student Recruitment
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…
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
Obtaining Tenure
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
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
 Service
rating, but generally least important
► Committees
►
Become Associate Professor
 Increase in Salary
 Yay! Tenure!
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.
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
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…
Academic Science – Who
is Successful?
Characteristics of Successful
Academic Researchers…
► Success
depends on balance of…
 Personal preparation, characteristics, focus,
effort
 Assistance and support from others
 Characteristics of local environment
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!
Characteristics of Successful
Academic Researchers – Personal II
► Simultaneous
stages!
projects - Multiple at different
 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
Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers – Interpersonal
►
Good Match with Scientist
►
Have mentors
 Harvard vs UTSA vs St. Mary’s




►
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
Characteristics of Successful Academic
Researchers – Environment I
►
Good Match with Scientist
 Harvard vs UTSA vs St. Mary’s
►
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
Getting a Tenure Track
Position
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
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
Job Offer
► Offered a position
► Negotiate for various
 Startup funds
Perks
► Equipment
► Tech
► Research
 Space
Assistant
► 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…”
Moving to Higher
Levels…
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
Online Academic Hierarchy
► http://www.mgmt.purdue.edu/faculty/rau/f
unny/hierarchy.html
Other (Non-tenured) Positions in
Academia…
► Researcher
► Research
Assistant Professor
► Lecturer
► Research
Associate Professor
► Adjunct Faculty
► Various positions…
 Grant funded
 University supported