Postdoc

Victoria Hallinan is the program director for professional development in the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs at Yale University and the author of The Moiseyev Dance Company Tours America. Alark Joshi is a professor of computer science at the University of San Francisco and the author of Art-inspired Techniques for Visualizing Time-varying Data.

• ContentsForewordPrefaceIntroductionChapter 1. Being Productive in Your New Research Environment1.1 Assessing Your Skills and Setting Goals1.2 Establishing Clear Expectations1.3 Effective Communication with Your Mentor1.4 Time Management and Tracking Your Activities1.5 Balancing Research and Teaching Duties1.6 Handling Faculty Mentor–Postdoc Dynamics1.7 Checklist1.8 Interview with Chris Smith, Virginia Tech1.9 Interview with Ghulam Jilani Quadri, University of OklahomaChapter 2. Finding Your Community at Your New Institution2.1 The Importance of Networking2.2 Informational Interviews2.3 Building Relationships with Colleagues2.4 Joining Professional Associations2.5 Engaging with Undergraduate and Graduate Students2.6 Balancing and Maintaining Professional Connections2.7 Checklist2.8 Interview with Cintia Sagawa, PreScouter Inc.2.9 Interview with Carolina Nobre, University of TorontoChapter 3. Teaching Development, Research Grants, and Publications3.1 Leveraging Teaching Opportunities3.2 Pursuing Research Grants and Funding3.3 Developing Your Research Agenda3.4 Publications3.5 Collaboration3.6 Managing Research Projects Effectively3.7 Checklist3.8 Interview with Artur Pericles Lima Monteiro, Yale University3.9 Interview with Karena Nguyen, Georgia Tech UniversityChapter 4. Navigating Difficult Situations as a Postdoc4.1 Preparing for a Difficult Conversation4.2 Challenging Situations with Mentors/Advisors4.3 Addressing Authorship and Credit Issues4.4 Challenges with Mentoring Others4.5 Bullying, Discrimination, or Other Forms of Misconduct4.6 Lab/Department Culture Mismatch4.7 Coping with Burnout and Stress4.8 Challenging Situations with Lab Managers or Other Senior Personnel4.9 Checklist4.10 Interview with Karen Peterson, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center4.11 Interview with Sabrina Woods, ConsultantChapter 5. Applying for Academic Jobs5.1 Types of Universities5.2 Considerations for Teaching/Teaching-Track Faculty Positions5.3 Typical Job Search Timeline5.4 Getting Your Application Materials Ready5.5 Strategies for Your Job Search5.6 Acing the Video Interview5.7 Preparing for In-Person Interviews5.8 Negotiating Your First Job Offer5.9 Checklist5.10 Interview with Lace Padilla, Northeastern University5.11 Interview with Katie Kroeper, Sacred Heart University5.12 Interview with Amit Shesh, Northeastern UniversityChapter 6. Applying for Industry Jobs and Diverse Roles in Academia6.1 Strategies for Your Job Search6.2 Translating Your Experience into an Industry Job Application6.3 Preparing for Interviews6.4 Negotiating Your First Job Offer6.5 Adjusting to a New Kind of Role6.6 Starting Your New Role6.7 Checklist6.8 Interview with Jacob Gonzales, Yale University6.9 Interview with Danielle Raad, Stanford University6.10 Interview with Teresa Ramirez Montagut, Regeneron6.11 Interview with Blessing Enekwe, University of MarylandChapter 7. Surviving and Thriving in Your First Year as a New Faculty Member7.1 Transitioning from Postdoc to Faculty7.2 Managing Your Mentor Team7.3 Attending the New Faculty Orientation7.4 Managing Your Teaching Responsibilities7.5 Managing Your Service Expectations7.6 Managing Your Research, Writing, and Publishing7.7 Mentoring7.8 Balancing Teaching, Research, and Service7.9 Checklist7.10 Interview with Lindsay Wright, Yale University7.11 Interview with Mehmet Emre, University of San FranciscoChapter 8. Navigating the System as an International Postdoc8.1 Familiarizing Yourself with the Available Resources8.2 Applying for Your Visa and Navigating Immigration Issues8.3 Understanding Your Employment Benefits8.4 Taxes8.5 Driving and Housing8.6 Cultural Norms in American Higher Education8.7 Building a Support Network for International Scholars8.8 Checklist8.9 Interview with Paola Cepeda, Washington University in St. Louis8.10 Interview with Sudheesh Allikka Parambil, Yale UniversityConclusion: Key Takeaways and Final ThoughtsAcknowledgmentsAppendixA.1 Questions to Ask When Interviewing for a Postdoc PositionA.2 Cover Letter Guidance and Sample CVsA.3 Interview Preparation ChecklistA.4 Resources and Additional ReadingNotesReferencesIndex