The Academic Scientist

Kenneth Ruud

Prorector for research and development

The academic scientist is not what it used to be (and probably never was)

The academic scientist:

• Runs a research program• Writes research papers• (Runs a research laboratory)• Teaches• Reviews papers/research grants• Supervises Master/PhDs• Mentors postdocs• Writes grant proposals• May be involved in start-ups• Disseminates her/his knowledge• Is involved in recruitment work• Is involved in research administration and

strategy

Many of these tasks, you will not be trained for

A successful research program

• Has a distinct mark which is yours, and not your supervisor(s) (but possibly a synthesis of the profiles of your supervisors)

• Has an impact, often by being in the lead• Trust yourself: It can be lonely in the lead, but if the potential in the field is large

enough, it will eventually become important• General topics may often be more competitive but will have a broader impact• Build on your competence, but expand your vision• Make yourself an attractive collaborator• Allow freedom for your coworkers (PhDs/postdocs/researchers)

Writing skills

• As an academic scientist, you will have to write

• Research papers• Grant proposals• Reviews• Teaching material

• Determine how you best write

• Do not underestimate the importance of clarity in writing, in particular in research proposals

• Do not overestimate the reader

• Know your targeted audience, in particular for research proposals

Communication skills

• Many groups work on similar topics, and breakthroughs may come close in time, triggered by recently published work

• One thing is the publication date, but having the arena to communicate also important

• Although history eventually credits the right person, in “present time” the preferred invited speaker holds an advantage

• Know how to present your research• Decide level based on audience• Never overestimate the audience• Normally advisable: Present a story, be

clear on take-home message

The required academic CV

• Because the job of an academic scientist is so much more than only science, showing competence in a wider area is important:

• Reviewer experience• Experience as member of PhD committees• Having secured external funding• Research administration• Teaching• Supervision

• Nevertheless: These secondary skills should be on the CV, but quantity is less relevant

• What matters in quantity is publications

• Be mindful about building a coherent research program, that has you “signature”

Know yourself as a scientist

• Decide on your level of ambition• How do you like to work?• How wide a recognition would you like to

achieve?

• What kind of a scientist are you?• The expert who solves everything yourself• Prefer working in teams, with expertise in a

specialized area?• The research organizer, having a broad

knowledge field• The policy maker

• Do you want/need a group, or can you/do you prefer to work alone?

How do you succeed?

• Always visit a new lab during/after your PhD

• Pick a postdoc mentor in a complementary field• Close enough to allow you to publish

seamlessly• Different enough that you learn new skills and

can use the combined expertise

• Work hard, but more importantly, work effectively

• Learn additional skills

• Understand review processes

• Make writing “easy” (or at least not too time-consuming)

• Learn to communicate your scientific vision

The checklist

• Put yourself in the shoes of the audience (at talk, in classes, in grant proposals)

• Get your priorities straight• Important to get certain skills, but

focus on what you need to do

• Learn when to say no

• Be thoughtful about networking opportunities