Advances in Skeletal Muscle MRI

VUIIS Career Development Series: Obtaining an Academic Position

Bruce M. Damon, PhD

Objectives

Formal presentation Provide advice▪ About the process of finding an academic job▪ To increase the odds of obtaining an offer and

achieving a successful negotiation

Panel discussion – answer your specific questions John Gore Todd Peterson

Outline for Formal Presentation

Preliminary Stuff Tier Concept of Universities The Academic Triangle Degree-granting vs. Research-focused

Departments Faculty Tracks

Getting an Interview The InterviewPost-interview Issues

Preliminary Stuff

Tier Concept of Universities

Tier 2

Tier 3

Other graduate institutions

Baccalaureate only

Tier 1 Top national research universities (<75)

The Academic Triangle Three traditional classes of faculty

responsibilities

Preliminary Stuff

ResearchScholarly pursuits-

TeachingClassroom

AdvisingTutorial lectures

ServiceIntramural

Extramural

papers, books, grants

Preliminary Stuff

Degree-granting vs. Research-intensive Departments Degree-granting departments ▪ 9 + 3 appointments▪ Teaching may be very important

Research-intensive departments▪ Often a 12 month appointment▪ Teaching is minimal – consequently, salary paid

largely from grants

Preliminary Stuff

Faculty Tracks Tenure-Track

Associate Professor

(with tenure)

Professor(with tenure)

Assistant Professor

(tenure track)

• Tenure implies a permanent appointment• Goal is to ensure academic

freedom• May or may not provide salary

support

Preliminary Stuff

Faculty Tracks Research (or Non-tenure) Track

Research Associate Professor

Research Professor

Research Assistant Professor

• Annual appointment, contingent on funding availability• Teaching/service

requirements minimal or non-existent


Preliminary StuffPre-interview Issues Your objectives Finding a position vacancy Is this job for me? The initial application process About phone interviews

The InterviewPost-interview Issues

Pre-interview Issues

Your objectives Find the job for you Get an interview!

To do this – ▪ Find an available position▪ Make sure you match it well▪ Present yourself appropriately


Finding a Position Vacancy Traditional job postings▪ Academic and professional societies;

departmental websites; listservers▪ Generic academic job boards▪ Chronicle of Higher Education –

http://www.chronicle.com▪ Science Careers (Science) –

http://scjobs.sciencemag.org/

The most effective way to find a job is to be considered for the position before its availability is announced


Finding a Position Vacancy How do you do that?▪ “Networking” – interacting with people in a way

that can advance your career Objectives▪ Present yourself favorably to those who ▪ Might hire you▪ Review your papers and grants▪ Invite you to speak at meetings

▪ Obtain advice/mentorship


Finding a Position Vacancy Ways to form a professional network▪ Your advisor▪ Self-initiated▪ Conferences

Request a talk Ask good questions at meetings Introduce yourself to people

▪ Get your friends to invite you for talks▪ Volunteer to help with things

▪ Realize that every talk is a job talk


Finding a Position Vacancy Sample position vacancy – Case Western

Reserve University Paragraph #1: General description

The Physics Department of Case Western Reserve University has opened a search for a new tenure-track faculty member in the area of computational physics with an emphasis on imaging. An appointment at the Assistant Professor level is preferred, but more senior appointments will be considered.


Finding a Position Vacancy Paragraph #2: Strengths/existing expertise in

departmentThe exciting environment embracing this position is the outgrowth of a pioneering MRI educational and Ph.D. mentoring physics program. The program has a thirty-year history of industrial and interdisciplinary collaborations connected to Cleveland’s leading imaging companies and to CWRU’s top-ranked biomedical engineering and radiology departments. While the computational methodology relevant to this search is already broad, including finite element, finite-difference-time-domain, and Monte Carlo radiation particle tracking applications, candidates coming from a wide variety of applied mathematical physics areas will be considered. With this new hiring, CWRU physics department also hopes to grow a vibrant collaboration with the applied mathematics faculty, which is itself newly expanded.


Finding a Position Vacancy Paragraph #3: Qualifications of the ideal

It is expected that applicants will have already established a program of excellent research. Candidates for Assistant Professor should have publications in refereed journals, while those for Associate Professor and Professor are expected to have a strong record of publications and research funding and to have gained a national and international reputation, respectively. All candidates must possess the strong interest and skills needed to be an effective teacher and mentor of graduate students. The average teaching load is one course per semester. A Ph.D. or the equivalent in physics or a closely related discipline is expected. The CWRU physics department description is found at http://www.phys.case.edu.


Finding a Position Vacancy Paragraph #4: When and how to apply

Reviewing of applications will begin 31 January, 2010. All applicants should submit a letter of application, CV, and statements of research plans and teaching as a single pdf file to [email protected] and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to that address. Please include the candidate’s last name in all attachments. If electronic submission is not possible, paper applications may be submitted to COMPIMAG Search, Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7079 USA. Questions may be directed to Prof. Robert Brown at [email protected].


Finding a Position Vacancy Paragraph #5: EO/AA employer

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Case is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant to increase the participation of women in Science and Engineering.


Is this Job for Me? Learn about the university▪ Its resources▪ Research facilities▪ Potential collaborators across campus▪ Teaching resources

▪ Its priorities and ambitions▪ How does it emphasize elements of the

academic triangle?▪ What does it aspire to be?


Is this Job for Me? Learn about the university▪ How do others see it?▪ US News and World Reports rankings▪ External funding levels

▪ Salary levels – see the Chronicle Learn about the community▪ Cost of living▪ Schools▪ How are the local sports teams doing?


Is this Job for Me? Learn about the department▪ Teaching▪ Current undergraduate, graduate curricula▪ Accreditation issues▪ Whose position is being filled?

▪ Research▪ Ranking▪ About the faculty – most active, who has

relevant interests, anyone known to you/your advisor

▪ Students


Is this Job for Me? If the answer is yes:▪ Does my expertise match what they’re looking

for?▪ How could I contribute to the existing activities

of the department?▪ What new, unique abilities could I bring?

Communicate the answers to these questions in your initial written application materials


The Initial Application Process Paragraph #4: How and when to apply

Reviewing of applications will begin 31 January, 2010. All applicants should submit a letter of application, CV, and statements of research plans and teaching as a single pdf file to [email protected] and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to that address. Please include the candidate’s last name in all attachments. If electronic submission is not possible, paper applications may be submitted to COMPIMAG Search, Department of Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7079 USA. Questions may be directed to Prof. Robert Brown at [email protected].


The Initial Application Process Letter of application▪ Formatted as a business letter▪ Paragraph #1▪ State the job for which you’re applying, how you

heard of it▪ Introduces yourself

▪ Paragraphs #2-3, maybe #2-4▪ Highlights salient parts of your curriculum vitae

▪ Final paragraph▪ Asks for an interview▪ Supplies practical information


The Initial Application Process Curriculum vitae (Vita, CV)▪ Not a resumé – rather a complete summary of

your academic and professional life▪ Look at your mentor’s CV for guidance

Statement of research interests▪ What you’ve done▪ What you’d like to do over the next 5 years▪ How you’ll pay for it


The Initial Application Process Statement of teaching interests▪ Teaching philosophy▪ Prior experience▪ What currently offered courses you could teach▪ What new course you’d like to develop

References▪ Contact referees in advance, ask them if they

would write a strongly supportive letter


The Initial Application Process Key papers▪ May be requested, or they may just find you on

PubMed What to expect after transmitting your

application▪ Acknowledgement of receipt – few weeks▪ Decision on interview may be later – be patient


About Phone Interviews Sometimes performed to help narrow down

applicant list To help them go more smoothly:▪ Have an uncluttered desktop ▪ Have relevant materials near at hand▪ Have pen and paper▪ Clear the room▪ Use a landline phone


Preliminary StuffPre-interview IssuesThe Interview Your objectives What to expect What to ask Difficult issues

Post-interview Issues

The Interview

Your Objectives Find if you want to work there Get an offer!

To do this – present yourself as▪ Ready to do the job from Day 1▪ A good colleague

The Interview

What to Expect 1-2 very intense days Travel▪ Getting there▪ Arrangements▪ While in transit

▪ Once in town▪ Hotel/Meals

The Interview

What to Expect Host – your interviewer, not your friend Meet with a lot of people▪ Search committee, other faculty▪ Students▪ Department head? Dean?▪ Expect a business-oriented conversation▪ Funding plan – start up expenses – etc.

▪ Should get an agenda in advance – use it to your advantage

The Interview

What to Expect Seminar▪ Objectives – convey message that you▪ Are a good scientist▪ Are a good teacher

▪ Be prepared ▪ Clarify AV needs beforehand▪ Travel with your presentation▪ Ask for prep time beforehand

▪ See the slides from my talk last spring You should look and act the part of the person

you are aspiring to be.

The Interview

What to Expect What you’ll be asked about▪ Research program▪ Current research▪ Research plan and how you’ll fund it▪ Potential areas of synergy/collaboration▪ Start-up requirements – more on this later

▪ Teaching ▪ Philosophy ▪ Specific interests

The Interview

What to Ask Teaching▪ Typical teaching loads▪ Waiver of teaching responsibilities during first

semester/ first year?▪ Receptiveness to new courses▪ Possibility of teaching buyout (careful)

Typical service requirements

The Interview

What to Ask Research▪ Availability of internal funding▪ Start-up funds▪ Support for getting new grants

The tenure process▪ What’s required▪ Success rates▪ Can time to tenure decision be extended?

Mentorship for junior faculty Where is the university headed/what trends

are evident on campus?

The Interview

Difficult Issues Curmudgeons Family matters▪ Spousal hires▪ Children


Preliminary StuffPre-interview IssuesThe InterviewPost-interview Issues Immediate Follow-Up Negotiations and Offers


Immediate Follow-Up Write a professional letter ▪ Say thank you▪ If you are interested in the position, ask for it


Negotiations and Offers Two stages Get some basic details▪ Position itself – rank, term of initial

appointment, 9 vs. 12 months▪ Salary, salary increase policy▪ Benefits including relocation▪ Teaching responsibilities▪ Departmental and university service


Negotiations and Offers Negotiate a start-up package▪ Most important consideration is getting what

you need to be successful▪ Present needs clearly ▪ Have reasonable expectations

What you might be able to ask for▪ Lab space ▪ Funds for equipment, personnel, 1st year

summer salary▪ Protected research time


Negotiations and Offers In principal, everything is negotiable▪ If you don’t ask, you won’t get it▪ After they’ve offered a position and before

you’ve said yes is your time of greatest influence

Panel Discussion

Questions?

Documents

Advances in Skeletal Muscle MRI