Biophysical Netsletter - May 2014

12

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2014

MAY

Careers

ready to apply. After composing your initial port- folio, tailoring it for subsequent positionopenings is easier. First interviewswill typically take place at the endof the year, however, there are some searches that open throughout the year. Usually, the hiring process takes 6-8months fromwhen an institution identifies candidates towhen itmakes a final decision. Q: Having just completed theprocess, do youhaveanyadvice to thosebeginning tomake the transition? The applicationpacket usually consists of a cover letter, CV, research statement, and a teaching and/ ormentoring philosophy.Use the cover letter to explainhow your research is exactlywhat they are looking for. Showhow your unique perspec- tivewould complement the existing faculty in amanner that alsodistinguishes you from your advisors. YourCV shouldbe easy to read andup- to-date.Make sure the research statement focuses on the big picture and the biological significance of your research. Avoid just listing the techniques youknow—you are not applying for a technician position. Independent teaching experience is not necessary, but your teaching philosophy is impor- tant. The “chalk talk,” or oral exam, is an important part of each interview. This provides the commit- teewith the chance tounderstand yourwork and its potential. Most committees are simply looking for someonewho can enhance the institute’s cur- rent research initiatives. It is important tohave a positive attitude on interviews, presenting yourself as both a valuable asset and someonewithwhom theywill want towork. Q: Howdo I differentiatemywork from theworkofmyPI? Thoughdifficult, it is important that you are doingwork that is independent from thework of your PI. If you seek an academic position, you need to establish this independence from your PI early, inorder to sell your independence later. Ideally, this discussion should start as soon as pos-

Movingon fromYour PostdocPosition:Negotiating theTransition TheEarlyCareersCommittee hosted a panel at the 58 th AnnualMeeting inSanFrancisco, Cali- fornia, todiscuss negotiating the transition from postdoctoral training to a faculty position. The panel consistedof SethRobia , LoyolaUniversity Chicago, Stuart Campbell , YaleUniversity, Ravi Balijepalli ,University ofWisconsinSchool of Medicine andPublicHealth, and Marcos Soto- mayor ,OhioStateUniversity.Below are some highlights from the session. Q: Academic searches are sometimes very specific and sometimes quiteopen. How do I know if Iwill be considered for a position? If the job search specifically covers an area that is not your specialty, donot apply. If you find an ideal position, you should contact the search committee todiscuss the specific job requirements. Itmaynot be clear from the postingwhether you wouldbe a good fit, so make an effort to findout how yourworkwould fit into current research at the institute. Tailor your application to address specifically eachposition forwhich you apply. Q: How longdoes it take toprepare the documents toapply for theacademic po- sition?How longdoes thewholeapplica- tionprocess take? Composing your initial portfolio takes time, so start this process early. Most searches have ap- plicationdeadlines at the endof the summer, so itwouldbe best to start applicationpreparations at the beginning of the summer. It is critical to have your PI andothermentorswhohave beenon search committees review your applicationbefore you submit. Their feedbackwill help you decide what jobswouldbest suit your experience andwill allow you tohone your applicationswhen you are