1. Life After Graduate School: Career Topics for Graduate Students and Postdocs: Biotech/Industry or Academia? Searching for Jobs Applications Interviews Negotiations

2. What’s the Future?
Note that unemployment rate among Ph.D.s is very low- 1.6% in 1997
1/3 of all Ph.D.s now work in industry
Broad training is increasingly required
Other skills you learn in grad school are increasingly important to your future
Communication skills- esp. writing
Ability to work in a team
Use of information technology
Systems Biology

3. Postdoctoral Jobs
Can be in industry or academia

4. Factors To Consider When Choosing a Postdoc
You are choosing the field you will be starting your own lab in- make sure there is growth opportunity (ie a niche for you)
Small labs vs big labs- each have advantages and disadvantages- visit both
Designated job or freedom to explore?
Industry or academia?
Aim high!
You need to identify the labs by yourself! Aks your advisor for recommendations

5. Searching for Postdocs
You should leave your institution in order to grow
Identify three to six labs, in geographic areas you would consider, who work on topics of interest to you
Funded investigators (check CRISP)
Productive investigators (check Pub-Med)
Don’t just respond to ads!

6. Searching for Postdocs
Send a CV and a cover letter to these labs with an approximate time frame for Ph.D.
Start a year ahead
Remember that few actually graduate on time
Aim high- very good labs, not just a job
You will most likely be asked to interview
If you cannot interview, arrange to meet the PI or members of his lab at a meeting
Be persistent!

7. Choosing a Postdoc
Staying in the same field as your grad work provides continuity: you already know the field as well as some of your future reviewers
Choose a change in technique or system/organism but not both
Get broad training but also specialize in something specific

8. START EARLY!!!!

9. Postdoc at NIH? Advantages Disadvantages
Good financial resources and state-of the art equipment
Good intellectual resources: synergy
Stimulating metropolitan area
Salaries higher than elsewhere
No grant writing
Disadvantages
Physical crowding
No grant writing- difficult to prepare for academia!
Guide to find mentors:

10. The Postdoc Cover Letter
No more than ½ to 1 page
Describe your current area of research in a few sentences
Describe what you would like to learn
Ask to be considered for a position
Say when you will be ready
Remember the postdoc market is excellent: you will most likely have many offers!
Having 1-2 publications will increase the number

11. The Curriculum Vitae
Provides a clear record of your educational and research accomplishments
Standard format includes:
Your name and the DATE!
Personal information (contact address and info)
Educational history
Honors and Fellowships
Teaching Experience (if appropriate)
Grant and research support (if appropriate)

12. The Curriculum Vitae, II
Membership in professional societies
Invited lectures (if appropriate)
Research and Publications
Some formats list only the publications followed by the abstracts
Others intersperse this information with a concise summary of what the work showed
Optional
Personal interests (biking, fishing) (no)
Techniques mastered (PCR, immunocytochemistry) (yes)
References (at least three, up to five)
NO TYPOS!

13. Letters of Recommendation
Thesis advisor - mandatory
Prominent faculty member in Dept?
Any faculty you have interacted with-?
Collaborators?
Ask referees if they can write a positive letter; if you have any doubts, then do not use the referee (some fellowships require top scoring)

14. Interviewing for a Postdoc
You may be asked to give a talk (50%)
Ask other lab members what the PI’s style is
Know your own style- hands-off? Interactive?
Find out where former lab members are now
Don’t ask about salary: it will be in your offer

15. After the Interview
Send thank-you with a time frame for your decision if you already have an offer
Make your decision; involve your committee members if you have questions
Let the other places know RIGHT AWAY (you are taking a spot away from someone else!)
Plan to write an NIH postdoc grant 9 months ahead if you are a US citizen or have a green card

16. Negotiating a Postdoc Position
If there is a job you want and you have not heard yet, but you do have other offers, tactfully contact the PI/institution and explain that you need to make a decision
Most likely you will then receive an offer
It is unusual to request more money for a postdoc: generally the PI pays what he/she can afford/thinks is competitive with the others in the lab

17. Postdoc Salaries
Formerly: $28,260 for entry-level postdocs, rising to $44,412 for those with at least seven years' experience.
New NIH guidelines Mar : start at $35,568; 3 yrs is $43,428; 7 years experience is now $51,036 (it will take up to 5 years for source grants to catch up!)
Note that at NIH staff fellowships often pay more: there is a big range depending on source!
Equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, or “any other activity directly related to the Fellow's research” may also be supported by some sources

18. Postdoctoral Training Grants
You need to show you will experience professional growth
Go to another institution
Learn other techniques or a new field

19. Postdoctoral Training Grants
Identify a postdoctoral mentor
One year or more before anticipated graduation
Be proactive- most people are looking for fellows
Submit your proposal well before moving
Success elements - in order of priority
Your mentor’s reputation (pubs, grants,status)
Your own accomplishments (grades, pubs)
Training plan (courses, techniques to be learned)
Research plan (clear, doable)
There are 3 deadlines a year-Jan 10, May 10 and Sept 10 for Kirschstein awards

20. Postdoctoral Training Grants
Project
Should be doable and limited
Should provide training expertise
Need not be extensive
Your qualifications
Recommendations extremely important
Top 5-10%
Grad school GPA 3.0 and above
Publications (1-2) and presentations (2)

21. How Long Should It Take To Write?
It’s only 10 pages- give yourself one month maximum!
Get forms from NIH.gov
Discuss ideas with future mentor and read papers
Write!
Make sure PI will be in the office to do his/her part
In the last week, focus full-time on proofing etc.
Remember institutional deadlines (mentor’s) precede NIH’s

22. Writing a Successful Proposal
Background and Specific Aims
Must persuade reviewer of need for work
Experimental Design
Must persuade reviewer of your ability to think, anticipate problems, design experiments
Less is more- do not propose 5 years of work!
Have 3 people read and critique your proposal

23. Postdoctoral Funding Opportunities
NIH individual grant
NIH training grant
Many, many other sources- disease-related
AHA and ACS are the largest
NIH research training opportunities
National Academies' report
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

24. Other Postdoc Resources
See COSEPUP document:
National Organization of Postdocs website
There are currently 40,000 postdocs!

25. START EARLY!!!!

27. Biotechnology and Industry

29. What are the salaries? Note different scales

30. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biotech
Higher salaries-perhaps twice if postdoc (60-70k); also many other perks- stock options, bonuses etc
Well-equipped facilities
Focused work environment
Disadvantages
You may find an interesting phenomenon and not be permitted to explore it, if it is not relevant to company goals
You must put your group’s interests ahead of your personal interests: teamwork effort

31. Hiring Trends in Industry
Multidisciplinary training very useful
Molecular biology and business
Chemistry and law
Life sciences and programming
Conversely some specialized areas are hot
Proteomics, genomics, drug discovery, medicinal chemists
Industrial specializations such as formulations, product development and process scientists, clinical project managers, regulatory affairs
Systems biology

32. Biotech or Industry?
Note that some industrial companies are giant pharmaceutical or chemical companies and others are startups with employees
How will you fit into existing culture?
Can you live with insecurity of small company?
Biotech companies are smaller but risk is higher

33. Biotech 3,000 firms were polled in 2003 Increase of 12% in hiring
90% have 500 or fewer employees
Most located in six states
See US Dept of Commerce Report

34. Biotech Jobs Market is tough in years when venture capital is low
Use every resource to locate positions
Networking; meetings; online sites; journal ads; headhunters
Make sure you are a match for the job before applying
There is no substitute for the personal contact
Many companies create positions in December to hire in January

36. Applying to Biotech, II
Do a postdoc in biotech if you think you want to work in biotech- it makes you more competitive to have industry experience (ask about advancement)
Make contacts within the company at meetings if possible- ask people who come to your poster (and go to theirs!) about opportunities at their company
Finding a good biotech job at the Ph.D. level is equally difficult as finding an academic position!

37. The Biotech Resume
Is different than the academic CV: 2-3 pages, not 5-6 -even for mature scientist
Use key words- technologies you have used
Relate your accomplishments, not your skills- use brief, 25-word descriptions of how you put the “key word” items into practice
Must persuade that you have the abilities that will help achieve corporate goals: SALES JOB
Short and snappy! No publications, posters, abstracts, no personal interests

38. What is an “Accomplishment”?
A way you helped your previous organization make money
Or save money- increased efficiency, cost reduction
Developing something new or different
Advanced a research program, a breakthrough, a new product, a new line of research or technique

39. Improving the Resume
Use action-oriented verbs such as “established, directed, managed, increased, created, launched, trained, instituted, designed
Forget “assisted, helped, served”-and “responsible for”
Use specific numbers when possible- dollars, number of people supervised, papers etc
See Science jobs website for other tips

40. The Biotech Cover Letter
Customized for each job
3-4 paragraphs
First one specifically states how your experience fits the particular position
Second one lists your accomplishments
Third thanks the addressee and says that you will either call or wait to hear.

41. Example: Industry Experience Required!
DIRECTOR, INDUSTRIAL ENZYME APPLICATIONS My client is a recognized leader in the development of novel enzyme products for a multitude of industrial applications. With 50/50 support from two of the largest, most respected biotech & pharma companies, this Joint-Venture is sure to continue its growth and client base. Located in the beautiful southern California coast, this opportunity will not be around long! You will be responsible for the design, implementation, and management of all research in the arena of enzyme application. Focus will be on products and services for identified industries, and you will oversee said research milestones and delivery in contracted 3rd-party laboratories. Accurate and timely documentation of results, monitoring activities, and setting project guidelines and goals will be required. The researching and assembling of all relevant information for development of new product and service concepts in a variety of industries will also be performed. PhD in biochemistry (or related field) with 6-8 years of industry experience. Proven experience with applicable, related research is a must! Familiarity with and knowledge of enzymes, biocatalysts, and process optimization as they apply to industrial fields is a plus. Now is the best time to join this proven leader in industrial enzymes -- if this sounds like you, please send you resume/CV (as an MS Word document) to (Please use the application form below) and let's talk!
Example: Industry Experience Required!

42. Interviewing for Biotech
Prepare: read everything you can about the company you are visiting/ do mock interview
Review the annual report, pubs of people you will meet
Be guided by the ad: be prepared to say how you fit their qualifications
Show enthusiasm for the work
Give seminar, meet people all day long
No second interviews (usually)

43. Biotechnology Career Websites
Many job sites connect to companies-big pharma
Pfizer site has a lot of tips

44. Academia

45. Academia Has Many Advantages
The scientific questions you answer are your own and are not related to company goals
You can grow at your own pace
1 grant or 3 grants; 1 technician or 10 postdocs
You are your own boss in many ways- you decide hiring, travel, reviewing responsibilities etc
Opportunity for subsidized travel

46. Academia Has Disadvantages
You must be self-supporting in terms of dollars and ideas
You are essentially running a small company without having been fully prepared for some of the skills involved (human resources, financial management, lecture preparation)
You must be good at multi-tasking: teaching, research, administration, reviewing -so that all demands are balanced

47. Finding Academic Jobs Science magazine
Contacts from meetings, colleagues, your mentor
Bulletin boards
University
Organization websites (ASCB)
Job bureaus at meetings

48. Cover Letters and CVs for Academic Appointments
The CV is similar to the postdoc CV but includes talks; teaching experience; and any grants obtained. Should be detailed!
The cover letter is more generic than for biotech- states your intent to apply; your accomplishments; and a few sentences about your area of work
Unique: 1-3 pages of your planned research program (or teaching philosophy for teaching positions) is attached to CV

49. Interviewing for a Faculty Position, I
Be prepared- know interests of faculty who will interview you; find potential areas of mutual interest to talk about
Give a good seminar (introduction! Future plans!)
You will meet with people in 2 days
If not science talk about shared equipment, quality of life issues
Meet with other newly hired faculty
Be extremely tactful with everyone; no complaints!

50. Interviewing, II
If you are in the top few you will be invited back for second interview
You should have list of needed equipment /resources ready (core facilities?)
You will meet more people outside the Department as well as inside
Informal offer may be made that day or more likely afterwards in writing

51. Negotiating a Faculty Position, I
Negotiations for permanent positions will include many different aspects
Salary (median salary for Assistant Prof is currently is 70K); med schools pay more than undergrad institutions
Space ( sq feet)
Startup (ranges from 150K to 300K)
Equipment (shared or all yours?)
Teaching (# contact hours per year eventually at a medical school; more at an undergrad institution)
Committee/administrative responsibilities

52. Negotiating a Faculty Position, II
Salary is not everything- benefits can vary greatly
Subsidized home purchase/loan rate
Subsidized health insurance
Retirement benefits
Soft vs hard money guarantees- what % of your salary do you have to provide? (0% to 100%)

53. Research Assistant Professor
Not tenured
Can be lab “lieutenant”
Advantages
Someone else writes the grants and has the pressure
You can do independent science
Disadvantages
Pay; Recognition; Security

54. Clinical Appointments
More common these days
Can be tenured
Advantage: clinical departments can generate revenue for your research; pay better
Disadvantage: do not want to be isolated from other researchers/colleagues

55. What Does Your Ph.D. Mean?
You have a broad knowledge of current scientific knowledge with a specialization in one area
You can research a problem and design and implement a solution independently
You are a motivated worker
You have developed communication skills
You have developed organizational skills
Therefore, you are competent to perform a wide variety of jobs besides research….

56. Alternative Careers for Science Ph.D.s (besides research)
Law- patent, tech transfer
Finance- business experience helps
Sales and Tech Support-most companies hire Ph.D.s
Journalism -freelance or staff
Teaching -small colleges
Public policy (science)
AAAS, other organizations
Administration (NIH, NSF, many other private and public organizations)

57. Acknowledgments ASCB Life Sciences Job Hunt Booklet
(order free from ASCB site!)
Science Jobs website:

58. Good Luck!