Petr SvobodaInstitute of Molecular Genetics, Prague

Career in Science

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php

Piled Higher & Deeper

Suggested reading

Suggested reading

A “standard” career path in science

junior group leader

senior group leader

postdoc 2

postdoc 1

PhD

bachelor

masters

odborny asistent

docent

profesor

assistant professor

associate professor

professor

GENERAL CZ USA

universitiesCAS

vedecky pracovnik

vedouci vedecky

pracovnik

vedecky asistent

postdoktorand

PhD

bachelor

masters

PhD

bachelor

masters

postdoc

Your options without PhD

M.Sc.

private sector

government

lab jobs in industry

non-lab jobs in the field

leave the field (management positions)

teaching (elementary, highschool)

lab jobs (university, CAS, forensic, MZP)

other

… M.Sc. is a requirement for many well-paid jobs.

+ will earn money earlier than with PhD

- in specific cases limited career development options

- may have an uneasy life if you work together with PhD holders

Your options with PhD

PhD.

private sector

government

lab jobs in industry

non-lab jobs in the field

leave the field (management positions)

teaching (highschool, university)

lab jobs (university, CAS, forensic, MZP)

other

+ career not restricted by education requirements

+ higher salary

- less well-paid positions/expensive labor force

- three-to-seven extra years of suffering

- overeducation may limit the number of available positions

PhD is:

• the highest degree of education one can achieve

• an essential training for career in science

• a time to learn to design, carry out, and interpret experiments

• a time of endless frustrations and a few exciting discoveries

Be aware that …

PhD is not:

• an extension of the MSc. program.

• an easy escape from the labor market.

• a cheap labor force for pipetting (which it is ).

• a way to become very rich in the future.

Be aware that …

Be aware that …

It is a long journey to become a groupleader …

Yewdell 2008

Think of your interests. Constantly.

Four ways of becoming a PhD student

4th year of Master’s (Spring/Summer)

- make a list of labs/places where you would like to get your PhD.

- ask for availability of positions at the time you will be finishing your Master’s and for application procedures and deadlines

- prepare your CV and motivation letter

- send your applications/ask for interviews

- go through interviews

- pick the lab

5th year of Master’s (Fall/Spring)

February

- pick the lab from lists provided by study departments

- find an open position and take it

or

- stay where you are

- wait for a sign

What do you expect from PhD?

How much are you willing to sacrifice?

What do you want to gain?

Things to consider before you apply

Things to consider before you apply

What do you expect from your supervisor?

• use e-mail or online form whenever possible

• phone is best used for arranging a visit or an interview

• calling or an e-mail are acceptable when dealing with administrators but use e-mail for the first contact with your potential PhD mentor.

• avoid being invasive, it won’t help you in any way

Application usually includes:

- cover letter/motivation letter

- CV

optional:

- required tests/training (e.g. TOEFL, GRE)

- medical records (e.g. immunizations)

Application procedure

General considerations:

• What is the purpose of the cover letter?

• Who will read it?

General suggestions:

When sending multiple applications, take your time and send only one a day.

Read carefully the cover letter before sending it and make sure that it is not mixed up with other cover letters you are sending.

Cover Letter

• be specific

• be personal but do not familiarize

• be concise (short sentences, remove unnecessary words)

• focus on high-information content

• be self-confident

• avoid overstating and do not lie

• take a good care of the language

• run a spell-checker at least

• ask an older colleague to have a look at it

• avoid massive copy-pasting from other cover letters

Cover Letter

Dear ….My name is… and I just finished a Master’s degree in … at …. University in ….

On your website you advertised a 4 - Year PhD Programme – for which I would like to apply. I am very attracted by the program’s ……. Some of the research topics offered by the program (e.g. ……….) are closely related to the ones I have been dealing with during my studies … Your program would enable me to gain a deeper understanding of …. as well as to have the opportunity to collaborate with experts from research groups connected by ….

Since my second year at …… University I have been working in the laboratory of …… where I was responsible for functional and biochemical characterisation of ………... I learned how to utilize the information from scientific articles, to collaborate with experts and to give regular presentations of my results in English. I have been working in basic research for almost five years. After finishing my contemporary projects this year I would like to try something closer to clinical field. My good academic results and number of attained awards are a good basis for my future scientific development.

I enclose a copy of my CV and hope very much to be invited for interview.

Yours sincerely ……..

your personal background and qualities

personal introduction

why do you apply

Dear Sir, as an out set, let me introduce myself. I am ……. I did my Masters in Biotechnology in first class from …………University …….. under Department of Biotechnology ……. I have three year of research experience in cell biology, molecular biology and biochemical tools and techniques. I have also worked on Human stem cells to see their therapeutic role in tissue regeneration and DNA damage induced by Ruthenium complex studied for Photodynamic therapy. I have published one paper in international journal and based on the work done on photodynamic therapeutic agent for DNA, we have communicated paper, entitled "Synthesis, X-Ray Structure and DNA Binding Properties of a Newly Synthesized Ru(II)-polypyridyl Complex" in American chemical society.

I am keen interested in your research area, and much eager to work in this area. I have gone through your research articles and work area and it really inspire me to do PhD under your kind consideration. If you have any PhD studentship position, please consider my application. I am committed to show my abilities and exposure to the work assigned to me. I am willing to work hard to achieve results and contribute positively to your team. I am sure that, if I would be given opportunity, I leave nothing to prove my best.

Looking forward for your reply. Thank you for your time and I do hope to hear from you.

Sincerely yours, …..

all about you and nothing specific about the desired position

OK personal background

Dear Dr. …

My name is …., Research Scholar at the Department of Plant Pathology, The … University, I am writing to apply for the PhD position in the laboratory of ….. I am very interested in …. I would like to have an opportunity to pursuing my graduate study in this research area. I am enclosing my CV, cover letter with three references. I am firm interested in this PhD position and I believe that my background and skills in lab techniques will prove to be an effective match for your qualifications.

I look forward to hearing from you and appreciate the opportunity to apply and be considered for this position.

Sincerely,

…………..

What is missing here?

• education and science-related bullet points

• clearly structured, optically appealing

CV

name surname, date of birth, place, nationality (marital status).

current work address, home address

education• university level, Bc., MSc. graduation year, summa cum laude• optional - thesis title, thesis supervisor. • special courses, advanced training (e.g. radiation safety, animals …)

research experience• dates, place, position, supervisor, brief research description, methods

grants, awards, and honors• travel grants, fellowships, summa cum laude graduation, best poster award, honorary mentions, students grants, biological olympiad,

publications• if applicable, only authored ones, at least submitted.

• interviewers are often looking for things you neglect or do not consider important.

• a good PhD student candidate should:

• be a good student. The better the better

• be positively motivated

• want to improve weaknesses

• be honest

• be humble but self-confident

Interview

Things they are looking for:

Interviewers want to know:

• how do you behave spontaneously

• what’s your general knowledge level

• how good are your communication skills

• what is your attitude towards challenges

• if you have friendly manners

• if you are prepared to sacrifice

Interview

Interview

You also want to know a few things …

… so, you better look around and ask.

Good questions vs. bad questions

Do I have to work on weekends?

How long will it take to get a paper?

What can I do in your laboratory?

How much will you pay?

What are your PhD students currently working on?

When will I know your decision?

Interview

You also want to know a few things …

… so, you better look around and ask.

• talk to people in the lab

• talk to older PhD students

• talk to other applicants

• make a background search on the internet

Interview

You also want to know a few things …

… so, you better look around and ask.

• what people in the lab published in the past?

• where the former PhD students went?

• how does the boss communicate with people?

• how long it takes to complete a PhD?

• what kind of training people get?

• how many methods they learn?

• do they write up and present their work?

Interview

Proper interpretation of data …

• what does the length of a PhD tell you?

• how significant is the number of papers?

… and once you take the offer, you

have your boss until graduation

tears you apart …