Here I Am,
Despite Myself
Glenn Rall
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Born/educated in New Jersey
Grad. High School, 1981
Lafayette College, Easton PA
Biology and Philosophy, 1985
Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
Micro/Immuno Ph.D., 1990
Tamar Ben-Porat, Pseudorabies
Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla CA
Postdoc, 1991-1995
Michael Oldstone, Viral Pathogenesis
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia PA
Asst. Prof (1995)/Assoc. Prof (2001)/Program Leader (2005)
Born/educated in New Jersey
Grad. High School, 1981
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GPA:
3.14
Lafayette College, Easton PA
Biology and Philosophy, 1985
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Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
B- (by 1 point) in Biochem Micro/Immuno Ph.D., 1990
caused me to lose
Just call me “Greg”
Tamar Ben-Porat
my spot on the training grant
Monday Morning Meetings
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Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla CA
Postdoc, 1991-1995
Michael Oldstone
-First grant: triaged
-Last RO1 req’d
multiple submissions
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Asst. Prof (1995)/Assoc. Prof (2001)/Program Leader (2004)
Though our careers may be
“guided” by general interests
(the black lines at left), the
specifics of our professional
lives (the red lines) are random
and--at least for most--completely
unplanned and surprising.
Five things that I wish someone told me
(NB: This is NOT necessarily advice…)
1. Embrace your insecurity
You have every reason to be anxious about your
future…this job is hard!
Every one of us in here…even those that seem
incredibly self-confident…have a need for affirmation.
Moreover, insecurity is an aid to good science…the
moment you stop caring what your peers think is the
moment your science loses focus.
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2. Distinguish between Urgent and Important
What matters to your long-term survival as a
scientist are: grants and papers that are fueled
by colleagues who have been thoughtfully
mentored.
All of these things take extraordinary amounts of
time, and are not conducive to “checking off” on
a list.
Watch out for making too many commitments to
tasks that, while appealing (or fun, or lucrative),
will distract you from your chief objectives.
3. Develop a menu of mentors
You’re smart. Good for you. But your “post-postdoc”
job will require a skill set you may or may not possess.
Who do you trust to give you the unvarnished truth?
For me (beyond the obvious mentors):
-My fellow postdocs at Scripps
-Other PIs
-Reviewers of my grants and papers
-Lynn Enquist, Ganes Sen, Tom Shenk
-My family
Be intrepid about reaching out to others for help.
One of the joys of this job is working with future
generations of scientists.
4. Accept that you will always be judged, and that
some--despite your best efforts--will just not like you,
or your work. Don’t lose sight of the objective.
Learn to Teflon coat yourself.
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You do need to pay attention to the process
of science (new grant rules, politics, etc),
but it should be subordinated relative to the
science.
I may be naïve, but:
good science, thoughtful ideas,
and hard work will prevail.
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5. Don’t whine. Don’t waste your talents.
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose
recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly
worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a
forc e of Nature instead of a feveris h selfi sh lit tle clod of
ailments and grievances complaini ng that the world will not
devote itsel f to making you happy.
Geor ge Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, Epistle Dedicatory
enjoy the journey…