John Boothroyd, Feb., Successfully navigating the stages of a post-doctoral scholar’s career. John Boothroyd, PhD Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

John Boothroyd, Feb., Outline Finding a project Finding a fellowship Making the most of three (!) years Anticipating day of departure Building your network Making the most of conferences Being a good mentor Care and feeding of your mentor Care and feeding of you

John Boothroyd, Feb., Finding (a) project(s) Read and think What important and interesting questions are unanswered? Look ahead 10 years; where is the field going? Balance your portfolio in terms of: –Risk –Reward –Turf

John Boothroyd, Feb., Finding a Fellowship Good for you and your mentor The act of writing is useful Leave no stone unturned Ask who has gotten support from where Use OPA’s and RMG’s websites Be sure to know your audience when you write (what do THEY want ~ “spin”)

John Boothroyd, Feb., Making the most of 3 (!) years Budget your time in proportion to importance Organize your time and stick to it Make/use/keep deadlines Working at home is OK (if you deliver!) Make your training holistic Don’t sacrifice excellent at the feet of perfect

John Boothroyd, Feb., Anticipate day of departure on day 1! Organize your notes (the originals must stay behind so copy what you need, as you go) Organize your reagents (keep a running inventory that can be left behind) Duplicate key reagents that you might want to take SOME of with you (good idea to store separately) Be sure some work can stay and some can go Keep ear to the ground for jobs

John Boothroyd, Feb., Building Your Network It’s ALL around you! Doctorate adviser - don’t be a stranger Post-doc adviser(s) Other faculty Collaborators Professional colleagues, etc

John Boothroyd, Feb., Making the Most of Conferences Be selective Small is beautiful Work the crowd; don’t be shy! Present your work Invite input Dept. retreats are conferences

John Boothroyd, Feb., Being a Good Mentor Compound interest is through those you train Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; everyone’s unique Not getting in the way of stars is nothing to be proud of Maximizing the achievements of everyone is Know what they’re really after… What fraction of your motivation is training vs. science?

John Boothroyd, Feb., Being a Good Mentor (2) Give feedback, positive and negative (research, talks, mentoring, teaching, administrative, etc.) Find opportunities to observe No favorites No friends; private lives are just that unless they are life-altering Private is private (disciplining, praising or motivating) Never discuss one person with another

John Boothroyd, Feb., Being a Good Mentor (3) Deal with disputes one-on-one to start: –Ask what happened –Listen to explanation –Judge only if necessary –Explain what is acceptable –Move forward –Encourage a “clear the air” meeting without you Move to a facilitated discussion if need be: –Don’t “try” the case to reach a judgement –What needs to happen for us all to move forward

John Boothroyd, Feb., Care and feeding of your mentor It’s a relationship: –Be honest –Be proactive –Be direct but not confrontational –Don’t hide and/or sulk –Be appreciative (no gifts) But, remember, it’s not an equal-power relationship

John Boothroyd, Feb., Care and feeding (cont’d) Agree on expectations Deliver on time Don’t be afraid to politely nudge Make the most of one-on-one meetings: –Come organized with an agenda –Keep track of to-dos –Bring primary data –Engage the science passionately but non-personally

John Boothroyd, Feb., Coming soon… “Annual Postdoctoral Research and Career Progress/Mentorship Meeting” –Research Progress: Overview of Last Year –Research Growth and Development: Plans for Next Year –Career Development Use it to open a dialogue

John Boothroyd, Feb., Care and Feeding of You! Balance your life It’s what you produce not how long you take to do it… Relax efficiently Know whose time it is (you, partner, family, work, friends) Be flexible and make use of gaps