The Modern Academic Job Search: Strategies and Tips
In this comprehensive guide, learn the ins and outs of the modern academic job search, including application essentials, pre-game tactics, optimizing opportunities, and navigating the academic search calendar. Explore practical advice and insights to enhance your job search success.
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Presentation Transcript
The modern academic job search: the application Patrick Cahan Biomedical Engineering and ICE http://cahanlab.org patrick.cahan@jhmi.edu JHU June 2016
Outline Target audience Overview of the process Strategies for avoiding outright failure Share some of my own experiences and tricks that have helped me Some content adapted from Bob Datta, Neurobiology Harvard Medical School
If you are early in your postdoc Search committees candidates Pre-game: Publish papers Get grants Develop a reputation and network Don t be a jerk Don t be a flake Don t be a push-over Develop your nunchuck skills
If you are early in your postdoc Pre-game: Publish papers Get grants Develop a reputation and network Don t be a jerk Don t be a flake Don t be a push-over If you are late in your postdoc
If you are late in your postdoc Optimize what you do have
The academic search calendar Jobs are posted in the late summer through Fall, sometimes into early December First interviews span early winter through Spring Second interviews sometime later Negotiate offer in the Spring Start your new job in late summer, sometimes Jan of following year
Finding jobs ScienceCareer auto-search + email, starting in Spring prior to season Keep track of each posting that is remotely interesting (Evernote): where (Institute + Department, description, DUE DATE, pointer to application directions As deadlines approach, triage the list. I ended up applying for 36 positions. Checklist for each interesting application
The application Cover letter CV Letters of reference (3-4) Teaching statement *** Research proposal (1-3 pages) Past research *** Reprints *** less common
Cover letter 1 page, 4 paragraphs Paragraph 1: basic info
Cover letter, P2 Paragraph 2: What have you done? Short reference format Try to form a narrative around your papers
Cover letter, P3 Paragraph 3: What are you going to do? Focus on novelty, impact Why are you the best or only dude or dudette for the job?
Cover letter, P4 Paragraph 4: Housekeeping: reference writers, application package listing
Curriculum Vitae Complete Contact Info Education/Professional Positions Held Fellowships, Awards and Honors Memberships in Professional Societies Invited Lectures: not related to job seach, only those already delivered Bibliography original research books and monographs meeting abstracts doctoral thesis title Teaching Experience Reviewer for
Curriculum Vitae Bibliography Reverse chronological Highlight your name No moving authorship Indicate submitted manuscripts without journal Indicate in press manuscripts with journal For submitted/in press, include copy in application package Not sure about in preparation *** If this changes since time of application submission, send update!!!
Letters of reference Try to have 5 referees available. 3 minimum: Your postdoctoral mentor collaborators here at JHU and abroad Your PhD mentor(s) When deciding who to ask, balance reputation vs support. Give them and their administrators LOTS of lead time. You need to follow up, politely Express your gratitude Don t be afraid of writing your own!
Teaching statement One page Chance to target your application to department by listing courses you d be interested in teaching, or holes that you could fill I broke mine into 3 parts: Philosophy Teaching experience Teaching interests
Research proposal Some say it is the most important part of package. Not sure that I agree. Do not exceed page limit One figure per page. Remember audience (search committee reading 100-300).
Research proposal -- introduction Conceptual framework Goal is to interest the reader Reveal a broad scientific interest (in contrast to postdoc/phd mentality).
Research proposal past work Hop through past work that is impactful and relevant to your future aims 1-3 sentences on PhD work, max. Be brief, emphasize novelty, conceptual impact As in cover letter, short form references
Research proposal future plans 2-3 broad aims, ordered by accessibility Scope should cover 5 years Last aim can be blue sky Organized like an RO1, but don t need to dwell on methods End with long term vision
Invitation to interview A call or email from search committee or chair Scheduling and planning the visit (this takes time!) List faculty you d like to meet, and take notes about them Ask coordinator for some time prior to seminar and chalk talk
End of Part I -- Final words You will get little to no work done from September through April/May Keep track of expenses and receipts
