We ask speakers at the Naturejobs career expo, San Francisco, what they wish they had known earlier in their careers.
https://youtu.be/SvNX335-4dg
What’s something you wished you had learnt earlier?
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Tag Archives: university
What do you do on a regular day?
We ask academics at the Naturejobs career expo, San Francisco, to explain what they do on a regular day.
https://youtu.be/sA7Oo32DQjo
Have you ever had to compromise your personal life?
We ask speakers at the Naturejobs career expo, San Francisco, if they’ve had to compromise on their personal life to make it in academia.
https://youtu.be/3oRQWv30XN0
How can people reach you?
We asked our academic panellists at the Naturejobs career expo, San Francisco, how people should get in touch
https://youtu.be/Xfmim-IY4eo
Using maths and IT to help tackle HIV
Maths and IT play an essential role in most public health campaigns, and offer the chance for mathematicians to use their skills for social good.
{credit}Credit: iStock/Thinkstock{/credit}
Crispin Sapele is Director of Systems and Operations at CHAMP, a not for profit organisation which was set up to respond to the growing need for corporate HIV/AIDS programmes within Zambia. In December 2003 CHAMP set up a dedicated HIV hotline that offers a 24/7, 365 day counseling and information service. At CHAMP, Sapele’s role has been in planning, analyzing and evaluating the impact of such programmes, using his statistical background. Naturejobs spoke to Sapele about why maths is such a vital part of global health campaigns.
How did you get into global health?
I started off studying mathematics at the University of Zambia almost 20 years ago. I actually originally wanted to do engineering but after the first year I met one of the first mathematics professors here in Zambia and got inspired by him to do maths, so I made the switch. After my degree, which lasted four years, I immediately got a job at the national statistics office (CSO). And with that I got my first taste of managing and running statistical health programmes, such as surveys and censuses.
How did you end up at CHAMP working on HIV prevention programmes? Continue reading
Away from home: Indian postdocs abroad
Cross- posted from the Indigenus blog, a blog from Nature India.
Every Wednesday, Indigenus blog takes a peek into the lives of Indian postdocs working in foreign labs. The ‘Away from home’ series will feature one postdoc each week recounting his/her experience of working in a foreign lab, the triumphs and challenges, the culture factor, tips for Indian postdocs headed abroad and what he/she misses most about India.
Last week, we met Mainpal Rana, a PhD from the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Department of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and currently a postdoctoral associate at the Magee-Womens Research Institute Pittsburgh affiliated to University of Pittsburgh, USA. He told of the joys of not having to wait for reagents for experiments and the woes of not having Indian utensils in an American kitchen. Read more.
The week before, Moumita Chaki, a PhD from Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB-CSIR), Kolkata, currently working as a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School, USA, talked among other things, about the problems of funding for independent postdoctoral research that visa-holders like her might face in the US. Read more.
Then there was synthetic and systems biologist Kayzad Nilgiriwala who is working as a postdoc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA. Kayzad completed his Ph.D. (Microbiology) at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India and wants to import some strong points from the US research scene when he comes back home. Read more.
Finally, the first in the series was Kangkan Halder, who completed his doctoral thesis at the Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Applied Synthetic Biology Group at the University of Göttingen, Germany, who offers his advice on how to find a postdoc position in Germany. Read more.
Don’t forget to check back for the latest addition to the series each Wednesday, or follow Indigenus on twitter for more.
Was your degree worth it?
Would you do it all again?{credit}Futuretrack report{/credit}
A study tracking university students over 6 years from the moment they applied for university until well after they graduated has been published this week.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the findings reveal just how hard it has been for UK students graduating during the recession, with a significant increases in debt and lower earnings compared with the class of ’99. On a positive note, the vast majority thought it was worth it – see the infographic above.
The study found that :
- 1 in 10 graduates experienced significant spells of unemployment
- 40% were working in non-graduate jobs Continue reading
Becoming a global researcher
Posted on behalf of Hywel Curtis
What would it take for your research to go global? At Vitae’s international researcher development conference, held in Manchester in the United Kingdom last week, several speakers offered advice on how to boost your international profile. It’s an expanding area of interest: Emma Gillaspy, Vitae’s north-west hub manager, explains that institutions throughout academia are looking at how they can support the development of truly global researchers, and half of respondents to a recent Naturejobs poll said it was ‘very important’ for young researchers to work abroad early in their careers.
Furthermore, an increasing focus on international collaboration in funding calls and the development of new platforms and technologies mean it is easier than ever before for researchers to operate internationally. Adopting a global outlook is also highly beneficial for careers in a growing number of fields — not solely in disciplines that traditionally expect it, such as astrophysics. So how do you take those first steps towards gaining international credentials?
Work on ‘international’ research
Most fields of research offer scope for you to gain international experience. “Research is inherently a global endeavour,” says Claire McNulty, adviser on life sciences and science policy at the British Council. To start with, find out which areas of research your current institution recognises as being of international significance, as you are likely to receive more support in these areas. “International ties lend greater prestige to institutions,” explains Julie Reeves, the early career researcher (ECR) training coordinator at the UK’s University of Southampton. Quite simply, if you aren’t working in an area that offers international opportunities, you’ll need to consider moving into one that does.
Make connections, seize opportunities
Your network of contacts is potentially the best source of international opportunities. Lynn Clark of the graduate skills team at the UK’s University of Liverpool says that making connections with those who have a “global mindset” and value international collaboration could be the catalyst for your global experience. As with all aspects of your research career it is vital to identify and develop meaningful relationships with those in your field — whether they are someone you met at a conference, a previous collaborator or a personal connection. In addition, opportunities may arise in calls for funding, research partners or collaborations that have international elements, so be aware of these. Also watch out for industry research and development projects and exchanges.
Explore working abroad
If you’re considering working in another country, be sure this is really the right choice for you. Seek advice from those with experience and consider your family, financial situation and career prospects when evaluating options. “It is about your physical mobility to some degree,” says Clark.
You need to be willing and able to travel and live in a foreign culture for extended periods. Employers “are looking for someone who can cope with diversity”, explains Reeves. Consider whether you will really be able to thrive in a new environment despite professional or cultural differences. For example, “one particular problem for UK researchers is the language barrier,” says McNulty of the British Council, which is why many choose to gain international experience in the US.
Move successfully
To prepare for an international move, find out what support your home institution offers and query the internationalisation strategy it has in place. Additional help may be available at national and international levels; in Europe, for example, a scientific visa programme, coordinated by EURAXESS, helps researchers from non-European countries to work in the region. As part of the programme, research organizations sign hosting agreements with individual researchers. “The hosting agreement is fast-track immigration for researchers,” says Magdalena Wislocka, hosting agreement scheme manager at the Irish Universities Association. Support such as this can simplify your relocation significantly.
Succeed overseas
Once you have acquired a position, there are many ways to make your international experience a success. One area to focus on is preserving the same standards and professional integrity that you maintained previously. Cross-cultural supervision issues are a key concern for those managing researchers internationally, says Vitae’s Gillaspy, so it’s important to foster self-management skills. These can also benefit your career in general (see ‘Getting a pay rise in academia’).
In addition, operating effectively abroad will require you to develop global awareness and think beyond literature reviews to the people, institutions and cultures that those citations represent. This approach is used in Japan to improve graduate education, helping to foster researchers with a “comprehensive and panoramic” view of their field, particularly in the natural sciences, says Mutsuhiro Arinobu, comptroller of the University of Tokyo.
Finally, an important aspect of an effective global research experience is the new relationships you develop while abroad. Working alongside successful researchers in other countries will enhance your own international standing and benefit your career both during and after the placement.
If you have any other advice for researchers looking to gain international experience please feel free to share it below.
Tips for chemists on succeeding in academia
Are you applying for faculty positions in academia, or new in your role at a university? Speaking yesterday at the American Chemical Society (ACS) career fair, three US academics representing different types of institutions shared their advice on job applications, interviews and how to succeed in your first two years.
Applying for a position
The composition of your application package will vary between institutions. For a faculty position at a research-intensive (R1) university, Jason Ritchie, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Mississippi, recommends formatting the research proposals that you submit as if they are mini grant proposals. “You want to show the committee that you’re going to write grant proposals that are going to get funded,” he says.
When applying for a role at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI), where there is more emphasis on teaching, it’s still important to show your commitment to securing funding, says Laurel Goj, a tenure-track faculty member at Rollins College in Florida. “It may not be that gigantic NIH [National Institutes of Health] grant but we do expect that you are going to obtain some funding.”
For a community college vacancy, teaching experience is key. When describing your teaching philosophy, Christine Gaudinski, chemistry professor and chair of the science department at Aims Community College in Colorado, recommends making clear how your approach will serve the college’s mission and vision. She also suggests emphasizing your commitment to community service, and your experiences of working with diversity — which covers more than just race, gender or disability — in the classroom.
You may be applying for several positions at once, so keep a copy of the job adverts and your applications for reference. “It’s often a long time between the time you apply and the time you hear back,” says David Harwell, assistant director for career management and development at ACS. “You don’t want to look like you don’t remember [what you’ve applied for].”
The interview
If you get invited for interview at an R1 university, be prepared for a long campus visit that may last two days. “You’re going to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the committee,” says Ritchie. Interviews at a PUI can also be two days long, with the second day often reserved for a teaching demonstration. “We’ll have you in a classroom with an assigned topic and students,” says Goj. Gaudinski says the process is generally shorter and simpler at a community college; the campus visit may only last a couple of hours, for example.
When discussing your start-up package, make sure you’ve considered the minimum that you would be prepared to accept, but remember that there are often other resources available once you’re in position. “I was able to get everything I needed with less than I thought was necessary,” says Ritchie. “I was able to find that money [from elsewhere].” Also think carefully about the top end of what you ask for, as the university will expect to see a return on its investment in you. “The benchmark is you should be able to earn back enough money [through grants] to cover your start-up before you get to tenure,” Ritchie explains. “The more you ask for, the bigger the expectation is.” Start-up packages are generally smaller at PUIs — expect to use departmental instruments — and basically non-existent at community colleges, says Gaudinski.
Your first two years
Ritchie says it’s important to obtain early research results in your first two years at an R1 university, and try to teach a graduate class in your first semester. “Demonstrate purpose,” he recommends. Also remember that your existing graduate students will pass on their opinions of you to new or prospective students, who will be working for you during the critical time when you apply for tenure. “The graduate students that you recruit in your first two years are going to do the research that makes up your tenure package,” he says.
At a PUI, Goj recommends spending your first year preparing for new classes and labs, recruiting interesting students for summer research and setting up your research lab. In your second year you should start to contribute towards the development of courses.
Share your tips
Do you have any advice to add? Let us know below.
Getting a pay rise in academia
How long has it been since your last pay rise? For almost half of current respondents to a recent Naturejobs poll, the answer is more than two years – and with ever-increasing inflation, that’s effectively a year-on-year pay cut. So is there anything you can do to improve your salary prospects, particularly in academia, where there is often a lack of flexibility in pay?
Know your opportunities
Setting your starting salary
At universities in the UK, where research positions are appointed at a particular grade, there is often a window of opportunity to negotiate the precise point within the grade after you have been offered the job. “That depends on your level of experience and what you’re earning already,” says Rob Hardwick, co-chair of the UK Research Staff Association (UKRSA) and a postdoc at the University of Leicester. It’s likely you will be able to match your current salary, and you may be able to move up one additional point. If you find yourself applying for a position at a lower grade due to the current economic climate, propose that you are appointed at the top of that grade’s scale. In Germany, where positions in public universities are also appointed at a set grade within each district, with defined increments every two years, there are fewer options to discuss the fine details. “The public wage agreements leave no space for negotiation,” says Ute Heckel, project leader for Kisswin, a career development and information platform for young researchers in Germany. “Scientists have fixed contracts, and the contracts have fixed wages.”
In the United States, PhD students can earn a few extra thousand dollars a year by becoming teaching assistants, but there is little else you can do to improve your pay at that stage. The starting salary for postdocs in academia depends on whether your university follows the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines of a minimum stipend of just over $38,000 per year. If it does, there is not much negotiation to be had, says Zoe Fonseca-Kelly, chair of the US National Postdoc Association (NPA). “For the most part, to negotiate a higher salary you’re looking at a promotion,” she says.
Securing higher pay
Pay at UK universities usually increases by a small increment each year until you reach the top of your grade. If you’ve hit the ceiling, make the case to the university that you should be promoted up to the next grade — you’ll need a letter of support from your supervisor for this. Also ensure you double-check your contract — one of Hardwick’s fellow researchers was automatically promoted up a level as they were appointed at the top of a grade, but their contract still said they were entitled to annual increments.
In the US, if you’re getting paid less than the NIH minimum guideline, Fonseca-Kelly recommends that you try to secure your own funding: “A postdoc’s best way to make sure they get at least the NIH minimum is to apply for their own training grants and get their own money.” If you are able to secure funding that can also benefit your career in general by demonstrating early independence. Scientists in Germany searching for funding at a more senior level to develop their career should apply for several grants or prizes at the same time, says Heckel. “You will be more successful if you hand in more applications. That’s perfectly all right.” She also cautions against having a single narrow research focus. “We advise people to have at least two specialisations that they follow in order to increase their chances of getting funded.”
Gather evidence of your value
Whichever opportunity for a pay rise you pursue, you’ll need to justify why you should get more money. “Frame the request in terms of the value you bring to your employer,” says Deb Koen, president and chief executive of Career Development Services in Rochester, New York (see ‘Salary boost’ for more of Koen’s advice).
If there’s an appraisal system in place at your institute, make sure you use it. “People don’t really do that enough,” says Hardwick. He also recommends using self-help tools such as Vitae’s Researcher Developer Framework to self-assess and quantify your full range of skills. “The research things go without saying,” he says. “Aside from that, there are many [other skills] you can use to your advantage.”
The US NPA provides a similar resource called the Postdoctoral Core Competencies Toolkit. Fonseca-Kelly suggests using the toolkit to set a two- or five-year plan either by yourself or with the help of a mentor. “That gives you bargaining ground and a results-orientated output you can use as a negotiating tool to get a promotion,” she says. “The people that I’ve seen successfully get a promotion in academia have had a very good plan of what they want to do and have been able to market themselves to their PI. It takes a lot of planning and communication skills.”
As well as identifying your full range of skills, remember that your publication record is still one of the main ways your value is judged. “That’s always been the most important thing,” says Hardwick.
Do you have any other advice to add? Have you recently secured a pay rise or a promotion? Share your thoughts below.