Building your career in atmospheric chemistry: be all you can be Daniel J. Jacob

Grad student at Caltech ( ): chasing acid fog in California Harvard Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group (2012) Harvard: postdoc (1985, 1987), professor (1987-) My itinerary

Good reasons not to choose a career in research: Independence Joy of discovery Shielding from human suffering and stupidity Job security See the world “My experience as grad student/postdoc isn’t fun” (it doesn’t get better) “Research is too narrow or too long-term” “I want to become filthy rich” Bad reasons: “I’m not creative enough” “I don’t want to publish or perish” “It’s too hard to get a good job” “I want to have a personal life” Is a research career for you? …but it may not be for you. A lot has to be said for a career in research… If not you, then who?

How to make your research work more satisfying Work in a supportive and energetic environment Know your strengths and play to them Focus your time on what’s important to you – learn to say no Be open with your ideas and data – you will take in more than you let out Don’t take yourself seriously Find out what you’re not good at, and don’t do it!

Atmospheric chemistry is a great field for young scientists Central importance for many environmental issues; society cares! Critical component of many interdisciplinary problems in Earth Science The frontier of knowledge is near: many 0 th -order questions remain Pick between fundamental, applied, and integrative problems New research tools are enabling new science The club is small and the funding is relatively good Climate Air quality Ecosystems

Be all you can be Work with top-notch people –Find a mentor to inspire, promote you –Have energetic colleagues – feel challenged! –Join a Science Team – develop partnerships Choose good problems –Listen to your mentors and colleagues –Get involved in community affairs –Be broad on fundamentals so you can recognize opportunities –Move on when things don’t pan out Set high standards for yourself –Develop depth in a particular topic, breadth in a broader area –Don’t be complacent about ignorance. Be rock-solid on fundamentals –Avoid unnecessary service/meetings that swallow your time –Bust your butt when you’re young; the investment is worth it “To those who have had, more will be given” If we doubled the length of our group meetings, we would accomplish twice as much!

Work on your communication skills Communication is an essential component of research Publications are your top priority They define you as a scientist They are the metric of scientific productivity Never miss an opportunity to talk about your research Volunteer to give talks, meet with visitors Go to conferences, but also to workshops and Science Team meetings Learn to give an elevator speech on your work Advertise yourself with a basic website CV, publications, presentations (with links) Make the most of a meeting like IGAC by networking and getting noticed Ask questions (on-line or off-line), discuss at poster sessions Connect your own work to what other people are doing Introduce yourself – don’t be shy ! “Scientists are motivated by two things: to understand the world and to get credit for it”

Writing an effective paper Think about how people (you!) search for and read papers –Abstract is super-important –Focus on the important ideas and stick them in reader’s face –Figure/Tables should be stand-alone and clearly referenced Have a clear logical flow Be scholarly in referencing (it will help you with search engines!) Have attractive figures; at least one should be memorable Include useful quantitative info that readers will want to access (and cite!) Make the paper no longer than it absolutely needs to be. “Your paper has a lot that’s true, and a lot that’s new. Unfortunately, the two don’t overlap”

Giving a great presentation Background at the beginning is supremely important –Start with the big picture and show how your work connects to it –Know your audience! Focus on the lowest common denominator and bring them to you Know your topic cold –understand EVERYTHING you say or show. –Torment yourself by thinking what questions might be asked Use attractive slides and simple, clear graphics Every slide should have a punchline, written if possible on the slide Be articulate: practice, practice. Avoid technical details but ooze with technical expertise. –Convey “this is only the tip of what I know” Don’t go beyond your allotted time or sweat and hurry at the end. Know what slides to jettison or just stop

Writing a successful proposal Be scrupulously responsive to the solicitation Have clearly spelled out objectives/hypotheses/questions (WHAT) Have Itemized Tasks corresponding to each objective (HOW) Sell the “big picture” implications of your project (WHY) Be intensely personal; explain why you’re uniquely qualified to do the work and how it fits into your grander plans (WHO)

Some advice for a young professor Have a mentor Invest more in research than in teaching/service (where it’s OK to just be OK) Be respectful of your students Be careful in hiring students/postdocs Stay in the lab: your best work will be done by yourself Make your mark; get known for something Publish, publish, and network, network Enjoy life!

Can’t get enough of Jacob’s loony advice? How to write an effective scientific paper How to write a successful proposal Advising and mentoring Life after the Ph.D. How to give an effective presentation The scientific literature and you How to balance work and play Go to