If you piled it all up, there are many mountains of information, advice, etc. on the academic job search process. It is different for not only fields of study, but also personal and financial situations. There are, in other words, many things that make your particular job search idiosyncratic. [Read more…] about The Job Search, Part 1: The Application
Post-Graduate
Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Faith
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)
Reflection
Faith. To be or not to be, that is the question. Either you will use it or you won’t; either you will love it or you won’t. But whether you have it or you won’t is not a question for all are given faith. It’s a gift.
Personally, I love it and hate it at the same time. I love it when I utilize my faith (when I have confidence in what I hope for and the assurance that I will receive it even though I don’t see it) for something miniscule like a parking space. I hate it when I am called to use the same principal for something that feels like a 1,100 mile journey from Ur to Canaan, like chapter planting.
In 2010, I agreed to survey the land at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard was an important location for Black Scholars and Professionals (BSAP), Graduate and Faculty Ministry (GFM), because BSAP had not planted on campus at what is referred to as a “Historically Black College or University (HBCU).†I agreed because I had never heard of InterVarsity before, so I figured what a great way to get acclimated into the ministry (and besides, I really wanted to participate in their Australia global mission project). Well, four years later I have yet to get to Australia, and I am still surveying the land. Actually, we are now in the process of becoming affiliated. It was nothing but faith to keep the journey going. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Faith
Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Obedience
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)
Reflection
When last we met, Abram had heard the call of God and went as the Lord had told him. Now, to be fair, Abram did not go completely blind. In Genesis 12:2-3, God says:
“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Not a bad deal, you agree? I wonder if Abram would have still entered into the agreement minus the promise of greatness. [Read more…] about Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Obedience
Scholar’s Compass Unchartered Territories: Hearing God’s Voice
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . so Abram went, as the Lord had told him. – Genesis 12:1,4a (NIV)
Reflection
Just reading the above scripture makes me wonder if Abram was a supernatural being or a superhero. The Lord said, so Abram went. The Lord said to leave everything of comfort and familiarity and go to a new place unexplored. Abram heard God and he went. No fuss, no fight, no fear. If it was me, in my human frailty, the outcome may have been different. As a matter of fact, the outcome was different. As one called to go forth into the unknown and plant a graduate chapter, I must say that my story went something like this . . . “The Lord said, ‘Go’ and she . . . hesitated.†As an educator and seminary graduate, my logic preceded my faith. I approached this call in the context of inductive reasoning. I needed to know who, what, when, how, why, cause and effect. But not Abram. He heard and he went forth leaving the familiar for the unknown for the sake of planting in a new land; planting in order to expand the mission and purpose of God.
At this very moment, you may find yourself at a place where you think you have heard God ask you to walk into the unknown. But because the request seems beyond your capabilities, you vacillate between thinking and going. You begin to question the validity of God’s call for you. You think it is time to move on from your postdoc and enter the challenges of the academic job market, or you think it is time to leave the secure and familiar land of full-time employment for the new land of graduate study.
The more insane the mission, the more clarity we seek from God. Until we receive the clarity that we desire, we remain thinking and not going. We want God to be as clear with us as God was with Abram. As done for King Belshazzar, we want God to write the message upon the wall (Daniel 5). Was Abram a superhero or supernatural? No, he was not. He was, however, connected to the character of God. He was God’s sheep and he knew the voice of his shepherd. Abram, through the relationship that he had formed with God, he knew God. He knew the God of unusual requests thanks probably to the character witness of Noah.
When we know God through the intimacy of prayer, listening, and studying, we learn to not only hear the voice of our shepherd but to trust. We begin to trust in the nudging that won’t go away; the vision that won’t seem to disappear; and the boldness to serve Christ in territories unknown and perhaps even uninhabited (John 10). We often think that if only we could hear God we would know what God wants. In actuality, when we know what God wants (which is God’s will), we will hear God’s voice more clearly because we will be able to identify the voice of God over and beyond any other. What does God’s voice sound like? God’s word. Abram knew and he followed “as the Lord told him.†What has God told you and are you willing to go in obedience?
Abram travelled 1100 miles from Ur to Caanan; not an overnight trip by far. In the next part, I will share how hearing plus obeying does equal immediate results. You may just have to walk 1100 miles to get there.
Question
As a graduate student or as faculty, you may find it close to impossible to develop your ear for God’s voice due to time and obligations. But recognizing that, as sheep, our total dependence comes from the shepherd, what sacrifices will you make and commit to so that you may hear beyond what your eyes may see?
Prayer
Dear God,
We thank you for your call. We ask that you begin to increase our ability to hear so that when you lead, we will follow without hesitation or vacillation. Move us from thinking to going at all times and in all seasons.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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.Â
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?