1. Getting an “Academic” Job Bilge Birsoy, MD, PhD Post-doctoral Fellow Rothman Lab. UC Santa Barbara

2. Overview Yes, you can get a job (and keep it, too). It does not have to be in the academia (consider alternatives such as “the industry”)‏ Everyone/every department is different.  Decide what YOU want!  Publish.  Learn how the system works (soft vs hard money, FTEs, two-body problem etc.).  Publish some more.  Interact with people.  Apply. Yes, you can do it.

3. What I did to prepare this talk Interviewed 6 men, 4 women faculty (UCSB Dept. MCDB, 34 faculty (only 4 women!)‏ Interviewed 6 post-docs Participated in the recruitment effort Read papers on the topic Recruitment @ UCSB MCDB: 300 applicants (80% men, 20% women), 6 interviewees

4. They want you to be productive independent innovative funded/fundable collaborative able/willing to teach good fit In the Academia productive able to work in teams able to network In the Industry

5. 3 major factors that determine the interview decision 1) Publications 2) Publications 3) Recommendation letters and an exciting research plan

6. To get the interview Very good track record Strong and personalized recommendation letters (from your mentor plus people who know you/your work well)‏ Does pedigree matter? PhD, South Harmon Institute of Technology Post-doctoral advisor Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde Concise but clear and personalized cover letter (show you are a good fit to the department, show your strengths)‏

7. They want you to be “Productive” High quality and high quantity publications High impact work (it helps to have people well-known in the field know about your work and write letters for you)‏ Publications: Quantity vs Quality To a lower degree: Presentations at meetings Good excuse why you took 8 years to finish your post-doc

8. They want you to be “Independent and Innovative” These have to come through in your cover letter, your recommendation letters and your research plan Have a vision: Make a clear plan for the next 3- 5-10 years Compare your vision with the vision of the departments you apply to (find out how long the chair/dean will remain in office).

9. They want you to be “Fundable” Make sure you and your mentor have an understanding about your project: Can you take it with you? Will you be competing with them? Try to generate preliminary data for your first grant in the final years of post-doc Get your mentor to help you write your first grant Write a clear, exciting and novel research proposal

10. Some Funding Resources http://fundingopps.cos.com/ http://www.library.uiuc.edu/iris/ http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/biopostdoc.html http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/newfaculty.html http://www.postdocjobs.com/jobseekers/search_fell owships.shtml

11. What can the mentor do for the post-doc? Allow them the opportunity to develop their independent research Network Provide good rec. letters (give specific examples about the candidates strengths and no BS!)‏ Put out papers in a timely fashion Help write grants/fellowships and the cover letters Continue to mentor them even after post-doc has left the lab

12. What can the institute do for the post-doc/new faculty? Organize workshops on Career development Funding Time management People management Conflict resolution On campus affordable, day- care (Guaranteed for all)‏ Encourage interdisciplinary interactions Provide supplemental funding Solve the two-body problem Provide flexibility for families (need this from funding agencies as well)‏

13. Things to consider when interviewing Startup money/ Salary/ Summer support Space Teaching/Service responsibilities Grad student profile Collaboration among faculty/other departments Facilities/Library-journal access Tenure Formal mentoring system for new faculty Benefits Strengths and weaknesses of the department Highest ranking woman/minority in the department Where/how do you want to live outside of work?

14. Why did the faculty choose UCSB? Location (California)‏ Weather Personal reasons Nice people/Collegiality/Good fit To be in the academia, to be my own boss To teach Because I got the offer

15. UC Santa Barbara Dept. MCDB Rothman Lab. Chris Wylie and Janet Heasman Funding Agency: My husband