Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research “Getting that first post-doc” Anthony Moorman Professor of Genetic Epidemiology

Overview of session Laying the foundations of a good CV Selecting the right post-doc for you Applying for the job Questions

Academic Career Pathway

PhD Student Tenured Academic Position Research Technician / Assistant / Associate Post-doc Independent Researcher Fellowship Scientist

Laying the foundations of a good CV Finish your PhD on time Publications –First author > Joint first author > Second author Present research at conference –Spoken / Platform presentation –Poster presentation –International > National > Local Techniques –Basic –State-of-the-art

Networking It's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference. [Anon] It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living. [Bob Burg]

Networking Make yourself known –Talk to PIs etc in your institute –Accept any invitation to meet external speakers –Do “research in progress” talks. Prepare well in advance. Attend conferences –Don’t be afraid to ask questions –Introduce yourself to leaders in the field –Ask your supervisor(s) to introduce you –If you have a poster make sure to display on time and for full length of time. Be in attendance during “poster” sessions.

Your five year plan

Where do you want to be in five years? –Fellowship –Joint application on grant –Expert in particular technique / field –Lecturing –Industry How is this post-doc going to get you there?

Goals for your first-doc? First author publications Experience of grant preparation / writing Learning new techniques/skills

Selecting the right post-doc “Should I stay or should I go” –Plus going abroad Changing fields –Technique driven –Subject driven Cast net early and wide But be careful..... Very important decision

Assessing a potential position (1) Are they.... –... leaders in the field? –... the next big thing? –... journeymen? –... the weakest link? Aim as high as possible Look up the RAE rating of department / unit Literature search – including citation index Money –How much have they got and from where –Cross reference their website from funders website

Assessing a potential position (2) Group metrics / dynamics –Who is publishing as first author / corresponding author? –Size of group –Ratio of senior : junior staff –Clinically active heads of lab Who do they collaborate with? –Website PLUS publications Use your contacts to gather informal information

Preparing your CV Clear & Concise Divide into sections –Qualifications (including training courses) –Research Skills Be honest, Quantify, Official training –Other skills (e.g. languages etc) –Meetings / Conferences Presentations Publications Mission / Personal Statements

Applying for a position Do not apply cold. –Contact PI in advance. Ask questions about project and team. Read their papers. Try to find project application via funder website. Covering letter –Write, re-write, re-write and re-write

Interview

Interview (1) Smart dress Don’t bullshit! Be prepared to …. –Give a brief interesting overview of PhD –What your ideal next experiment would be if there were no financial or logistical problems. –Describe how did you trouble-shoot a technical problem –How you approach writing your first author paper

Interview (2) Ask some questions –Research related –What have former post-docs gone on to do? –Teaching opportunities

Feedback Please complete feedback forms