1. Fresh out of the box – defining who you are
Jennifer Gooch, PhD
Emory University
Department of Medicine / Renal
Atlanta VAMC

2. The independent researcher
Doctoral graduates
Post-doctoral trainees
Faculty
Tenure-track faculty
100%
65%
33%
15%

3. Part 1: What is independence and how do you get it?
Part 2: Now that I am independent, what does that mean?

4. What is independence? Traditional / simple answer:
Develop and pursue your own research objectives
Work in your own lab space
Principal Investigator (PI) on a grant
Senior author on publications

5. Independence…cont’d Other answers? Occupy a unique niche
Specialized skill or expertise
Run a core lab
Teach a demanding course
Add value

6. An independent academic scientist is…
Someone with expertise in a specialized area (usually research) and directs the course of their own work.
The person who fills out all the paperwork!

7. How do you get there? *Move Get an RO1 *Publish without mentor PI on
Starter grant
1-2 post-doc
fellowships
* Whatever you do, do not have children

8. Establish an area of expertise
Write a review
Join a professional society
Organize a session at a meeting
Invite other experts in your area to your institution to give seminars (and meet you)

9. Publish without mentor
To move or not to move?
Don’t move
PI on grant
Publish without mentor
INDEPENDENT!
Move

10. Collaborating with previous mentor
Your topic / area: You are senior author

11. Family…….? Graduate students Post-doc Tenured Faculty All Men Women
13% % %
40% % %
65% % %

12. Figure 6. The “Baby Lag” for Tenure-Track Women Faculty at the University of California
From: M.A. Mason and M. Goulden.
Do Babies Matter (Part II)? Closing the Baby Gap. Academe 90(6), Freely available at:

13. Take-home
Independence is the start of a sustainable career built on an area of expertise.
There are many “guidelines” but few rules for getting there.

14. Now that you are there – Who are you?
Faculty
“Early career” “Junior”
Colleague
Employee
Mentor / advisor
Manager
Accountant
Salesman

15. Emory HSC organizational chart
SOM
DOM
Renal
You Are Here
Gooch Lab

16. The view above: Mentors
SOM
DOM
Renal

17. The view above: Mentors
Finding a mentor: Programs versus Brownian movement?
Mentors don’t have to look like you, they just have to be invested in you.
It is okay (and usually good) to have more than one mentor.

18. What mentors can contribute to independence
Role model / advice
Networking – their network becomes your network [consider this when choosing a mentor(s)]
Service and teaching opportunities

19. The view around: colleagues and collaborators

20. Networking with your peers
Look around – your peers are also future division chiefs, department chairs, deans, APS Presidents, etc.
Find shared interests or activities
Put time into these relationships – they will pay off in many ways

21. Develop collaborations
Adds techniques to your research toolbox
Co-authorships are a great way to increase your productivity!

22. The view below: employees, students and fellows
Gooch Lab

23. You are now the boss Manage employees Mentor students and trainees
You are now a role model

24. Managing employees Graduate students: 4-5 years
Post-doctoral research fellows: 2-4 years
Technicians / Research assistants: 2-3 years

25. You are now a role model!
“In response to open-ended questions on our survey, many respondents said that they did not want lifestyles like those of their advisers or other faculty in their departments.”
From: Why Graduate Students Reject the Fast Track
A study of thousands of doctoral students shows that they want balanced lives.
By M.A. Mason, M. Goulden, and K. Frasch. Academe 1:11–16, 2009.
Freely available online at:

26. Model what you value
Passion for science
Hobbies
Exercise
Family