Nature Chemistry | The Sceptical Chymist

Prospective Professor: The Beginning After the End

Posted on behalf of the Prospective Professor

After months and months of grueling travel, crazy cab drivers, late night practice talks and waking up wondering what city I was in, I thought the worst of it was over. Little did I know that the fun had just begun. I am happy to say that I was able to find a job, and not just any job, but what seems to be the “perfect” fit for me. But after a few weeks of celebration and relaxation, that little voice started up again, “what have you gotten yourself into?!” I’m about to start a job for which I have never been trained!

Certainly my feelings aren’t unique. I’ve had conversations with countless people over the years discussing this very issue. Most of us will have spent at least 7 years pursuing our doctoral degree and doing postdoctoral research. And during this time, we may teach a few lab sections, write a quiz or two and hopefully compose a fellowship application. But never during this time do most of us get training in lab managements skills, mentoring techniques or budgeting (time or money). In essence, every step of my training has prepared me to be a bench scientist. And lets face it, after so many years of schooling I’m lucky if I can budget my monthly groceries let alone supplies for an entire lab, as well as funds to make sure my students can hardly afford their groceries!

Everyone tells me that I will learn with time. I just hate to think of the disasters that will happen in the meantime: Exams with an average score of 17%, a student crying after groups meeting or a lab left empty on the weekends (horror of horrors!). I will start my new position filled with nervous excitement and ready to learn many new lessons. The first question on my mind is, how do I attract students to my lab? I keep having flashbacks to junior high dances where we all waited at the side of the gym desperately hoping that someone would ask us to dance and wondering, “will anybody like me??”

Comments

  1. Report this comment

    MG said:

    I may be preaching to the choir on this, but a substantial portion of being a prof is not only about teaching well, but also in the amount of spent on students. From the undergrad perspective, I’ve occasionally gotten good grades in classes not because the profs taught well (quite the opposite, sometimes), but because they made themselves available outside of class and seemed to genuinely be concerned about our progress/general well-being. The motivation to do well goes up when the professor knows and is keeping track of you, and makes time to assure that you learn the material and have any questions answered. Etc… Point being, show some effort and don’t worry too much. Besides, as long as you act/sound like you know what you’re doing, students probably won’t question it – especially if you’re teaching a subject they have no foundation in. 🙂

    Free food seems to be the #1 attraction to any event… As far as people finding out about you/your lab, have an aesthetically pleasing and balanced website that informs searchers about both your scientific interests and you.

  2. Report this comment

    Craig said:

    No worries. If your like most upstart professors you can burn through 3 or 4 promising graduate students or post-docs, bleeding them daily of scientific enthusiasm while acting like a bi-polar, schizophrenic nut. Eventually, you will climb on enough backs and kiss enough backside to capture tenure.