1. By Joseph Buckman

2.  PhD Program  After Graduation  The Academic Marathon

3.  Doctoral degrees are not given to those with the best grades  Must present research competence and publish in academic literature  Motivation and passion, not smarts!

4.  The way to a faculty member’s heart is through genuine enthusiasm for research  Ultimate goal should be developing your academic vita  Join the organizations faculty members are a part of  Many of the best research ideas come from thinking about connections between seemingly disparate areas of research

5.  Start thinking about where you want to go when you begin your dissertation  Postdoctoral vs. Faculty  If possible seek a postdoctoral in a lab that has strengths in your weaknesses  Junior faculty are often hired to fill areas of need

6.  Recommended time in a postdoctoral position is 2 years minimum  Don’t apply for jobs you won’t accept  Your job talk is the single most determinant of whether you get a job offer  Never assume every university is the same

7.  Being an academic is stressful  Your first years will be packed with teaching, committee work, and non-research tasks  Research is #1  Do not say yes to everything

8.  Find your own voice  Learning to write well is a major challenge  Promote yourself, don’t wait for others to discover you  Manage your time or it will control you

9. “Greatness from small beginnings” “If you add a little to a little, and then do it again, soon that little shall be much”