“Getting that first post-doc”
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Transcript of “Getting that first post-doc”
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Newcastle Cancer Centreat the Northern Institute for Cancer Research
“Getting that first post-doc”
Anthony MoormanProfessor of Genetic Epidemiology
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Overview of session
• Laying the foundations of a good CV
• Selecting the right post-doc for you
• Applying for the job
• Questions
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Academic Career Pathway
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Academic Career Pathway
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Academic Career Pathway
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Academic Career Pathway
PhD Student
Tenured Academic Position
Research Technician / Assistant / Associate
Post-doc
Independent ResearcherFellowship
Scientist
Lecturer Senior Lecturer Professor
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Laying the foundations of a good CV
• Finish your PhD on time
• Publications
– First author > Joint first author > Second author
• Present research at conference
– Spoken / Platform presentation
– Poster presentation
– International > National > Local
• Techniques
– Basic
– State-of-the-art
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Networking
• It's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference. [Anon]
• It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living.
[Bob Burg]
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Networking
• Make yourself known
– Talk to PIs etc in your institute
– Accept any invitation to meet external speakers
– Do “research in progress” talks. Prepare well in advance.
• Attend conferences
– Don’t be afraid to ask questions
– Introduce yourself to leaders in the field
– Ask your supervisor(s) to introduce you
– If you have a poster make sure to display on time and for full length
of time. Be in attendance during “poster” sessions.
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Your five year plan
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Your five year plan
• Where do you want to be in five years?– Fellowship– Joint application on grant– Expert in particular technique / field– Lecturing– Industry
• How is this post-doc going to get you there?
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Goals for your first-doc?
• First author publications• First author publications• First author publications
• Experience of grant preparation / writing
• Learning new techniques/skills
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Selecting the right post-doc
• “Should I stay or should I go”– Plus going abroad
• Changing fields– Technique driven– Subject driven
• Cast net early and wide• But be careful ..... Very important decision
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Assessing a potential position (1)• Are they ....
– ... leaders in the field? – ... the next big thing? – ... journeymen?– ... the weakest link?
• Aim as high as possible• Look up the RAE rating of department / unit• Literature search – including citation index• Money
– How much have they got and from where– Cross reference their website from funders website
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Assessing a potential position (2)
• Group metrics / dynamics
– Who is publishing as first author / corresponding author?
– Size of group
– Ratio of senior : junior staff
– Clinically active heads of lab
• Who do they collaborate with?
– Website PLUS publications
• Use your contacts to gather informal information
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Preparing your CV
• Clear & Concise
• Divide into sections
– Qualifications (including training courses)
– Research Skills
• Be honest, Quantify, Official training
– Other skills (e.g. languages etc)
– Meetings / Conferences
• Presentations
• Publications
• Mission / Personal Statements
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Applying for a position
• Do not apply cold.
– Contact PI in advance. Ask questions about
project and team.
• Read their papers.
• Try to find project application via funder website.
• Covering letter
– Write, re-write, re-write and re-write
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Interview
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Interview (1)
• Smart dress
• Don’t bullshit!
• Be prepared to ….
– Give a brief interesting overview of PhD
– What your ideal next experiment would be if there were no
financial or logistical problems.
– Describe how did you trouble-shoot a technical problem
– How you approach writing your first author paper
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Interview (2)
• Ask some questions
– Research related
– What have former post-docs gone on to do?
– Teaching opportunities
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Feedback
• Please complete feedback forms
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