Transcript Postdoctoral Opportunities CEMPH Symposium

Postdoctoral Opportunities
CEMPH Symposium
June 20, 2011
Jeffrey Becker
Chancellor’s Professor and Head
Microbiology Department
University of Tennessee
Finding a Postdoc
• Start at least one year before graduating
• Biggest resource - networking
 Go to meetings, talk with PIs whose
research you like
 Approach seminar speakers
 Ask your colleagues/advisors
• Closely examine the literature
• Email potential mentors
TEN Simple Rules for Selecting a
Postdoctoral Position
Philip E. Bourne and Iddo Friedberg
PLoS Computational Biology
November 2006
Vol. 2, Issue 11, e121
RULE 1:
Select a Position That Excites You
Science Will Motivate You
(not the $$$)
BUT…Funding of Lab is IMPORTANT
RULE 2:
Select a Lab That Suits Your Lifestyle
Visit the lab before deciding
(Talk to Lab Members!)
Life outside of lab matters
RULE 3:
Select a Lab and Project that
Develops New Skills
Increase Marketability by
Maximizing Versatility
RULE 4:
Develop a Backup Plan
Consider Working on Two Projects:
A) High risk, high payoff
B) Guaranteed to produce
RULE 5:
Choose a Project with Tangible
Outcomes That Match Your Career
Goals
Publications, publications
What happened to previous postdocs
in the lab?
RULE 6:
Negotiate First Authorship from Start
Don’t BE SHY!
RULE 7:
The Time in a Postdoctoral
Fellowship Should Be Finite
Three Years Is Optimal
RULE 8:
Evaluate the Growth Path
Can You Take the Project With You?
RULE 9:
Strive to Get Your Own Money
Provides Level of Independence
Important for Resume
RULE 10:
Learn to Recognize Opportunities
Jump on New/Emerging Areas
Additional “Rules”
Consider Various Opportunities That
Match Your Goals
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Academia
Industry
Government
USE THE WEB (See Next Slide)
Science magazine – career center and “how-to” tips
• http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
• http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/tools_tips/how_to_series
UC-Berkeley Site
http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/biopostdoc.html
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
http://www.orau.org/ornl/postdocs/ornl-pd-pm/default.aspx
Europe's only web site -postdoctoral job opportunities.
http://www.findapostdoc.com/
Things To Do During Postdoc
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Publish, publish, publish
Network with Faculty/Colleagues
 not just your mentor
Participate in Seminars
Join Group Projects
Go to Meetings
 even if you have to pay for them
TEACH A COURSE, if you want to become
a professor
DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE EDGE -SEPARATE
YOURSELF FROM YOUR FELLOW POST-DOCS BY UNIQUE ????