Academic Job Search: A Practical Primer

Lynn M. Schnapp, MDProfessor, Pulmonary and Critical

Care MedicineUniversity of Washington

My Journey

Fear Factor

• When is it time to move on?

• No clear guidelines/time limit

• Fear of disappointing mentors–Career choice, deserting mentor

• Mentor’s role– Help you make an informed decision

Why?• Independence from mentor• New research directions• Better package (always!)

– Stronger bargaining position

• Increase professional contacts – Letters of recommendation, promotion

• “Genetic diversity”• Sense of empowerment• New adventures!

How to get to be “The Apprentice”

You’re Hired!

Finding a position

• Advertisements in professional journals–Many positions are not advertised

• Contacts initiated by mentor/chief

• Letters to Division Chiefs

• Relevant professional societies

• Collaborators/colleagues

Initial Contact

• Cover letter–Summary of what you’ve done, and what

type of position you’re interested

–Less than one page

• CV

• Research and/or teaching plan statement

• References

Academic CV• Name, degree, address (no SSN, no DOB)

– What is your answering machine message?

• Education (nothing earlier than college)– Degrees and dates

• Professional positions– Postdoc, Research Assistant

• Academics don’t want description of work, or skill sets

– Don’t duplicate education/positions

• Explain any gaps• Honors/Awards• Grant Funding (yours, not your PI’s)• Invited presentations/talks

Curriculum Vitae• Publications

–Number–Bold your name– Indicate name change– Indicate co-first authors–Separate sections for submitted, in

preparation, reviews–Separate section for abstracts–Keep up-to-date

CV-optional headings• Teaching/Mentoring

– TA, undergrad (can summarize)

• Service/leadership • Clinical certification• References

– Inform references ahead of time

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“Product Placement”

• Professional Society Meetings–Always try to submit an abstract

–Great networking opportunity

–Get involved with assembly, committees

–Come prepared with preprints, CV

Is this the job for me?

• What is the job description?

• Does the job description mesh with your personal goals?–Clinical/research/teaching/administrative

split?

The First Date

• Prepare and Practice your Job Talk–Simplify

• Present your research so that anyone can understand

–Discuss future research directions at end

• One-on-one interviews–Do your homework, ask questions

Do your homework• Divisional/Departmental websites• Pubmed search on key faculty

– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

• Identify NIH-funded research –NIH RePORTER (Research Porfolio Online

Reporting Tools)• projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm

• AAMC

Is this the job for me?

• Are the necessary resources present to succeed?

• Critical mass of researchers/mentors in your area?

• Can I live here? Can my spouse live here?

Define your needs

• Make a list of what you need (want)

• Prioritize

–What is a deal breaker?

• Everything is negotiable– If you don’t ask for it, you won’t get it

“You get what you negotiate, not what you

deserve”

It’s a Package• Research

environment • Salary• Clinical

responsibility• Lab set-up• Start-up money• Computing needs

• Technician

• Moving expenses

• Travel support

• Benefits

• Administrative support

• Personal issues

What is your bottom line?

Salary• Be prepared to ask for a specific salary

– Don’t be ambushed

• State institutions-salary information is public (may not capture actual compensation)

• AAMC salary reports• Colleagues, fellowship directors, chiefs,

chairs• Specialty organization database• Advertisements

Rank/Track• What will be your title?

– Instructor, Assistant?

• Faculty track –Can you switch tracks?

• Criteria for promotion–Tenure clock

• Divisional track record for faculty advancement?

Clinical Responsibilities

• Protected time-what does it mean?

• Minimize clinical responsibilities in 1st year

• Clinic?

• Additional teaching responsibilities?

• K grants requires 75% research time

Lab space

• Location, location, location

• Depends on core or shared facilities

• Common space for large equipment?

• Special needs

• Who assigns space?

Justify Start-up Needs

“Will my office be near a Diet Coke machine?”

Office

Moving Expenses

• Pre-move visit for housing

• Home

• Laboratory

• Car?

• Relocation for research/laboratory members?

Added value

• Travel/meetings

• Journal subscriptions

• Professional Society Dues

• License Fees

• Recruiting Costs

Additional questions• Housing Assistance

• Tuition Benefits

• Parking

• Benefit package

General Principles

• Get it in writing–Keep a copy of correspondence

–Verify phone conversations with email

• Divisional AND Departmental support

• Make a decision– It’s not (necessarily) a lifetime commitment

• A bad deal can be worse than no deal

Minimize downtime• Set up budget number ahead of time• Purchase major equipment prior to arrival• Determine what you can take with you• Consider purchase of depreciated

equipment• Obtain University ID, email address• Submit IRB/Animal protocols• Animal transfer

Minimize downtime• Apply for medical license• Minimize initial clinical or teaching

responsibilities • Finish manuscripts or grant

submissions

Transfer K grants

• Identify a mentor at new institution

• Contact NIH program officer ahead of time

• Administrative review (no additional peer review)

• Generally no transfer in the last 6 months of award

Resources• Association of American Medical Colleges

– www.aamc.org

• NIH– www.training.nih.gov/careers/careercenter/advice.html

• American Society for Cell Biology– www.ascb.org

• Clinical Jobs: Medical Economics– www.memag.com/findingajob