Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

Kelly Seaton

Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Relying on God’s Strength and Blessing Others

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary. . . . He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength. – Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV)

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. –  Proverbs 11:25 (ESV)

Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

Earlier this week we looked at God’s sustaining grace in the midst of new beginnings—times that can bring both excitement and anxiety. We see excitement build for new areas of study, new students and colleagues, perhaps even a new location to explore and begin to call home. But then the semester quickly progresses and becomes filled with to-do lists, committee meetings, teaching, and writing. We find ourselves buried under assignments and deadlines and the excitement and passion for scholarship and study often shifts into autopilot and survival mode. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Navigating Beginnings: Relying on God’s Strength and Blessing Others

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Starting Your New Position

Kelly Seaton concludes her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?, Identifying the Right Position, Nailing the Interview. Kelly is also working on a list of resources for finding a postdoc, which we’ll publish as soon as it’s ready. 

Downtown Madison moving day
Finding a community is important – who else is going to help you move in?

I think one of the happiest days in a grad student’s life (next to the day after the defense!) is the day that a postdoc position is finalized and accepted. It is exciting to think about the possibilities that are ahead, and you will finally be earning a little more money! As you think about what lies ahead of you, I would encourage you to focus on a few key areas as you transition into your new position.

Your new post-doc position

I have found that I greatly enjoy being a postdoc — people tend to respect your opinion more (you are the expert, after all, in your subject area or technical skill), and there are many opportunities to grow and advance your career. It is important to keep in mind, though, that a postdoc position is a focused, somewhat intensive, and short-term training opportunity.

Photo credit: John Benson via Flickr

The relationship with your postdoc mentor will be key, and it is important that everyone is on the same page in terms of goals and milestones during your postdoc tenure. Take the time at the beginning to talk with your mentor about their expectations of you as a postdoc and to outline the path forward with clear goals and milestones that are mutually agreeable. There are several examples of postdoc/mentor agreements on the web to serve as a starting point for a formal or informal discussion of goals, such as AAMC.

In an academic postdoc setting, publications will be key to the advancement of your future career as a scientist. My postdoc mentors have encouraged me to try to submit 2 papers per year of my postdoc. This is a challenging goal, but nonetheless a good one. Because of this expectation, I have become involved in several projects in the lab and have been exposed to a breadth of research. Setting clear expectations from the start will help both you and your mentor stay focused on the desired outcomes from your postdoc and can only help your productivity during your time as a postdoc.

Finally, I would also suggest that you make time for reading the literature. This can easily fall by the wayside, but it is a key element in keeping up with the field and for thinking critically about your own work. Participate in journal clubs, attend seminars, and talk to as many people as possible about your field of research. Joining at least one relevant professional society will also be helpful — it offers an opportunity for networking, reduced rates at conferences and will show engagement with a broader audience on your CV.

Plugging in and finding community

If you are thinking of moving to a new area to start a postdoc, a major concern might be making friends and finding community in a new location. This can be particularly true if you went straight from undergraduate studies to graduate school and have always had the built-in advantage of classmates or cohorts.

The best suggestion I have is to focus on finding a church and get plugged in! If you are unsure of where to start, contact a local Intervarsity Graduate Fellowship and ask for recommendations and/or contacts. If you belong to a particular denomination, contact the local branch or branches ahead of time. Who knows — they might even be helpful in finding a roommate, helping you move in, or taking you out to lunch after church Though moving and church shopping can be exhausting, make the effort from the start — it will mean you are settled in that much faster.

I would also take the time to be involved in other communities as well. Look for volunteer opportunities doing something you enjoy — Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, or Young Life, just to name a few. Join a gym and take dance lessons, or find a local kayaking or hiking club and get to know people. If your undergraduate or grad institution has a large alumni presence in the area, look up the local chapter and contact someone about things to do in the area. I have found that people are usually extremely generous in helping someone get settled into the area — particularly if you have something in common. It might take some legwork in the beginning, but it’s worth it to make your new location feel like home.

I hope you have enjoyed this series on finding a postdoc, and that it has been helpful to you in some way, no matter what stage you are in your journey. While journeying through graduate school and a postdoc position is exciting, challenging, and overwhelming at times, remember that we serve a God who

is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

P.S. Kelly is working on a list of resources related to finding a postdoc in the sciences. We’ll make it available in the next week or two.

What questions do you have about moving into a new position or finding a community at your new location? Are there other ways that you’ve been able to make friends and find community?

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Nailing the Interview

Kelly Seaton continues her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?, Identifying the Right Position

Cornell students and postdocs at CERN
Though these Cornell postdocs at CERN are dressed a bit casually for most interviews, they did remember the most important item of clothing: their hard hats.

What questions do you have about the postdoc interview process? Do you have any interview experiences or advice to share?

Photo credit: solarnu via Flickr

Once you have submitted your applications and landed an interview, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Be prepared! This may seem like an obvious point, (and not even worth mentioning!) but there is more to preparation than meets the eye.

  • Who will be part of the interview process? Are you meeting just the primary PI, or multiple faculty members? You should read up and be familiar with the research of every person you’ll be interviewing with. My postdoc interview process included many people — 8 faculty members, the Division Chair, the COO of the Institute, multiple collaborators, and Human Resources. Ask for an itinerary if they don’t provide one, and know something about each person and their primary research, if applicable. By doing this, you’ll have a starting point to get them talking, and the 20 minutes or so will go much more quickly.
  • Giving a seminar on your thesis research is a given for most postdoc positions — so take some time and effort to tailor it to your audience. Ask yourself if they are directly in your field of research (Pharmacologist talking to Pharmacologists), somewhat related (Geneticist talking to Cell Biologists), or in a totally different specialty (Physicist talking to Neurologists doing Electrophysiology).
  • Have a seminar prepared even if there isn’t one scheduled. On my second interview for my current position, I knew I was meeting people at a collaborating company, but there was no seminar scheduled. I prepared a talk ahead of time, tailored to the audience (Pharmacologist talking to Engineers and one or two Biochemists). This saved me from panicking at the last minute and made me look good when they asked me an hour ahead of time if I could talk about my research.
  • Read papers ahead of time. Again, this should be obvious, but is often overlooked. Know as much about the lab as possible — read publications by the lab and Google the PI and lab members to be as prepared as possible when you interview. If you notice that the PI has collaborators from other institutions on their papers, ask about those collaborations. It’s amazing how much a little extra effort can pay off.

2. Relax. You are interviewing them to see if they are a good fit for you, as much as they are interviewing you for the position. If you are relaxed, enthusiastic, and engaged in the interview process, it will be more enjoyable for you and you will stand out in the field of candidates.

3. Engage with everyone you can. I have known multiple cases where postdoc candidates were offered other positions in the same department, based on their seminar and interactions with other professors afterward. This is especially critical if funding in the interviewing lab is not certain. If nothing else, it gains you exposure to others in the department and the beginning of departmental interactions if you should accept the position.

4. Ask questions. What is the lab atmosphere like? Do people collaborate both within and outside of the lab? What opportunities are there for publications, and what are the PI’s expectations for the number and frequency of publications? Does the PI encourage and fund postdocs to attend national conferences? Do they have funding available for your research, or are you expected to provide your own funding either before or within a year of joining? Are postdocs allowed to pursue outside opportunities such as teaching? Do not be afraid to ask questions about what matters to you and your career goals — you want to make sure it is a supportive environment conducive to achieving your future career goals.

5. Follow up. It may seem old-fashioned, but send a thank-you to every person you interviewed with. An e-mail will suffice, but be sure to thank them for their time and include something specific that you talked about — e.g. “I really enjoyed hearing more about your research into the role of Heat Shock Proteins in myocyte death during cardiovascular disease, etc.” When you write to the primary PI, reiterate your interest in the position, how your interests fit with the lab in general, and that you look forward to hearing from them again soon. Now that I’m on the other side and interviewing technicians, it shows me that the candidate is engaged, and appreciates the fact that I took time out of my busy day to talk to them.

Another good way to follow up is to ask to for the contact information of former postdocs from the lab. They will be able to answer more questions about the lab environment, the PI’s mentoring style, and how it prepared (or didn’t prepare) them for their career after the postdoc.

What questions do you have about the postdoc interview process? Do you have any interview experiences or advice to share?

Kelly concludes her series with advice for starting your new position.

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Identifying the Right Position

Kelly Seaton continues her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?

The friendly lab skeleton
Some labs are friendlier than others to postdocs.

Once you have decided to pursue a postdoc position and have a reasonable idea what you would like to study or where you want to live, the next step is to find a position that is a good fit for you. In this post I will give a few suggestions on what to think about in terms of a “postdoc friendly” lab and how to start looking for specific positions.

Looking for places that are “postdoc friendly”

While life post-graduation does offer more freedom and flexibility than graduate school, many challenges still remain for postdocs. Postdocs are in a transition period between student status and faculty or “real job” status, as it is essentially a time of extended professional training. There are many important life choices to make as well — buying a house, finishing paying off student loans, and whether or not to start a family. My suggestion is to look for “postdoc friendly” institutions — places that take into consideration the unique challenges facing postdocs, and that offer postdocs resources to help enhance their personal and professional lives.

A great resource for issues concerning postdocs is the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). Their website contains several helpful links to resources for postdocs, and they help to advocate and drive policy-making for postdocs across the country. Look for universities, government or industry positions that have adopted these policies for their postdocs, and that take into account the unique challenges facing postdocs.

An important consideration for some post-graduation is the timing of starting a family. Many postdocs do successfully start families during their position, but be sure to review the prospective institution’s policy on leave for postdocs (particularly if postdocs are not considered university employees). The NPA recently developed some recommendations for maternity leave as a postdoc, which is very helpful to consider if you are thinking about starting a family during your training.

Consider universities or government positions that have an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs or a Postdoctoral Association. Often, institutions that have these offices have put some thought into postdoc employment, and can help provide both professional and personal resources as needed. Particularly look for places that clearly delineate policies on matters such as time off for postdocs, employment classification (are you a university employee or not?) health benefits, dispute resolution, etc. This can be a huge advantage — otherwise you may be dependent on the lab you land in, and it will feel more like graduate school than extended professional training.

Finding a specific postdoc position

At the end of the series, I will put together a resource page with links and ideas on how to find postdoc postions. In the meantime, here are some places to get started.

  • There are several locations where postdoc postions are advertised, including including Science (Careers portal, Postdoc listings) and Nature (Careers portal, Postdoc listings), or through advertisements in national societies.
  • Some universities do not consider postdocs as employees/staff and therefore do not post those positions on a Human Resources website. However, if a university has an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, contact them or look at their website to see if they have postdoc listings.
  • Contacting someone personally may also be a good way to find a position. You can look through the NIH RePORTER website to find professors with NIH funded research in a subject area or institution of interest, and it also lists the duration of the grant funding.
  • It is definitely ok to e-mail professors and state that you are interested in their work and inquire if they have any postdoc positions open. Make sure, however, to attach a CV, and clearly indicate that you are familiar with their research. Keep your e-mail short and to the point, and emphasize how their research fits with your current skills and future interest. If you can find a personal connection, that is even better (i.e. through LinkedIn, your advisor, or if you can find alumni from your school that have worked with them).

Next up: Tips for making it through the interview process

Do you have any questions for Kelly about finding the right position? Are there other resources that you’ve found helpful in your search?

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Where Should I Begin?

This is the second in Kelly Seaton’s series on Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey. ~ Mike

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

bike map
Where should I begin?

In my last post, I mentioned that a postdoc position is highly recommended, even a necessary next step after the completion of graduate school. For some grad students, continuing in a postdoc position feels like an exciting opportunity to continue research and advance your visibility and career. Or maybe you’re in the position where the thought of staying in academia or bench research makes you want to take up underwater basket weaving or run away and join the circus! The good news is that a postdoc is generally more flexible than graduate school. You are more in control of your location, your research, and the length of time you spend as a postdoc. Positions can range from short 1-2 year stints to 4-5 years or more, depending on the type of position you choose. It is also easier to switch subject areas or labs if necessary, to explore alternative careers, and to establish yourself as an independent scientist.

Photo credit: Mike Britton via Flickr

That being said, beginning a postdoc search can be challenging, particularly if you are not limited in your search by geographic, family, or dual career concerns. The possibilities are endless! I used to be jealous of my med student friends — at least they knew on a certain date that they would have a residency position, and it would be decided for them. Short of throwing darts at a map of the US (or a more biblical approach of casting lots), there are a few key items you can consider and focus on when looking for postdoc positions.

Where should I begin?

A good place to start is with the first “P” — passion.

In my opinion, it is (almost) never too early to start thinking about your scientific passions and how they fit into your plans post-grad school. Once you have passed your prelims or qualifying exams, you are in a good position to think about your skill sets, what types of science excite you, and the types of questions you like to answer. Are you a hands-on, practical person, or do you enjoy thinking about abstract questions? Do you like basic research simply for the joy of discovering something new, or are you a big picture person? Is there a particular disease or health-related cause you are excited about? It is often easy to think that you are limited by your field of study or the research you did in graduate school. In actuality, Ph.D. programs primarily teach you how to think like Ph.D.-level scientists and to be able to rationally design and carry out experiments. Sure, the specific techniques you have learned may help you obtain a certain position, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box to apply your skills and passions in new ways. Science is becoming more and more collaborative — so your skills may be useful to people in scientific areas you wouldn’t have expected.

Graduate school is also a good time to explore other potential areas of passion outside of your direct research. Try to obtain many diverse experiences in graduate school — such as teaching, interning in your school’s tech transfer office, or taking courses outside of your specialty if possible. Some departments or schools allow you to take internship opportunities or co-op positions — take advantage of opportunities that interest you. Targeted “extra-curriculars” can help you to network or even to decide that you would rather not pursue a certain career after all. During graduate school, I thought that I wanted to end up teaching full time at a small liberal arts college. It was only when I taught a full-length senior level biochemistry course that I discovered that I would rather not be a full time teaching professor! I still enjoy teaching, but in more of a hands-on style — lab courses and one-on-one mentoring. My grad school experiences allowed me to figure this out when I was only committed to a short-term rather than a long-term experience.

What if I don’t know what I want to do?

This can be a challenging question. I will have a post later in the series with resources for finding postdoc positions and how to decide what type of research you want to do. For now though, I would suggest taking advantage of career resources at your university and talk to as many people as possible. Talk to people who know you and who are ahead of you in their careers – they may have novel insights from their experiences. Also take advantage of career sessions at national conferences and invited speakers who give talks at your department. Most scientists are very happy to talk about their work in more detail and to offer “day-in-the-life of” advice.

Beginning the search

As I mentioned previously, there are many factors that can go into a postdoc search, particularly if you are not limited by geographic concerns. The best advice that I ever received was “identify the best university or lab to do the research you are interested in, and pursue a postdoc there”. When I heard this as a graduate student, I was intimidated by the thought of applying to the best places in the field! I wasn’t coming from a well known department at an Ivy League school, my advisor’s field of research was only marginally related to what I wanted to do, and I only had a few publications and abstracts. The good news, though, was that it helped me to narrow down my search. In hindsight, it has been the best thing that could have ever happened to me. My current postdoc position is a great fit for my future career goals, and I have opportunities to do cutting edge research with top notch collaborators. The work is extremely interesting and stimulating, and it has re-invigorated my passion for bench research.

What should I look for in postdoc position or a postdoc lab?

I will go into more detail on this in the next post on interviewing for a postdoc position. However, there are some general characteristics to look for as you begin your search. One of the things I have learned since starting my postdoc position is to look for jobs or research positions in areas with a strong academic presence. This is true even if you do not plan to stay in academics and want to pursue an alternative science career. Often, industry positions or small biotech firms will locate near major research universities — it is easier to attract talent and to collaborate with academic labs. Additionally, researchers who begin a project at the university may decide to spin-off and start their own company based upon the technology that formed the basis for their thesis project or postdoctoral research. There are also more opportunities for professional networking through regional societies or working groups.

Ending notes — People and Purpose

Importantly, remember that this is not only a professional opportunity, but an opportunity for ministry as well. Search for places that not only do good science, but that have opportunities for Christian fellowship and witness. Try to connect with a good fellowship group on campus or in the region for support and encouragement. This does not necessarily have to be a postdoc group — you can encourage graduate students in their journey, perhaps by serving as a mentor in a Graduate Christian Fellowship. Take the time to look for strategic outreach opportunities, and to pursue your calling as a follower of Christ. Do you enjoy apologetics? Look for opportunities on campus to reach out to student groups. Are you passionate about shaping public policy, social justice or refugees? Look for cities or regions that have opportunities to make a difference outside of the academy. [Editor’s note: ESN can help you find connections with other Christians and other Christian organizations. Just ask us.]

What questions do you have about starting your search for a postdoc? Have there been other ideas or resources that you’ve found helpful?Â