Postdoctoral Career Development: Gather Your Building Blocks for Success

1. Postdoctoral Career Development: Gather Your Building Blocks for Success Presented by Kristin Walters, Ph.D. & Jennifer Hobbs, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associates St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

2. Workshop Objectives • To demonstrate simple and basic methods for a successful career development program • To determine how to find and invite valuable and motivating speakers • To highlight ideas for establishing a cost effective career development program • To identify the career resources for postdoctoral career development

3. Workshop Outline • Initiation and development of a career development program • Implementation of a career development program • Small group discussion

4. Time to show you how we used basic steps and resources to build a Career Development program

5. Survey your Postdoc Population • Create a postdoctoral survey at your institution • Suggested question topics: • Top career goals • Interest in government, industry, academia • Interest/timing of participation (Monthly? Afternoons?) • Type of training events desired (interviewing skills, panel discussions, seminars, etc.)

6. St. Jude Postdoctoral Survey • The Postdoctoral Association Council of St. Jude distributes an annual survey to the postdoctoral population. • Online to improve response rates (via SurveyMonkey.com) • Topics cover entire postdoctoral experience • Career Development questions cover career goals, learning preferences, opportunities for suggestions

7. Compilation and Analysis of Results • Compile the results • Analyzed to determine interests and needs: • General career goals • Years as a postdoc • Age • Gender

8. Postdoctoral Survey Results • Postdoctoral Association Annual Meeting • All postdoctoral fellows are invited to attend • Presentation of survey results • Discussion of results • Open forum for suggestions

9. Sample Questions • Which option below best fits your current career goal? Please check all that apply. • Are you aware of the current employment trends for Ph.D. and/or M.D. level scientists? • How many career development events did you attend over the past year?

10. Sample Questions • Below is a list of past Career Development events. Please rank the top 5 events that you found to be the most informative and helpful. • How would you like assistance in reaching your career goals? • From which career development forums do you believe you receive the most benefits?

11. Some Additional Considerations Get support from current faculty and staff Look to postdoctoral alumni for participation in career development events Organized access to alumni and networking opportunities

12. Career Development Series • Compile a list of the top results from the survey and annual meeting • Develop a plan incorporating the survey results • Most requested events • Grant writing seminars & workshops • Industry speakers • Professional Development Plan (IDPs) • Job fair

13. Consult Additional Resources • Past Career Development events at St. Jude • NPA Core Competencies www.nationalpostdoc.org • Scientific Skills • Research Skills • Communication Skills • Professionalism • Leadership & Management • Responsible Conduct of Research • NIH Postdoctoral Career Development • http://www.training.nih.gov/ • UAB Industry Roundtable • http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=47488

14. Review of topical list • Establish a committee of Faculty Members and Postdoctoral Fellows to review the topical list • Utilize this committee to generate specific speaker ideas

15. Budget • Determine your budget • With budget in mind, begin compiling a specific list of possible speakers • Travel costs • Honorariums • Free local speakers No matter the budget, it is possible to put on a fantastic career development series!

16. Step-by-Step Approach to Scheduling Workshops and Seminars • Design a Schedule • Speaker Invitations • Workshop/Seminar Preparations • Carry Out Workshop/Seminar • Follow-up

17. Designing a Schedule • Plan Ahead and Start Early! • Consider a list of topics and speakers • Search for local contacts, institutional contacts, former postdocs, friends and family • Consider speakers from the NPA or scientific meetings • Consider dates and times • Compile all information onto a calendar of approved speakers

18. Inviting Speakers • Start Early! • Divided year into 6 month blocks • Invitation cycle begin 2 months prior to first event in a 6 month block • Start with local speakers for early events, distance speakers for later events • Initiate speaker correspondence via acquaintance of the speaker • Utilize PI and postdoc to gauge speaker’s interest in participating

19. Inviting Speakers • Develop a format letter that can be easily adapted • All correspondence should explain: • Institutional description and location • Seminar series goals • Topic of the event • Suggested goals and structure of the event • Possible dates for participation • Provide deadline for agreeing to participate • Provide deadline for submission of handout materials • Solicit any additional requests

20. Preparing for the Workshop or Seminar • Arrange for space and A/V setup well in advance • E-mail and post online a full list of event information • Complete all arrangements for the speaker’s arrival and presentation early • Seminars- Request handout or presentation materials from speaker (Deadline: 1 week prior to event) • Send e-mail reminders to postdocs 1 week prior to event • Utilization of Outlook Meeting Requests • Advertise on campus • Send e-mail reminders that day

21. Carrying out the Workshop or Seminar • Place sign-in sheets and copies of handout materials or speaker’s presentation at entrance • Be prepared with speaker introduction and extra questions to ask the speaker at the end of the event • Allow for time after the event for direct interaction between the attendees and the speaker

22. Follow-Up: Thank You to Speakers and Event Evaluations • Send thank you note or e-mail to speaker • Post or distribute handouts and/or presentation • Send 8-10 question evaluation to all attendees (Free via SurveyMonkey.com) • Make note of changes for a repeat of the event • Evaluate whether this event should be repeated and timing of repetition

23. St. Jude Career Development Seminars (2008-2010) • Monthly seminars (2008-2009) • Two seminars per month (2009-2010) • Postdoctoral Professional Development Event (2007-2010) • 1-3 weeks each March • Poster session • Oral presentations • Workshops • Career development guest speakers • Scientific seminars

24. St. Jude Career Development Seminars (2008-2010) • Networking to Advance your Career • Making the Transition to your Next Career • The NIH Loan Repayment Programs • Getting Your Research Published - Surviving the Reviewers • Let’s Talk - Scientific Seminars • How to Survive and Succeed in Academia • Networking for Your Career • Grantsmanship Series - Small Research (R03) and Exploratory/Developmental (R21) Grants • Grantsmanship Series - The Anatomy and Physiology of a Grant Application • Let’s Talk - Chalk Talks • Funding opportunities for Non-U.S. citizens • U.S. Immigration Q & A for Post Docs: Work Permission Considerations When Changing Employers • An Introduction to NIH F32 Awards • Pathways to Permanent U.S. Residency • Teaching at a Liberal Arts College: The Rhodes College Experience • Women in Science Discussion: Finding a Balance Between Life and a Career in Science • Putting Your Science to Work • Grant Writing Workshop Understanding VISAs Presenting Your Best Self Networking/Information Interviewing Professional Networking for Career Advancement Strategies for Balancing Your Work and Your Life Demystifying the Faculty Job Search Process Mentoring Roundtable Teaching at Rhodes College: A Panel Discussion My Road to Becoming a Medical Science Liaison NIH Career Development Awards (K-Series Grants) NIH Career Development Awards (F32 Grants) Careers in Technology Transfer Postdoctoral Funding No U.S. Citizenship Required! Career Paths in Biotech: The Children’s GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice Facility) Beyond the Bench: Exploring Careers in Scientific Writing/Editing Awesome Abstracts and Polished Posters Individual Development Plan Workshop Alternative Careers in Science: Panel Discussion Recruiting 101: A Look at the Recruiting Industry Written Aspects of a Faculty Job Application Maximizing your Productivity: Time Management Skills Setting Up a New Lab: The Postdoc to PI Transition

25. Other Career Development Resources • Training events offered by the NIH http://www.training.nih.gov/ • NPA Resources (Topics & Speakers) http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/careers/career-planning-resources • NPA Core Competencies www.nationalpostdoc.org • FASEB Career Resources & Information http://www.faseb.org/MARC-and-Professional-Development/Career-Resources.aspx • Training events offered by the Medical College of Wisconsin http://www.mcw.edu/display/docid3970.htm • AAAS/Science Resources http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

26. Postdoctoral Career Development: Gather Your Building Blocks for Success Presented by Kristin.walters@stjude.org Jennifer.hobbs@stjude.org Postdoctoral Research Associates St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital