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Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor

Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor. Alana L. Welm Assistant Professor Department of Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah. OUTLINE My background/experience (perspective) Advice for postdocs (discussion) Advice for the job search (discussion)

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Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor

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  1. Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor Alana L. Welm Assistant Professor Department of Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah

  2. OUTLINE • My background/experience (perspective) • Advice for postdocs • (discussion) • Advice for the job search • (discussion) • Advice for the new Assistant Professor • (discussion) • Special Topics: balancing family and dual careers • (discussion)

  3. B.S. Microbiology, University of Montana 1992-1996 • (learned I LOVE science, research) • research since age 16, but no real publications • PhD, Baylor College of Medicine 1996-2000 • Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine 2000-2001 • (learn how to think, how to write) • 3 first author and 4 middle author papers • (married in 1997) • Postdoc, UC San Francisco 2001-2006 • (find a specialty, gain independence) • 2 first author and 2 middle author papers, 1 review • (Ella born in 2004; Corey born in 2006) • Assistant Professor, U of Utah 2007-present • (dual career – 2 tenure-track asst. profs. with 2 labs and 2 kids, both up for tenure in ~2 years) • 7 middle author papers, 1 review, 2 “real” papers in revision

  4. Advice for postdocs: • Go to the best lab you can! It’s easier than you think….Your work as a postdoc will set the stage for the rest of your career • Gain intellectual independence, and try to mentor junior researchers • Write your own grants/fellowships/papers. Give as many talks as possible • Carve out your own “niche” to serve as a starting point for your own lab – work with your mentor to ensure you have your own angle on the project

  5. At the Postdoc level: • Two things I wish I had done (in hindsight) • 1. Take a short business management course • Running a lab is like having a small business. Postdocs are NOT trained for this  trial by fire! • Learn how to manage people • (everyone has to be mentored differently) • Learn how to read/manage budgets • (what IS an encumbrance, exactly?!)

  6. At the Postdoc level: • What I wish I had done (in hindsight) • 2. Participate in faculty recruitment • Attend “job talks” and “chalk talks” • Talk with faculty afterward to hear their assessment • Learn what works (and what doesn’t!) and use the former in your own presentations

  7. Questions/discussion

  8. Advice on applying for academic research positions: • 3 components to a successful application (at least) • Cover letter: how do you fit in the department? • CV: honors, funding, papers • Research Statement: outline your first R01 • First impressions REALLY matter – a typical search yields 150-300 applications (at Utah) • Read your application from THEIR perspective – how will you benefit their program? • Have others read your application CRITICALLY

  9. Advice on applying for academic research positions: • Interview • Job talk – practice, practice, practice! • suit the audience – most won’t know your field • One-on-one meetings • review their papers/website beforehand • Social events (e.g. dinner or gathering) • be yourself! Are these colleagues you can envision “hanging out with?” • CHALK TALK – extremely important!! • describe your first R01 • handout to outline your Aims – keep on track • practice writing on the board

  10. Questions/discussion

  11. Starting as an Assistant Professor: • Know the “unwritten rules” • Find a mentor(s), determine the expectations • Get advice on managing people • Use your resources (admin assistants, etc.) • Get your lab going with a technically-competent person – often a senior technician who can do experiments AND train others • Get exposure to graduate students early • Invest time/money in a good website

  12. Special Topics • Balancing family with a career • set priorities (special evening/weekend time) • manage time effectively • learn to compromise • be flexible • utilize a sense of humor • take care of yourself, and ask for help!! • spouse • get someone else to clean the house occasionally • break the routine (e.g. eat out once in a while)

  13. Special Topics Dual careers Coordinate the job search * set priorities * find compromises Communicate the issue at the interview Heading two labs * Juggle or tag-team lab-related tasks to make things easier for both

  14. Questions/discussion

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