Dr. Jane Rigby, Observational Cosmology Lab (665) &

Dr. Aki Roberge, Exoplanets & Stellar Astrophysics Lab (667)

Loosely based on NSF ADVANCE workshop at UMBC, July 2007

Abstract: Making the transition to a permanent position in science is unlike anything most postdocs have been asked to do before. This presentation explains the steps in securing a permanent academic position, i.e. an assistant professorship. The major steps are 1) preparing, 2) applying, 3) interviewing, and 4) negotiating. Many of the principles discussed will apply to obtaining other permanent positions, e.g. jobs at government labs and private research institutions. We, two NASA civil servant scientists who have gone through the process, aim to provide practical advice on how to land a permanent position.

�  Faculty at research universities �  Where most of us were educated �  “Research 1” university (~ 60 schools)

http://math.la.asu.edu/~kuang/ResearchI.html

�  Faculty at teaching universities / colleges �  Still have to do research, as well as more teaching.

Both factors reflected in application http://smallpondscience.com/job-seeking

�  Staff at government labs, observatories, science centers, & private research institutions �  Some “soft money” may be involved

�  Book, “Put your Science to Work”, by P. Fiske

�  Career paths seminar at UMD: www.astro.umd.edu/events/colloquia/careerpaths.html

�  Career talks at Goddard

�  Annual STEM postdoc conference & career fair, in DC, July: postdocconference.org

�  APS talks: www.aps.org/meetings/multimedia/session-r5.cfm

�  “Organizing discussions of non-academic career paths” www.astrobetter.com/the-road-less-traveled-organizing-discussions-of-non-academic-career-paths/

�  Groups on Facebook and LinkedIn

AstroBetter http://www.astrobetter.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Job+Hunting+Links

�  Preparing, i.e. what to do right now

�  Applying

�  Interviewing

�  Negotiating

�  Think about what kind of places you’re interested in − be inclusive

�  If teaching-focused, get fresh teaching experience. Not hard to do

�  e.g. 1 – 2 guest lectures for local universities (always keen to get free teaching), supervise students

�  In all cases, get out and give as many talks as possible, everywhere

�  Try to get invitations for talks at university seminars / colloquia. Email the organizers

�  Find open positions �  Astrophysics & planetary science: AAS Job Register;

Astro Rumor mill; http://hea-www.cfa.harvard.edu/~kpoppen/useful.html

�  Earth: Association of Polar Early Career Scientists http://www.apecs.is/en/

�  Physics: www.PhysicsToday.org/jobs

�  Teaching: http://chronicle.com/section/Jobs

�  Call a friend, colleague, the search chair. Ask for extra background on their needs / desires (besides the research area)

�  Decide which positions to apply for

�  Cover letter

�  CV, including full list of publications

�  Research statement

�  Teaching statement (sometimes)

�  Recommendation letters (choose the right people)

¤  Often undervalued by applicants. What’s it for?

¤  Some voting faculty members will only read the cover letter. Therefore, use it as an executive summary. Summarize the key strengths of your application

¤  Mention requirements from the job advert o  e.g. subfields, multidisciplinary, citizenship

o  Explain how you can meet the department’s particular needs (e.g. a biogeochemist; teaching stellar evolution)

�  Make sure your CV is comprehensive

�  Don’t forget service

�  e.g. organizing a seminar, refereeing papers, etc.

�  Make it easy to judge your publication record •  Number papers (order by reverse date)

•  Boldface your name in the author list

•  Highlight any highly cited 1st author papers (optional: h index)

¤  Read colleagues’ CVs. Find a format you like, and borrow the template

�  Make it easy to read �  No more than 5 pages long, including figures and

references

�  No tiny margins or fonts

�  One or two Illustrative figures with high-level captions

�  Strike a balance between previous work (< 40% of text), current projects, and future plans

�  If you have “imposter syndrome”, think of promoting the science, rather than yourself

�  Excite your readers about the topic

� Most of them are not experts in your field

� Why is it important? How will you move the topic forward in the next 5 years? The big picture

�  You want them to think, “Wow, we need someone who works on this cool stuff!”

�  Think “short version of your first major grant application after arriving in the department”

�  1 - 2 pages long

�  Highlight your experience, including outreach

�  Read the course catalog, talk to the faculty

� What are their needs? Are they redesigning the curriculum? Are they missing some one to teach stellar evolution?

�  Which current classes are you qualified to teach?

�  Be generous. Most profs teach classes outside their research field. They manage

�  Which classes would you like to teach?

�  Optionally, what class are they missing, that you’d like to develop for them?

�  Everyone has a “teaching philosophy” – you’ve been a student for 20+ yrs !

�  What did you like/dislike in your classes? How would you teach?

�  http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/teachings.php

�  Discuss teaching large introductory classes, advanced classes, and supervising students

�  Need 3 letters, sometimes 4

�  Whom to ask? �  Obvious choices: thesis & postdoc advisors �  But … best choices might not be the most obvious �  Balance of seniority/fame vs. deep knowledge of your work

�  How to ask if they’ll write you a good letter? “Do you know my work well enough to write me a strong letter for position X?”

�  Help your letter writers -  Ample notice before deadlines

-  Link to the job ad, copy of CV & draft application, submission instructions

-  Highlight how you’ll customize your application to this ad

�  The job talk (exactly 50 minutes, no more)

�  Focus on your research. This is not a review talk

�  Your goal is to subtly convey these messages:

○  You are a rockstar. Your subfield is fascinating. The dept. needs someone like you

�  Your audience will be people in other subfields, including students. Make them care about your topic

�  Practice it with a varied audience, then practice some more. Script it more than a normal talk ○  Use the Presenter Notes in Keynote/Powerpoint

�  Get the schedule in advance. Know the faculty’s research. Prepare specific questions

�  Ask for prep. time before your talk

�  Ask to meet the students. Good source of insider info on the dept

�  You may talk to a Dean or other non-STEM person

�  Prepare a 5 min. spiel on your research for someone who doesn’t know anything about your field. A pretty figure, illustration, or other prop can help!

�  Focus on your research & strengths at all times

�  Limit social chatter. Make friends later

�  Nothing is “off the record” at any time

�  Ask lots of questions �  What is a normal teaching load?

�  What strategies are in place to maximize the success of new (& minority!) faculty? (e.g. mentoring)

�  How are the newest faculty doing?

�  What is the tenure evaluation process like? What is the tenure success rate? (important)

¤  You may be asked about any possible deviance from the “ideal” academic − a straight white male with no family demands “Do you have a 2-body problem?” “Is your husband willing to relocate?” “I don’t know if a single woman/ethnic minority/gay would want to live in Collegeville.” “Are you thinking of having children?”

¤  These questions are illegal (Title 7, Civil Rights Act), but often get asked anyway

¤  Maintain composure, and quickly shift the focus back on science and your excellence “At this early stage, I prefer to focus on research and academic topics.” – Aki

“If you’re asking, ‘Am I serious about this job, and willing to relocate’, Yes.” – Jane

¤  Practice some prepared responses. Google “illegal questions faculty interview”

�  If you have a 2-body problem, when do you bring up your partner?

�  Probably not during the first interview

�  If you want them to help solve the problem, bring it up immediately when …

○  Asked back for a second interview (rare in astro)

○  They make an informal (telephone) offer

�  Lots of excellent advice at http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/mernst/advice/academic-job.html

�  Ask for what you need to be successful �  They (should) want you to succeed

�  Can have a long-term impact on your career

�  Negotiate before you accept

�  Partial list of things to negotiate. Prioritize and be flexible

Salary Start-up funds Start date Benefits Students Support personnel Vacation / parental leave Lab facilities Moving expenses On-site child care Teaching load Help w/ 2-body problem

�  You can and should negotiate for a govt. lab job

�  Negotiating is a learned skill that … � you probably have not learned,

� you can take a class about (e.g. at AAS),

� you can read a book about (“Ask for It” is Jane’s favorite),

� can help in non-hiring situations too

� Try this phrase… “Is there room in that offer?”

�  Dealing with all the bureaucracy yourself �  Make friends with the support staff

�  Learning to teach effectively without letting it eat into your research time

�  Learning to manage a research group

�  Managing service to the dept. & university

�  Really becoming permanent 1. Assistant professor (tenure-track) 2. Associate professor (tenured) 3. Full professor (senior tenured)

�  Different application process – the dreaded USAJobs website!

�  Single application system for the whole fed. govt. �  Not well tailored for scientists

�  Successfully navigating this system is tricky.

�  Get help from an experienced mentor at the center you’re applying to!