Research Career Development-
Intro to Careers and the
Doctorate
Gail P. Taylor
Fall 2010
09/19/2013
Dr. Gail P. Taylor
► Asst.
Program Director MBRS-RISE
► Research Training Program Specialist
► Professional Development Coordinator
Acknowledgements:
►
Beyond the Beakers: SMART Advice for Entering
Graduate Programs in the Sciences and Engineering.
Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D. Baylor College of
Medicine/National Science Foundation. 2005
►
Survival Skills and Ethics Program:



►
Beth Fischer
Michael Zigmond
www.pitt.edu/~survival
The Leadership Alliance –
Graduate School Guide
http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/grad_gu
ide.pdf
Tips on Preparing for and Applying to Graduate
School
http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/pdf/tips.pdf
►
Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning
Guide to Grad School and Beyond (1996). Committee on
Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (COSEPUP)
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309053935/html/11.html
What do I want to do to earn a
living???
Assumption of this Course:
You are all interested in
“going all the way” to a
Doctorate!
What is it?
How do I get there?
Then What?
Focus of This Lecture
► What
is a career?
► Focusing on the Ph.D.
 Highest Degree that can be earned…
► Examines
“match” between careers and
personality/values
► Introduction to Biology/Chem/Engineering options
► Personality type can select path within a particular
field…
► Examines “match” between career direction and
personality/values
► Examines Scientist Attributes
What is the Difference
between a Career and a
Job?
What is a Job?
►A
set of tasks or performances to earn the
money necessary to survive.
► The individuality of the person in the “Job”
is often irrelevant.
► Emotional buy-in is not necessary
What is a Career?
► Your
lifework or walk of life
► A chosen pursuit; a profession or
occupation.
► A calling/vocation, that is tailored to, and
requires, an individual’s talents and
strengths
► Often requires additional schooling
Many Questions will Influence Career
How much
impact do I
want to have?
What am I
good at?
How
ambitious
am I?
How Long
will My
Schooling be?
What are
my Values
in Life?
Getting Good Answers…
► Arise
from Good Questions you ask
► Must be based on CORRECT information
► Must arise from adequate self-knowledge
► Time should be “loosely” considered,
compared to “dreams”
► Should NOT be based on fear
How to Find out about a Career…
► Family
history
► Personal History
 Teacher impacted you
 Doctor helped you
► Mentor,
friends &
acquaintances
► Television
► Internet
► Counselors/Career
Center
► Take
courses/classes
► Summer programs &
internships
► Shadowing someone
► Advertisements
► Or…
Training Programs, Like
RISE and MARC
Which do You Want?
Job or Career?
You have decided Career….
Attributes of a
Successful Scientist
Depends on whom you ask….
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/careers/appb.html
What do you think are the primary
attributes of successful scientists?
Get together into groups and
discuss for 5 minutes…
How does the Media Portray
Scientists?
Characteristics of Scientists
Scientists are people of very dissimilar temperaments doing
different things in very different ways. Among scientists
are collectors, classifiers and compulsive tidiers-up; many
are detectives by temperament and many are explorers;
some are artists and others artisans. There are poetscientists and philosopher-scientists and even a few
mystics.
—PETER MEDAWAR, Pluto's Republic, Oxford University Press, New York,
1982, p. 116.
Characteristics of Scientists
►
"When most people think of science, they think of white
coats, laboratories, and high-powered computers. But
science is science even without such superficial trimmings.
At its heart is a very simple idea: "check it out." People
who approach the world as scientists do are skeptical.
They are not content to take someone else's word that
anything is so, no matter how eminent an authority that
someone may be. Scientific knowledge is based not on
hearsay, but on reality. Scientists take nothing on faith."
►
Thomas Easton, Careers in Science, 2004
Attributes of a Scientist I
► “One
does not have to
be terrifically brainy to
be a good scientist…”
► Yes, if hooked…
 Exhilaration of
discovery
 Satisfaction of solved
problems
Peter Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist
►
Virtues:






Common sense
Application
Diligence
Sense of purpose
Concentration
Perseverance in adversity…
Scientist Characteristics II
► 1.
imagination
► 2. concentration
► 3. integrity
Peter Faletra Ph.D. Office of Science
Department of Energy
Newton Website, DOE http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99983.htm
Scientist Characteristics IV
► 1.
A keen sense of curiosity
► 2. Natural skeptic strong reliance on "the data“
 “show me your numbers".
► 3.
Tenacity
► 4. Analytical skills
► 5. Critical thinking
Training for a Doctoral
Degree
What is “Graduate School?”
► Additional
education beyond undergraduate years
► To obtain a degree higher than a bachelor's
degree.
► Degrees range from
 Master's degrees (M.A., M.S./M.Sc., M.Ed., etc.),
 Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.A., D.Sc., D.M.A., Th.D.,
etc.)
 Other postgraduate qualification (MBA), such as a
graduate certificate, as well as some professional
degrees.
►
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school
Training…
► All
of the careers requiring a Doctorate
come out of basic training as a research
scientist, chemist or engineer, in an
academic institution
Standard Ph.D. Training 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
Training
► Undergraduate
► Postbacc/MS/Work
 Interim-
► Greater
training
► Maturity/confidence
► Experience needed
► Doctorate
or Combined Degree
 Initial training- research and otherwise
► Postdoctoral
Work
 “advanced” apprenticeship/training
 Greater independence
 Can Change Fields…
What is a Doctoral Degree
and Why Would you want
to Earn One?
What is a Doctorate (Ph.D.)?
► Latin:
Philosophiae Doctor
► A doctorate or doctoral degree is
 An academic degree of the highest level.
 Recognition of the candidate as an equal by the
university faculty under which he studied.
 Usually research doctorates are awarded in recognition
of academic research
► Is
of a publishable standard (even if not actually published)
► Represents at least a modest contribution to human knowledge
► Is usually assessed by submission and defense of a doctoral
thesis or dissertation, though in some cases a coherent body of
published literature can be accepted instead.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school
History of the Doctoral Degree
► Originally
from the Greek
Διδάκτωρ Φιλοσοφίας,
meaning "Teacher of
Philosophy"
► Latin: Doctor philosophiæ
► Definition: Philosophy
 "love of wisdom" or "friend
of wisdom".
History of Ph.D.
► Originally:




► It
a degree granted by a university
For learned individuals
Had achieved the approval of their peers
had demonstrated a long and productive career
indicated a life dedicated to learning, to
knowledge, and to the spread of knowledge
Ph.D. History II
► Popularized
in the 19th century
► Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin
► Granted to someone who had undertaken
original research in the sciences or
humanities.
► Spread to the United States, arriving at Yale
University in 1861.
Nomenclature – Getting a Doctorate
► Doctoral
training
► Training towards doctorate
► Pre-doctoral training / Predoctoral training
► Graduate Training
► Combined Degrees




MD/Ph.D.
MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program)
DDS/Ph.D.
DVM/Ph.D., etc
Why Earn a Doctorate
►
Career “fits” your values/strengths/priorities
 Kids who ask “why” - Thrive on intellectual stimulation
 Explorers, Inventors, Builders
 Benefit world/humanity – Disease, Hunger, Pollution, Green
Chemistry
 Prestige/authority
► Highest degree, allows you to be in charge
Learn to perform research
 Further field
 Love doing it
► Skills sets
 Specific
► Laboratory techniques
 Non-specific
► Critical thinking
► Administration
► Planning, etc.
►
Why Earn a Doctorate II
►
►
Long Term Opportunities
Autonomy
 You carry your career
 Develop own ideas
 As Ph.D., can possibly
►
►
►
►
 Companies
 Not hugely rich, but
comfortable
►
Educators
 Only way to be 4 yr college
fac.
 Want to educate others
 Want to mentor others
 Want to have influence
Set your own hours
Choose your own topic
Opportunity
 Can be “in charge”
 Teach at College/Univ.
 Required for running
research programs
 Required for advancement
Financial
►
Public Policy

Want to impact nation…
Personal and Financial Costs of
Doctoral Education
►
►
Delay Career entry
Standard of Living
►
 Can be hard- long hours
 Can delay childbearing
 Live on 21 – 27K salary
► Some
add in loans
 Health Insurance?
 Family hardship
 Location issues
►
Financial Losses
 Engineering – likely not
make up missed income
 Biology – Likely will make up
missed income
Relationships
►
Location
 During training
 After training
►
Stress
 Are several difficult times
► Qualifying
exams (2nd year)
► Experiments not working
► ~Midway- Did I make a
mistake?
Why NOT to enter Doctoral Program
► Boost
weak ego
► Impress others
► Job guarantee (not)
► For your parents
► Personal intelligence
test
► Delay
entry to work
force
► Wealth
Time to Degree
► All
2003 doctorates in Science
► With MS data included:
 8.3 yrs since BS
 6.9 yrs enrolled to degree
 31.2 Years old for Life Sciences
► People
who did not earn MS
 7.1 yrs since BS
 6.1 in degree
 29.9 Years old
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf06312/
Age of Those Getting Doctorates
► Average
age of Science and Engineering
Doctorates (1995 – 1999) 31.8 years.
► My
duration 5 years 9 months
► 837,000
Ph.D.s in S&E
► (1995 – 1999) U.S. Minorities 14%
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf06319/chap3.cfm
Which Direction Should I
Go WITH a Doctorate?
General Directions in the Sciences
and Engineering…
►
►
Proportions vary by Field…
Academia
 Colleges, Universities, Med Schools – Education taking place
►
Industry
 Private Corporations
►
Government
 Federal: NIH, National Laboratories, Army Corp of Engineers
 State: Texas Parks and Wildlife, TxDOT
 Local: Paid by city
►
Non-Traditional
 Self-employed/Contractor
 HS Teacher, etc.
Careers in Biology
►
Research
 All levels
►
Healthcare
 Big Pre-health degree
►
Education
 Secondary
 College Lecturer
 Professor
►
►
►
►
Environmental Work
Sales
Biotechnology
Forensic science
http://www.aibs.org/careers/index.html
Politics and policy
Business and industry
► Economics
► Insurance
► Patent Work/Law
► Mathematics/Comp. Sci
►
►
 Bioinformatics, etc
►
►
►
Science writing and
communication
Art/Museums
Etc…
Careers in Chemistry
►
Basic and Applied Research






►
Analytical Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Organic
Polymer
Medicinal/Pharmaceutical
NMR
Education
 HS
 College Lecturer
 Professor
►
►
►
Marketing
Product Development
Government Projects
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Management
Forensics
Insurance
Chemical Information Services
Patent/Law School
Health and Safety
Teaching
Consulting
Museum
 Archaeology
 Art history
►
Business
http://www.chem.duke.edu/~bonk/Careers/ChemCareers.html
http://www.chem.duke.edu/~bonk/Careers/ACSartcl.html
Careers in Engineering
► Great
diversityDepends on Field









Electrical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Production Engineering
Aviation Engineering
Plastics Engineering
► To
advance, usually
get an M.S.
► Ph.D.
http://www.answers.com/topic/fields-of-engineering
for universities…
Selecting a Career - Caveats
► May
be like entering the “unknown”
 Must take some risk…
► Don’t freak out!
► May be accidental or intentional
► Path often not straight or predictable
► My have serial careers
► May be intentional or accidental
► Planning helps!
 L. Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind”
► May
learn more about self and values over time…
Personal Attributes and
Career Path – Personal
Attributes and Direction
Careers within a Career…
► All




Ph.D.s trained as researchers
Multiple Fields to Focus on in Graduate School
What will you do with your degree?
Science paths have different characteristics
Must consider of Strengths, Passions, Motivators, Values









Field
Basic vs applied & Translational – Human Impact
Activities
Autonomy
Hours
Responsibility
Pay
Location
Etc…
Career Selection and Satisfaction
Influenced by two aspects…
YOU and the Career!
► Personal
Attributes
 Inborn characteristics
► Innate
Passions
► Strengths
► Temperament
 Experience
► Background
► Education
► Mentoring
► Opportunities
 Values/Priorities
 Life responsibilities
► Work









Environment
Job Impact
Challenge/growth
Recognition
Hours/stress
Human interaction
Buy-in on direction
Overall job stability
Annual income
Percent growth/job
availability
Graduate School Fields/Programs
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Neurobiology/Neuroscience
Physiology
Microbiology/Immunology/Endocrin
ology
Cell/Molec./Dev. Biology
Biochemistry/Biological chemistry
Biomedical Engineering
Chemistry
 Green
 Organic
 Manufacturing
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Pathology/Molecular Toxicology
Pharmacology
Radiological Sciences
Biostatistics
Electrical Engineering
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Environmental Health Sciences
►
►
►
►
►
Epidemiology
Oral Biology
Biological and Medical Informatics
Biophysics
Civil Engineering
Genetics
Computational Biology/Bioinformatics
Pharmacogenomics
Forestry
Integrative Biology
Molecular and Biochemical Nutrition
Plant Biology
Vision Science
►
And Many MORE!!
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
What is a “Good” Field?
►
What inspires you?




Matches your
Matches your
Matches your
Matches your
passion?
skills?
values?
favored place to work?
Current “Hot” Fields
►
Biodefense?
 Microbiology
 Cell Biology
►
Health?







Age-related illnesses (in neuro, diabetes, cancer, etc)
Obesity
Memory
Cardiovascular disease
Pharmacology/toxicology
Cancer
Biomedical applications of Genetics:
►
►
►
Pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics
Proteomics – kinase activities, etc
Theranostic drugs” — remedies targeted at specific populations of patients
 Immunology – good for future biotech industry…
►
►
►
Computational Biology – Any biology w physical sciences/mathematics
Translational Medicine – Basic research into medical problems
Signal pathways and chemistry are important
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/
2005_11_11/job_market_outlook_hot_careers_for_2006/
Basic vs Applied Research
►
Basic  Applied  Industry - Some believed; but see people doing all now.
Basic – Curiosity driven. No known application
► Applied – Designed to solve practical problems of world. Improve world
►
The distinction between basic and applied research isn't always clear.
"How long will it be before some practical application results from the research
?"
► Applied - If a practical use is only a few years away
► Basic - Practical use cannot be envisioned in the foreseeable future, then
the work can be described as purely basic research.
► NOW: Translational Research- Translational research transforms
scientific discoveries arising from laboratory, clinical, or population
studies into clinical applications.”
►
►
►
Now…these definitions are less clear…and have translational research…
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/research-main.html
Good Directions for Training
►
Need more interdisciplinary training (often at Postdoc Level)
 Between fields:
►
►
Computational abilities
Biology with..
 Physics
 engineering, computer science, math…
 For business:
►
►
►
understanding of the product development cycle
the ability to work in a multifunctional arena
Knowledge of business language
 For drug development:
►
►
►
►
growth of jobs involved with getting drugs into clinical trials
drug safety,”
Qualifications in regulatory affairs, validation, and quality control
Teamwork will predominate




Leadership/team management/motivational skills
Negotiation
Delegation
Hire people
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/
articles/2005_11_11/job_market_outlook_hot_careers_for_2006/
Matching Person and Path…
► Love
Biology/appreciation for nature
► Enjoys Politics
► Hugely social
► Get
Ph.D.
 Authority, Position
► Work
in Science Policy!
Matching Person and Path…
► Love
Biology
► Love computers
► Don’t like bench work terribly much
► Analytical, Achiever, deliberative
► Get
Ph.D.
 Authority, Position
► Work
in Computational Biology!
We will look at your
Values,
and
Personal Strengths
at the
End of the Class!
Assessing Personal
Values and Strengths
Matching Passions, Values
and Strengths with a Career
can keep you Motivated,
day after day….
What is Your Passion?
► What
have you loved since Childhood?
► What “stirs” or motivates you?
► Keep this in mind for Personal Statement, in
subsequent class…
► May “roughly” know, but may home in with
experience…
Brainstorm Passions
► In
Class Discussions: What drives your
desire for research?