Applying for and getting an academic position

1
Applying for and getting an academic position

• Kurt Haas, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor
• Cellular and Physiological Sciences
• Brain Research Centre
• UBC

2
Why you should consider this now

• Every action you do from now on should be geared
  towards creating the best job application
  possible
• Get good publications in grad school
• Choosing the right postdoctoral fellowship
• Good environment for getting great publications
• Well-respected lab/powerful mentor
• Getting grants
• develop skills and science you need to get the
  job you want and to do the science you are
  interested in
• Developing an independent research program you
  can take with you

3
Why you should consider this now

• Every action you do from now on should be geared
  towards creating the best job application
  possible
• Get good publications in grad school
• Choosing the right postdoctoral fellowship
• Good environment for getting great publications
• Well-respected lab/powerful mentor
• Getting grants
• develop skills and science you need to get the
  job you want and to do the science you are
  interested in
• Developing an independent research program you
  can take with you

4
Why you should consider this now

• Every action you do from now on should be geared
  towards creating the best job application
  possible
• Get good publications in grad school
• Choosing the right postdoctoral fellowship
• Good environment for getting great publications
• Well-respected lab/powerful mentor
• Getting grants
• develop skills and science you need to get the
  job you want and to do the science you are
  interested in
• Developing an independent research program you
  can take with you

5
Things you need when applying for a PI position

• Application Package
• Networking
• Mentor support
• Publications - recent, high impact journals
• Finding the jobs

6
The Application package

• Cover letter
• CV
• List of References
• Research Statement
• Teaching Statement
• Publications

7
Cover Letter

• 1/2 to 3/4 page
• Who you are
• Where youre from
• Brief statement of what makes you special and why
  youre a good fit for the position
• Personalize the letter for each specific job

8
Reference list

• Names and complete contact info of 3 or 4
  established scientists who can provide great
  letters from personal experience
• Be careful who you choose (ask whether they will
  give you a good letter)
• - There are 2 types of letters - good and
  great.

9
The CV

• Clear and concise
• No personal info, hobbies etc
• Education history
• PUBLICATIONS
• most important
• List in reverse chronological order
• Highlight your name (bold..)
• If co-first author - clearly state this
• Grants/awards/invitations, etc

10
Research Statement

• Brief outline of your research experience and
  accomplishments 1/2 to 1 page (depending on
  importance).
• Highlight your publications and their scientific
  impact.
• Research Proposal
• Outline the research you want to conduct in your
  own lab
• This must be novel, interesting and important
  (and well-written)

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Where do you find job openings?

• Journals - Science/Nature
• Online resources
• Be very active - jobs are often not advertised
  well
• Word of mouth (supervisor, networking..)
• Do not miss deadlines
• Seasonal openingsearly fall, January, the
  spring

12
Importance of networking

• Make solid relationships with your mentors
• Network at meetings
• Discuss science and positions
• Find good references
• Mentoring doesnt end when you get a position

13
When to apply?

• Usually after at least 2 years of postdoc
• When you have 1 - 2 good first-author, high
  impact papers
• When you have a project to take with you
• Consider applying early for practice
• Applying and interviewing is a learned skill

14
Strategies of applying for academic positions

• Apply only to the positions you want
• 1-5 applications
• Apply everywhere
• 25-100 applications, depending on field
• Based on your level of confidence/strength of
  your application

15
What Search Committees are looking for

• Publications - recent and high impact (repeated
  proof of high publication potential)
• Good fit - complements research of department
• New, cutting-edge technologies
• Teaching experience (depending on job)
• Proof of grant success

16
The Interview

• Usually 4-5 people are short-listed and asked
  for interviews
• 1-2 days
• Science talk
• Multiple (approx. 10) 45 min one-on-one
  interviews with faculty members
• Chalk talk
• Dinners
• Return 2nd interview
• The Negotiation Dance
• Getting what you need to succeed as an
  independent scientist

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Good Luck, Work Hard