Biophysical Society Newsletter - December 2014

12

BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2014

DECEMBER

Careers

partner, or choose someone who launches careers, but may be harder to work with. Either can be a good option – it just depends on what you are looking for in a lab. I am preparing to transition from a postdoc to a faculty position. It is tempting to give up some research and go to a teaching-in- tensive university. Is it possible to start in a teaching-intensive university and later tran- sition to a research-intensive institution? This happens infrequently. Most research-inten- sive universities hire young people or laterally pull people from other research-intensive universities in order to fill a specific niche. What can I do when I first get a job in indus- try to lay the groundwork for future promo- tions? Settle in first and learn what the expectations are for your position. Do your job well rather than spending too much time looking ahead at what you will need to do in a future position. Network with your colleagues, especially those in differ- ent departments. Be willing to collaborate. If you are a collegial team player, your colleagues will be more likely to think of you when promotions become available. How do I go about getting a promotion in industry? Companies have public job descriptions and a formal ladder structure for advancement. Show that you can do the work of the position in which you are looking to progress. If you think you are fulfilling the requirements to advance but are not being promoted, ask your superiors what more you can do. Often, you will need letters of recommendation to give to your boss, who will use them as part of a promotion package that will be reviewed by the company’s Human Resources department. Can you return to academia after working in industry? Is this difficult without a good publication history?

Preparing for Promotions CPOW, the Committee for Professional Opportu- nities for Women, hosted a panel discussion at the 58 th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, focusing on how to prepare for promotions. The panel consisted of Steve A. N. Goldstein , Brandeis University, Hector Rodriguez , MyoKardia, Inc., Jil Tardiff , University of Arizona, and Pamela Tranter , Novartis. Below are some of the highlights from the session. Do I need a mentor? Mentors can help you become a better scientist. Do not be afraid to ask someone to serve as your mentor – it is quite a compliment. Getting advice from someone you admire is always a good idea, but especially at the beginning of your career. Peer mentoring is also a good option. Many people start networking with their mentors. If you do not have a mentor who is good at networking, how do you get started networking? Be brave and take the plunge. It won’t come to you without effort. Ease into the process by starting with people you know a bit. Go to group meetings and networking events in order to practice your networking skills. Sit in on talks at conferences and introduce yourself to people you are interested in meeting or working with. Do not forget that even networking with your peers will help build your network. What should I look for in a postdoc? How can I advance in my postdoc and beyond? The fun of a postdoc is determining what you want. Be willing to work hard. Look at the track record of your potential PI and find out if there will be room to grow with him/her. Find out if he/she is intellectually generous. Consider whether you want to work with someone more junior, with whom you would be more of a