Darcy Hannibal, Phd - American Anthropological Association
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Transcript Darcy Hannibal, Phd - American Anthropological Association
Applied training for work inside
and outside the academy
DARCY HANNIBAL, PHD
BRAIN, MIND, AND BEHAVIOR UNIT
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS
Academics and athletes have much in common
Small percentage make it
from college to
professional
Hard work and talent is
no guarantee
Stochastic events play a
role in shaping success
Photo: Register Guard
The importance of constructing a diverse skill set
Myth: Academic focused preparation is sufficient for
applied jobs
Your Plan B is someone else’s Plan A
Preparing for both will make you a more competitive
contender for applied jobs
Lack of preparation is a glaring mistake in
application and interview
Mistakes I See in Applicants
Letter and CV tailored primarily for academic job
Need to highlight skills over accolades
Stunned or saddened demeanor during interview
Applicant views this as a low point
Trouble making connections between academic
preparation and fit with applied focus
Making this connection is what can move you to the top of the list
Has not done homework on primate centers, our center,
the species we work with, or the research done in our lab
Unfamiliar with basic terminology in applied contexts
My core interests
Data and analyses
Watching Monkeys
Writing
Photo: Hannibal (Rhesus macaque monkey, Cayo Santiago
Puerto Rico)
My Preparation (in Hindsight)
Data and analyses
Research assistant position in a general social science lab
Worked with data from a wide variety of field and sources
One statistics course was all that was expected, I took four
Data consulting between PhD and current job
Monkeys
The most common species in captivity is rhesus macaques
Chose as the study species for my dissertation
Primate center experience at two primate centers
Data and
Analyses
Unexpected Benefits:
Contribution appreciated
and valued
Learning new
methodologies
Predictor
PRT Treatment
Beta coef.
p-value
-0.310
0.375
Low Activity
0.475
0.435
Treatment X Activity
0.725
0.087
Low Emotionality
0.753
0.166
Activity X Emotionality
-1.00
0.098
How to build a plan
Start with what you love to do
Not the academic version, the practical version
Outside of academia, where is this valued most?
What applied jobs are the best fit for you
Important considerations to learn more about:
Public versus private sector
Non-profit versus for profit
Before ruling it out, consider your next best alternative
Where can you accumulate skills and knowledge?
Both inside and outside your department
Course, assistantships, internships, or other work
The Value of the Applied Job
Myth: PhD is only useful for strictly academic
pursuits
Increasing demand for advanced degree applicants
Better than a job unrelated to your field or no job at
all