Professor Virginia Walbot Professor Virginia Walbot

Department of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological Sciences

walbot@stanford.eduwalbot@stanford.edu

INCREASING YOUR VISIBILITYINCREASING YOUR VISIBILITY

GETTING PUBLISHEDGETTING PUBLISHED

What is visibility?What is visibility?

Stanford faculty know your name, your Stanford faculty know your name, your interests, and your future plansinterests, and your future plans

Faculty have heard your questions in Faculty have heard your questions in seminars & discussionsseminars & discussions

You give talks at Stanford outside your You give talks at Stanford outside your own labown lab

People in your field know your name … People in your field know your name … you are much more than you are much more than et al.et al.

Search committees often call people NOT Search committees often call people NOT on your list of refereeson your list of referees

Search committees ask Search committees ask faculty….faculty…. Do you know this person?

Is the candidate a contributor to the intellectual environment?

Why is this person outstanding? Is this person a great speaker? Make sure that as many faculty as possible have

a copy of your resume. Don’t ask for a letter, just make a 10 minute appointment and ask faculty to keep you in mind when they hear about positions. Go over your scientific highlights briefly.

Update faculty when something great happens (fellowship funded or a paper accepted). Do you have a group mailing list for such good news?

3 things you can do today 3 things you can do today to increase your visibilityto increase your visibility

Introduce yourself to several people here Put your name & the date on protocols

you have developed and pass them out to your lab and collaborators (“just in case you need this in writing”)

Update your resume and make appointments to discuss it with two professors – get advice now on applying for the types of jobs you want in the future

3 things to do this year to 3 things to do this year to increase your visibility as a increase your visibility as a

colleaguecolleague Volunteer to give a talk in another labVolunteer to give a talk in another lab Start a short term “journal” or techniques club Start a short term “journal” or techniques club

and invite the membersand invite the members Make an appointment with a faculty member in Make an appointment with a faculty member in

another discipline to discuss the applicability of another discipline to discuss the applicability of a technique used in his/her lab for your researcha technique used in his/her lab for your research

What if I’ve just arrived at What if I’ve just arrived at Stanford?Stanford?

• Visit labs doing work similar to Visit labs doing work similar to your Ph.D. thesis or former positionyour Ph.D. thesis or former position

• Volunteer to give your thesis talk Volunteer to give your thesis talk to these labs (for practice and to to these labs (for practice and to meet more people)meet more people)

• Make a commitment to invest in Make a commitment to invest in your future!your future!

3 things to do this year to 3 things to do this year to increase your visibility as a increase your visibility as a

future faculty memberfuture faculty memberMentor a Stanford undergraduateMentor a Stanford undergraduateWith several other postdocs design the With several other postdocs design the

syllabuses for 2 courses in your area. Ask a syllabuses for 2 courses in your area. Ask a faculty member to critique the plans. Many faculty member to critique the plans. Many job applications require a teaching plan – job applications require a teaching plan – you’ll be able to provide plans for 2 classes.you’ll be able to provide plans for 2 classes.

Have yourself coached and filmed by the Have yourself coached and filmed by the Center for Teaching & Learning to improve Center for Teaching & Learning to improve your speaking skills.your speaking skills.

Center for Teaching & Learning

As a postdoc, you are classified as a student at Stanford. CTL is to help students and teachers (mentors of undergraduates)

Film you giving a short presentation & critique this

Arrange for you to have a tutor to improve your English

For foreign postdocs: Learn about grading policies, structure of undergraduate majors, and other Stanford policies such as the honor code

3 things to do this year to 3 things to do this year to increase your visibility as a increase your visibility as a

future industry scientistfuture industry scientist

Get Stanford business cards and use Get Stanford business cards and use them!them!

Go to product shows on campus and Go to product shows on campus and introduce yourself; ask about job introduce yourself; ask about job openingsopenings

Call 3 people in industry to arrange Call 3 people in industry to arrange informational interviews NOW informational interviews NOW

What is an informational interview?What is an informational interview?

#1 Do this when you are NOT looking for a job.#1 Do this when you are NOT looking for a job. • How did you get your position? How did you get your position? • What responsibilities do you have?What responsibilities do you have?• If you could be a postdoc again, how would you If you could be a postdoc again, how would you

prepare for your current position? Most often prepare for your current position? Most often people will mention mentoring and learning to people will mention mentoring and learning to write-up/finish projects quickly.write-up/finish projects quickly.

• What are the best and worst aspects of your What are the best and worst aspects of your current job?current job?

• Offer a copy of your resume at the END OF THE Offer a copy of your resume at the END OF THE INTERVIEW…”please keep me in mind in the INTERVIEW…”please keep me in mind in the future” (do this only if the Company sounds future” (do this only if the Company sounds interesting to you). interesting to you).

Timing of job applicationsTiming of job applications

AcademicAcademic Most ads are in late Most ads are in late summer -> January. Apply summer -> January. Apply approximately 6 to 18 months before approximately 6 to 18 months before you want to start.you want to start.

Industry/Government/Consulting Industry/Government/Consulting Ads Ads and opportunities arise throughout and opportunities arise throughout the year. Apply only if you are READY the year. Apply only if you are READY to leave Stanford in 3 months. to leave Stanford in 3 months.

Resume Writing

• Faculty styleFaculty style Ask your own professor and Ask your own professor and two new assistant professors for their resumes two new assistant professors for their resumes and research and teaching plans from their and research and teaching plans from their successful applications to Stanford. A group of successful applications to Stanford. A group of postdocs could do this and then discuss the postdocs could do this and then discuss the “interview process” with the assistant “interview process” with the assistant professors.professors.

• Industry styleIndustry style Go to the web to get examples Go to the web to get examples of resumes of company scientists (lots of bullet of resumes of company scientists (lots of bullet points & accomplishments) or ask friends in points & accomplishments) or ask friends in the private sector for copies.the private sector for copies.

GETTING PUBLISHEDGETTING PUBLISHED

• Breakthrough, high impactBreakthrough, high impact• Solid, important and new in Solid, important and new in

your fieldyour field

• Confirmatory (few citations)Confirmatory (few citations)

• Technique (lots of citations)Technique (lots of citations)

Is there Is there more more effort for effort for better better papers?papers?

When to write? When to write? Today.Today. Prepare “final” figures and legends for Prepare “final” figures and legends for

group meetings and postersgroup meetings and posters Write up Materials & Methods at least Write up Materials & Methods at least

once per monthonce per month Make an outline of your “goal” Make an outline of your “goal”

manuscript -- use it as a checklist of manuscript -- use it as a checklist of what’s left to dowhat’s left to do

Write the Introduction as an exercise in Write the Introduction as an exercise in your grasp of the literature and what your grasp of the literature and what you are doing but you will probably NOT you are doing but you will probably NOT use this introduction as it is written!use this introduction as it is written!

Goal: 50% of manuscript written before you “start” writing!

How long should a manuscript How long should a manuscript take?take? More authors = more timeMore authors = more time

Prepared author will save weeks or months. Budget at Prepared author will save weeks or months. Budget at least 1 week per table or figure with the captions, plus a least 1 week per table or figure with the captions, plus a week for M & M = things you can do in advance. week for M & M = things you can do in advance.

Meet with co-authors when the DATA are finalized and Meet with co-authors when the DATA are finalized and discuss the content of the paper. Determine who will write discuss the content of the paper. Determine who will write what and propose a schedule. Have meetings by e-mail or what and propose a schedule. Have meetings by e-mail or in person at least every 2-3 weeks to track progress. Try in person at least every 2-3 weeks to track progress. Try to make this FUN and CRITICAL. to make this FUN and CRITICAL.

Finish the results before the DISCUSSION and Finish the results before the DISCUSSION and INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Abstract and title are lastAbstract and title are last Be specific when you ask for help or feedback, “I know you Be specific when you ask for help or feedback, “I know you

are very busy, but if I give the draft RESULTS to you next are very busy, but if I give the draft RESULTS to you next Tuesday, could we discuss the material on Thursday at Tuesday, could we discuss the material on Thursday at noon?” noon?”

Extract full value from your data

Are there correlations that I can extract or test Are there correlations that I can extract or test from databases such as microarray data or motif from databases such as microarray data or motif collections?collections?

Is there a phylogenetic implication – do I need a Is there a phylogenetic implication – do I need a “tree of life” or other analysis?“tree of life” or other analysis?

Read recent reviews in your discipline and Read recent reviews in your discipline and related areas to determine the “hot topics” – related areas to determine the “hot topics” – can can I do one more thing to be up-to-date in my data I do one more thing to be up-to-date in my data or data display? At Stanford we expect our or data display? At Stanford we expect our studies to be at the frontier of knowledge and to studies to be at the frontier of knowledge and to be innovative.be innovative.

Can I be a pioneerCan I be a pioneer in the field in pulling together in the field in pulling together concepts from other fields or in how I analyze concepts from other fields or in how I analyze the data?the data?

Decide the merits of your Decide the merits of your contribution & whether “impact” is contribution & whether “impact” is

crucialcrucialScience or Science or

Nature Seen by Nature Seen by allall

•Hard to Hard to condensecondense

•Quick rejectionQuick rejection

PNAS, CELL, PNAS, CELL, top journal in top journal in fieldfield

•Seen by mostSeen by most

•Longer paper Longer paper and longer wait and longer wait for reviewsfor reviews

Specialty or Specialty or archival archival journaljournal

•Seen by Seen by specialistsspecialists

•Long wait for Long wait for publicationpublication

Quantifying PublicationsQuantifying Publications

• Impact factorImpact factor average number of average number of citations per article in a journal – measures citations per article in a journal – measures the reviews & hot articles primarilythe reviews & hot articles primarily

• Citation trackingCitation tracking number of times per number of times per year that your article is citedyear that your article is cited

• Citation classicCitation classic paper with >100 citations paper with >100 citations• Citation “star”Citation “star” person with >1000 citations person with >1000 citations

Picking the journal – it’s a Picking the journal – it’s a clubclub

• Check the “scope” statement in the directions to Check the “scope” statement in the directions to the authorsthe authors

• Go the library. Find 3 recent (2006) articles in that Go the library. Find 3 recent (2006) articles in that journal which contain at least some of the journal which contain at least some of the techniques and some of the discussion points of techniques and some of the discussion points of your manuscript. your manuscript. Cite the articles that raise points Cite the articles that raise points you will discuss or use in your Introduction, you will discuss or use in your Introduction, Discussion, or Materials & Methods! This shows Discussion, or Materials & Methods! This shows that you READ the journal.that you READ the journal.

• Check the editorial board – is there at least one Check the editorial board – is there at least one person “in your field” andperson “in your field” and did you cite at least one did you cite at least one paper from that lab?paper from that lab?

Picking the journal – it’s a continuing Picking the journal – it’s a continuing conversation based on new dataconversation based on new data

• Cover letter Imagine that you are introducing Cover letter Imagine that you are introducing yourself to a person.yourself to a person.

• We are submitting our article “Title” to Journal We are submitting our article “Title” to Journal X becauseX because

Jones Jones et al.et al. (2006) and Smith (2006) and Smith et al.et al. (2006) articles (2006) articles in Journal X both raise the question of “ABC.” in Journal X both raise the question of “ABC.”

Our data are a breakthrough in dissecting A->BCOur data are a breakthrough in dissecting A->BCOur data extend knowledge and lead to Our data extend knowledge and lead to

reinterpretation of previous studies (implying reinterpretation of previous studies (implying that the Jones & Smith articles will be that the Jones & Smith articles will be “reinterpreted”)“reinterpreted”)

Our data define the B->C step and lead to the Our data define the B->C step and lead to the new hypothesis that A>B>C>D new hypothesis that A>B>C>D

This is why you write the This is why you write the Introduction at the endIntroduction at the end

• Concise and specific introduction to Concise and specific introduction to YOUR YOUR QUESTIONS that are ADDRESSED BY YOUR QUESTIONS that are ADDRESSED BY YOUR STRATEGY AND DATASTRATEGY AND DATA. Edit your draft Introduction . Edit your draft Introduction to “pitch” your story to the data you actually have to “pitch” your story to the data you actually have (not your dream manuscript). (not your dream manuscript).

• Introduction of Introduction of THE CONTEXTTHE CONTEXT (bigger questions) of (bigger questions) of interest to the readers of interest to the readers of THIS PARTICULAR THIS PARTICULAR JOURNAL.JOURNAL.

• Make sure all the “promised” answers in the Make sure all the “promised” answers in the Introduction have data to support them. Use the Introduction have data to support them. Use the last sentence of the Abstract to point to last sentence of the Abstract to point to “speculation” or items that will be discussed. “speculation” or items that will be discussed.

• Use the DISCUSSION to talk about what’s next or Use the DISCUSSION to talk about what’s next or what remains unanswered.what remains unanswered.

The Abstract – key word indexing The Abstract – key word indexing means that this part of the means that this part of the

manuscript is crucial to attracting manuscript is crucial to attracting readersreaders

• 1 sentence introduction1 sentence introduction• 1 sentence or clause about the (or 1 sentence or clause about the (or

most) figures and tablesmost) figures and tables• 1 sentence “conclusion”1 sentence “conclusion”• 1 sentence about new correlations or 1 sentence about new correlations or

speculations raised in the discussionspeculations raised in the discussionUse “powerful and specific” keywords Use “powerful and specific” keywords ““in some bacteria” vs. “in pathogenic and in some bacteria” vs. “in pathogenic and

mutalistic bacteria”mutalistic bacteria”

Who should be an author? Who should be an author? Discuss this EARLY in manuscript Discuss this EARLY in manuscript

preparation!!!!!!preparation!!!!!!

1.0 Pub Credit1.0 Pub Credit

Number of authorsNumber of authors < 0.2 Too many < 0.2 Too many

Your resume will be more impressive with Your resume will be more impressive with a few 2-3 author publications than many a few 2-3 author publications than many 10 author publications unless you are 10 author publications unless you are usually the first author.usually the first author.

Who should be an author? Who should be an author? Stanford “On Authorship” PolicyStanford “On Authorship” Policy

• Substantial contribution to Substantial contribution to conception of the study conception of the study

• Substantial work on the projectSubstantial work on the project• Substantial effort in analysis and/or Substantial effort in analysis and/or

writingwriting• Ability to defend the entire story Ability to defend the entire story

and all of the methodsand all of the methods

Writing reviews, Writing reviews, yes ifyes if

You can define the questions in your You can define the questions in your field and are seen as an intellectual field and are seen as an intellectual leaderleader

You can recycle material from grant You can recycle material from grant proposals and fellowship applicationsproposals and fellowship applications

The “stars” in your field and allied fields The “stars” in your field and allied fields read the review (consider sending drafts read the review (consider sending drafts to them for comments)to them for comments)

Submitting to a journalSubmitting to a journal

• Local critique:Local critique: Ask 2 colleagues with excellent Ask 2 colleagues with excellent grammar and critical skills to read your text. grammar and critical skills to read your text. Hear tough criticism before submitting.Hear tough criticism before submitting. Recheck the spelling, references, and format Recheck the spelling, references, and format (again) before submitting. Every time you (again) before submitting. Every time you open the document re-run the spell checker to open the document re-run the spell checker to avoid leaving “stray” typing in the manuscript.avoid leaving “stray” typing in the manuscript.

• Cover letter:Cover letter: Keep it short, state your main Keep it short, state your main findings in terms of answering a key question, findings in terms of answering a key question, and indicate if there is competition in the field and indicate if there is competition in the field (perhaps asking the Editor to “not” send the (perhaps asking the Editor to “not” send the manuscript to specific people)manuscript to specific people)

Responding to reviewsResponding to reviews Be calm.Be calm. Respond point by point to every item of each Respond point by point to every item of each

review. Pay special attention to suggestions of review. Pay special attention to suggestions of the Editor. the Editor.

Change MOST minor things suggested by Change MOST minor things suggested by reviewers – don’t waste effort over small points.reviewers – don’t waste effort over small points.

Argue persuasively against changes you think are Argue persuasively against changes you think are unwise or are mis-interpretations by the reviewer unwise or are mis-interpretations by the reviewer (or the reviewer wished you had done a different (or the reviewer wished you had done a different study) but state it as “there are legitimate study) but state it as “there are legitimate differences of scientific opinion about this.” differences of scientific opinion about this.”

Don’t trash the reviewers. They are respected by Don’t trash the reviewers. They are respected by the Editor.the Editor.

Congratulations your paper is Congratulations your paper is acceptedaccepted

• AcceptedAccepted = not yet in press; you will receive page proofs to = not yet in press; you will receive page proofs to correct. Do not state that your article is “in press” at this point.correct. Do not state that your article is “in press” at this point.

• In pressIn press = finalized copy waiting to be published = finalized copy waiting to be published• PDF Ask if the journal permits distribution of your article. Some PDF Ask if the journal permits distribution of your article. Some

journals DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO POST copies of your own journals DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO POST copies of your own article!article!

• Consider sending a PDF to leaders in the field with a cover noteConsider sending a PDF to leaders in the field with a cover note on what in particular should interest them – particularly if you on what in particular should interest them – particularly if you cite their work. cite their work.

• Dear Professor X, “In part inspired by your 2005 article in PNAS, Dear Professor X, “In part inspired by your 2005 article in PNAS, we have analyzed AB->C. Our work is now in press in MCB, and we have analyzed AB->C. Our work is now in press in MCB, and I have attached a copy of the final manuscript in case you and I have attached a copy of the final manuscript in case you and your lab are interested in reading the results in advance.”your lab are interested in reading the results in advance.”

• Note: Note: An ethical reviewerAn ethical reviewer such as Professor X cannot have such as Professor X cannot have mentioned your article to anyone else until publication.mentioned your article to anyone else until publication.

Learn to be a good & Learn to be a good & honorable reviewerhonorable reviewer

Help campus friends finalize their Help campus friends finalize their manuscriptsmanuscripts

Ask to help your faculty mentor review a Ask to help your faculty mentor review a few manuscripts for practice writing few manuscripts for practice writing reviews. Your mentor must ask the reviews. Your mentor must ask the journal for permission to do this. journal for permission to do this. Remember only the reviewer has Remember only the reviewer has permission to read the article. permission to read the article. You You cannot discuss the manuscript or use cannot discuss the manuscript or use data from it until publication.data from it until publication.

Learn to be helpful and kind but also a Learn to be helpful and kind but also a critical thinkercritical thinker

Visibility now as a postdoc

Better job interviews and offers. Invitations to write reviews.

Participate in more activities and know more => better preparation. Get more help with your publications.

More choices and more likely to succeed

But I don’t have time….

In a 3 year postdoc if you invest 3 hours per week in career

development ==> 450 hours• 1 hour for “visibility” activities• 2 hours in pre-manuscript writingIf you accept a job that you don’t like, in

one year you will work 2000 hours filled with regrets about your fate.

Investments Investments pay dividendspay dividends

• If you invest in your future and If you invest in your future and recruit faculty and colleagues to help recruit faculty and colleagues to help you, your “team” can accomplish you, your “team” can accomplish more than you can working alonemore than you can working alone

• You will have more choices and feel You will have more choices and feel more confident about the choices more confident about the choices you makeyou make