Mind the Gap

Reflections on a post-doc

Heather M. Gilmartin, PhD, NPResearch Nurse ScientistDenver-Seattle Center of InnovationDepartment of Veterans AffairsOctober 25, 20161

The key to all things is to start before you are ready2

A PhD is not enough? WTFReflection #13

All I can say about this is, WTF!

But if it is not enough, what is? I would start with asking your post-doc advisors and classmates what is enough? Then the follow-up question is how will I fail to meet that mark? I call this a pre-mortem and it looks something like this3

The Pre-mortem

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What does a successful post-doc look like, what are the opportunities for failure and what do I do to prevent failure?4

Follow the Yellow Brick RoadReflection #25

To earn the ruby slippers and get to Oz5

Papers & Talks & Grants Oh My!Stay on the road do not get sidelined (beware the poppies)

Finish what youve started (run the data, write it up, submit for publication rinse repeat)

Befriend the Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man you never know.

Remember why you are doing this to get (____________).

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Manage your day-to-dayReflection #37

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Be selfish ;)Write a little bit (or a lot) every day

Set daily goals that you can meet and feel the thrill of checking them off

Never work for more then 90 minutes without a break

Build renewal into your day every day

Make time for solitude

Check emails sparingly if at allYoure a post-doc no one should expect you to do anything!

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Never eat aloneReflection #39

The best way to becoming a member of the old-boy (or old-girl) network is by taking advantage of opportunities to make yourself known.

If you read a paper that you want to use in your work engage the author in a dialogue.

If you know someone you want to work with is going to be at a conference or is hosting a seminar, reach out to them and ask to meet.

If youre giving a talk, invite everyone you know!

Will you be traveling or do you think you might want to work with a distant team? Mention youll be in town and could stop by to meet and maybe give a talk? For free?9

Make yourself knownIf you read a paper that you want to use in your work email the author and start a dialogue

If you want to meet someone stalking is completely appropriate

If youre giving a talk, invite everyone you know or want to know

Traveling to a University town? Ask if you can stop by and maybe give a talk? For free?

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The best way to becoming a member of the old-boy (or old-girl) network is by taking advantage of opportunities to make yourself known10

Mentors are the special sauceReflection #411

Your mentor is your guide, but you have to take the initiative and make things happen

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Guide to being an effective menteeSelect the right mentor(s)

Be respectful of your mentors time and manage it wisely

Communicate efficiently and effectively with your mentor

Be engaged, energized, and collaborative12Chopra, V. et al. (2016) The BMJ.

Just Say NoReflection #513

You will not be judged by how many friends you made, how many meetings you went to, how many trainings you attended, or how many reviews you completed.

You will be judged by your scientific output before anything else.

So, being selfish and saying, Thanks for the opportunity, but no to committee work, review work, co-writer or faux project manager work is okay.

It can be a positive no if you phrase it, once I get my work done and get a permanent job, I will get on board immediately

Once you win permanent employment in the research community, you can serve on all the committees you want. Not before.

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The Power of a positive no14

You first have to identify what you want to say yes to your self usually

Then you can say no to what is being offered for you have a real reason you can articulate to yourself or others.

Then you say yes to them in that youll commit to working with them in the future.14

Take Time for a test DriveReflection #615

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Types of ResearcherAcademic Researcher

Embedded Researcher

Clinical Researcher

For-profit Researcher

Research Supporter16

Academic ResearcherTenure track University basedDetached from the bosses (the patient and taxpayers who fund your work)Goal: Novel ideas, publish, continue funding cycleEmbedded ResearcherVA, Kaiser, IHI, government agenciesYour boss is ever present and wants to be kept abreast of work (newsletters to patients, C-suite)Goal: Novel, affordable, and realistic ideas that can be implemented a.s.a.p. and given away (share everything) Make public and adopt before publicationLearn, move on, improve as quickly as possibleClinical ResearcherHospital or Clinic Based Clinician or Management levelYour Boss: Your patients, staff, or BoardGoal: Conduct research pertinent to your clinical setting or facilitate research in your settingFor-profit ResearcherBig Pharma & TechFunding is not an issue your bosses are the Board and investorsGoal: Prove a product, sell the productOnce you go for-profit, hard to come back to academic or embedded position

Research SupporterYou are in a leadership position and support your staff in conducting research and get involved as needed to keep the bar high, while ensuring the research is in line with the bigger vision

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Do not worryAbout things falling into placeWhere they fall is the placeMark Hartley

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the Post-mortem 18Mentors AdviceHeather GilmartinGet good work out the doorDont let perfect get in the way of doneFigure out the sequencing Papers out for review (1-6 week pause)IRB submission (6-12 week pause)Data requested (1-3 month pause)Grant out for review (3 month pause)Its in the pauses that you get the other work doneMake connectionsMake friends before you need themBe open to new thingsRead outside your area and talk to people outside your comfort zoneDont be a doerJust because I know what to do, doesnt mean Im the one to do it.

It is not the strongestnor the most intelligent researcher that survives.

It is the one that is most adaptable to change the most receptive to feedback and the one who can quiet the inner doubt and fear of failure quickly and on a daily basis.

H. Gilmartin, PhD, NPOctober 19, 2016

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PersonOpportunities for FailureHow to Prevent Failure

Allan ProchazkaYou cant get good grants out the door, or they are unfundable (i.e. poorly conceptualized or poorly written)

Money is tight - CDA may not make sense, but an IIR (equivalent to R01) or an NRI might be good options. Start looking at those now, its never too early to prepare.

To be successful: Get out as many dissertation papers by the Spring as you can, then focus on data during the summer, submit an NRI for the grant writing class to see if you can get in. Plan on applying for the NRI in December, 2015, you will then be able to revise in June

Not getting the sequencing right for papers/grant/data analysisWork on how to balance, writing, analyzing, grant writing it will be your career moving forward and finding the right sequence/balance will help you be successful.

Not being persistent rejection is out there, if you can persist through that, you will be successfulWrite grants, write papers, re-write them, just keep at it and dont give up.

Job after post-doc does not provide you with protected time to keep your research in motion Next job has to give you the time to be protected to push forward on research, to write up your post-doc findings, write more grants, etc.