Obtaining and Sustaining a Obtaining and Sustaining a Career at a Four Year College: A Career at a Four Year College: A

balancing act balancing act

Amy Cheng VollmerAmy Cheng Vollmer

Professor of BiologyProfessor of Biology

Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College

avollme1@swarthmore.eduavollme1@swarthmore.edu

OverviewOverview It’s not easier, it’s differentIt’s not easier, it’s different Diversity of institutionsDiversity of institutions You’re the only oneYou’re the only one Teaching: What, how, to whom?Teaching: What, how, to whom? Research: How, what, when, when, why?Research: How, what, when, when, why? Promotion and tenurePromotion and tenure Life lines: Mentoring and NetworkingLife lines: Mentoring and Networking Resources and supportResources and support Jobs and Job HuntingJobs and Job Hunting BalanceBalance

Faculty Position at a 4-year Faculty Position at a 4-year CollegeCollege

Compared with a university Compared with a university professorship……professorship……

it’s not easier or harder, it’s it’s not easier or harder, it’s differentdifferent

You still have to be excellent:You still have to be excellent:to be hiredto be hiredto be promotedto be promoted

A 4-Year College Career:A 4-Year College Career:It’s not easier, it’s differentIt’s not easier, it’s different

““Advantage”Advantage” “Disadvantage”“Disadvantage” family friendlyfamily friendly it’s harder to keep upit’s harder to keep upstudents move onstudents move on students move onstudents move onprojects can be high riskprojects can be high risk progress is slowprogress is slowno huge grant neededno huge grant needed grants still neededgrants still neededsalary not from grantsalary not from grant no summer $ if no grantno summer $ if no grant

University faculty want your students, but don’t University faculty want your students, but don’t always respect your work in grant panelsalways respect your work in grant panels

Diversity of institutions:Diversity of institutions: Learn about the history, traditions, Learn about the history, traditions,

role in the community and in role in the community and in higher educationhigher education

Public vs privatePublic vs private Religious denomination vs non-sectarianReligious denomination vs non-sectarian Liberal arts vs technical/vocationalLiberal arts vs technical/vocational Suburban vs rural vs urbanSuburban vs rural vs urban Residential vs commuterResidential vs commuter Co-ed vs single sexCo-ed vs single sex

Teaching load: 4-6 courses per yearTeaching load: 4-6 courses per year Involvement with the community/townInvolvement with the community/town OutreachOutreach

You’re the only one: be a You’re the only one: be a generalistgeneralist

Biology department at SwarthmoreBiology department at Swarthmore

microbiologistmicrobiologist

cell biologistcell biologist

geneticistgeneticist

animal developmental biologistanimal developmental biologist

neurobiologistneurobiologist

animal behavioristanimal behaviorist

vertebrate physiologistvertebrate physiologist

invertebrate biomechanistinvertebrate biomechanist

plant ecologistplant ecologist

plant evolutionary biologistplant evolutionary biologist

plant developmental biologistplant developmental biologist

General microbiologyGeneral microbiologyMedical microbiologyMedical microbiologyMicrobial ecologyMicrobial ecologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyIndustrial microbiologyIndustrial microbiologyImmune responseImmune responseVirologyVirologyIntroductory microbiologyIntroductory microbiology

BioethicsBioethicsAstrobiologyAstrobiology““Why We Get Sick”Why We Get Sick”

Teaching: What, how, to Teaching: What, how, to whom?whom?

What - CURRICULAR NEEDS (ASM curriculum guidelines)What - CURRICULAR NEEDS (ASM curriculum guidelines)microbiology, molecular biology, microbial genetics,microbiology, molecular biology, microbial genetics,

metabolism, microbial ecology, evolutionmetabolism, microbial ecology, evolution

How - RESPOND TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLESHow - RESPOND TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLESnot just lecture: interactive, cooperative learning, open-not just lecture: interactive, cooperative learning, open-ended, problem-based, investigativeended, problem-based, investigative

To whom - KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!!!!To whom - KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!!!!large/small classeslarge/small classesmajors/non-majorsmajors/non-majorsintroductory/advancedintroductory/advancedbasic/appliedbasic/applied

Syllabus, textbooksSyllabus, textbooks Assignments, expectationsAssignments, expectations Lab manual, experimentsLab manual, experiments Lab preparation: media, reagents, strainsLab preparation: media, reagents, strains Assessment/RubricsAssessment/Rubrics

ExamsExams PapersPapers Lab reportsLab reports Oral presentationsOral presentations

Decisions, decisions…….Decisions, decisions…….

How to gain teaching How to gain teaching experienceexperience

guest lecturing guest lecturing mentoring a research studentmentoring a research student teaching a course or labteaching a course or lab planning a meeting/symposiumplanning a meeting/symposium designing a lab exercisedesigning a lab exercise filling in: a one-year positionfilling in: a one-year position community college positioncommunity college position sit in on good lectures - note what is goodsit in on good lectures - note what is good practice, practice, practice!!practice, practice, practice!!

Research: Research: How, what, when, where, why?How, what, when, where, why?

How -How - short projects, build in continuity short projects, build in continuityyou must be in the labyou must be in the lab

WhatWhat - choice of system is key- choice of system is key what’s the burning question?what’s the burning question?

When - during the semester (part of a lab class)When - during the semester (part of a lab class)during the summerduring the summer

Where - on or off campusWhere - on or off campusWhy - to keep your teaching relevantWhy - to keep your teaching relevant

to answer the burning questionto answer the burning question to train studentsto train students to have funto have fun

A suitable system for researchA suitable system for research

what is the burning question?what is the burning question?which model organism/system?which model organism/system?

safety for studentssafety for studentseconomicaleconomicalrepeat raterepeat ratelearning curvelearning curvemaintenancemaintenance

for what methods are you expert?for what methods are you expert?are there local collaborators?are there local collaborators?

Features of bacterial Features of bacterial systemssystems

ease of cultureease of culture short generation timesshort generation times genetic manipulationgenetic manipulation

unique niches – diversityunique niches – diversity 3.4 billion years of survival3.4 billion years of survival

impact of human historyimpact of human history impact on geological historyimpact on geological history

basic researchbasic research applied researchapplied research

medical importancemedical importance environmental importanceenvironmental importance

Recruiting students Recruiting students IIntroduce your system/questions in classntroduce your system/questions in classPosters showing student workPosters showing student work

Training studentsTraining studentsHow and whyHow and whyControlsControlsRecord keepingRecord keepingLab dynamicsLab dynamics

Getting resultsGetting resultsFFocus the projectocus the projectRealistic expectationsRealistic expectations

Communicating resultsCommunicating resultsWeekly group meetingsWeekly group meetingsPublic meetingsPublic meetings

FundingFundingNIH AREA grants, NSF-RUIs, ASM-URFs, NIH AREA grants, NSF-RUIs, ASM-URFs, Merck-AAAS (HHMI: institutional)Merck-AAAS (HHMI: institutional)

Other Aspects of Research to ConsiderOther Aspects of Research to Consider

Promotion and tenurePromotion and tenureSpelled out in faculty handbook: rules of conduct, review criteriaSpelled out in faculty handbook: rules of conduct, review criteria

Teaching - how is it measured?Teaching - how is it measured?how do you improve?how do you improve?

Research - does it count? What counts?Research - does it count? What counts?do expectations match support, facilities?do expectations match support, facilities?is there a ‘culture of research’ in the dept?is there a ‘culture of research’ in the dept?is it a requirement for students?is it a requirement for students?

Service - Service - committees, advisingcommittees, advisingspecifics: radiation safety, animal carespecifics: radiation safety, animal careprofessional activitiesprofessional activities

professional societyprofessional societyeditorial serviceeditorial servicepeer review panels peer review panels

Is it necessary to do a post-Is it necessary to do a post-doc?doc?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

momentum for research start upmomentum for research start up

networkingnetworking

more experience as investigatormore experience as investigator

more techniquesmore techniques

more time to write - grants, papersmore time to write - grants, papers

*For an institution like Swarthmore,*For an institution like Swarthmore,

but not necessarily for another institutionbut not necessarily for another institution

Just as you do in research:Just as you do in research:

consult literature for methodsconsult literature for methods

attend meetings and conferencesattend meetings and conferences

Learn about pedagogy Learn about pedagogy

Different styles of learningDifferent styles of learning

Different ways to assess learningDifferent ways to assess learning

How to mentor studentsHow to mentor students

Literature - for teachingLiterature - for teaching

The Scholarship of Teaching The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)and Learning (SoTL)

Journal of Microbiology & Biology EducationJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education Cell Biology EducationCell Biology Education Biochemistry and Molecular Biology EducationBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Journal of Chemical EducationJournal of Chemical Education Other journals published by:Other journals published by:

National Association of Biology TeachersNational Association of Biology Teachers National Association of Science TeachingNational Association of Science Teaching Association of Biology Laboratory EducatorsAssociation of Biology Laboratory Educators

Professional Life lines:Professional Life lines:MentoringMentoring

It’s like parentingIt’s like parentingIt’s like herdingIt’s like herdingIt’s like housekeepingIt’s like housekeepingYou need to be a mentorYou need to be a mentorYou need to seek mentorsYou need to seek mentors

NetworkingNetworking

Stay in the loop, since you’re the only onStay in the loop, since you’re the only onLocal colleaguesLocal colleaguesSeminars at other campusesSeminars at other campusesGuest lecturesGuest lecturesConferences and meetingsConferences and meetingsLISTSERVESLISTSERVES

Cold Spring Cold Spring Harbor Harbor Laboratory Laboratory PressPress

For the beginning For the beginning faculty member:faculty member:

Start upStart upSetting up labSetting up labHiring/firingHiring/firingGrant writingGrant writingA ‘methods’ manualA ‘methods’ manualMany faculty have this Many faculty have this

on their shelveson their shelves

http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/labmgmt/book.pdflabmgmt/book.pdf

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (2005) Press (2005)

……about the challenges of doing about the challenges of doing science and dealing with the science and dealing with the individuals involved, including individuals involved, including oneself. The authors, a scientist oneself. The authors, a scientist and a psychotherapist, draw on and a psychotherapist, draw on principles of group and principles of group and behavioral psychology but speak behavioral psychology but speak to scientists in their own to scientists in their own language about their language about their experiences. They offer in experiences. They offer in depth, practical advice, real-life depth, practical advice, real-life examples and exercises tailored examples and exercises tailored to scientific and technical to scientific and technical workplaces on topics as diverse workplaces on topics as diverse as conflict resolution, as conflict resolution, negotiation, dealing with negotiation, dealing with supervision, working with supervision, working with competing peers……competing peers……

http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/http://www.hhmi.org/grants/pdf/labmgmt/entering_mentoring.pdflabmgmt/entering_mentoring.pdf

Examples of other trajectoriesExamples of other trajectories

Tech writerTech writer

PublishingPublishing

JournalismJournalism

Venture capitalVenture capital

Business analystBusiness analyst

EntrepreneurEntrepreneur

Patent agent; lawPatent agent; law

Public policyPublic policy

Regulatory affairsRegulatory affairs

Academic Press

Job HuntingJob Hunting

A career should match your temperament, skillsA career should match your temperament, skills Educate yourself about careersEducate yourself about careers Educate yourself about a particular workplaceEducate yourself about a particular workplace What is the daily life for that professional?What is the daily life for that professional?

Make a good match – between your interests and Make a good match – between your interests and abilities and a careerabilities and a career

Job HuntingJob Hunting

Read the ad carefully and show that you are a Read the ad carefully and show that you are a great matchgreat match

Cover letter should answer any questionsCover letter should answer any questions Teaching and research statementsTeaching and research statements CV should show teaching and researchCV should show teaching and research Copies of papers, only if requestedCopies of papers, only if requested No ‘extras’ - less is more!No ‘extras’ - less is more! Request Request appropriateappropriate reference letters reference letters ProofreadProofread Observe deadlinesObserve deadlines

Negotiating the offerNegotiating the offer

Don’t be a jerk/prima donnaDon’t be a jerk/prima donna Negotiate in good faithNegotiate in good faith Find out what is ‘typical’ for new Find out what is ‘typical’ for new

facultyfaculty Be willing to share, waitBe willing to share, wait Don’t spend all of the start-up Don’t spend all of the start-up

immediatelyimmediately Get everything in writingGet everything in writing Be grateful and a good Be grateful and a good

departmental citizendepartmental citizen

BalanceBalance You can’t do it all: limit and focusYou can’t do it all: limit and focus PrioritizePrioritize Don’t procrastinateDon’t procrastinate Check in with your mentors - seek adviceCheck in with your mentors - seek advice Just say no - don’t over-extendJust say no - don’t over-extend NetworkNetwork Reduce stressReduce stress

Follow your passion!Follow your passion!

Choose a subject you loveChoose a subject you love Pursue knowledge, skill aggressivelyPursue knowledge, skill aggressively Encourage and inspire othersEncourage and inspire others Be broad and inclusiveBe broad and inclusive Share your knowledge and ideas:Share your knowledge and ideas:

mentor and be mentoredmentor and be mentored