Life After Grad School Craig Knoblock

Outline Academia Academia Research labs Research labs Large Companies Large Companies Startups Startups Starting Your Own Company Starting Your Own Company

Academia Significant emphasis on teaching and research Significant emphasis on teaching and research You have significant freedom to do what you want You have significant freedom to do what you want Sabbaticals, consulting, free summers, travel, etc. Sabbaticals, consulting, free summers, travel, etc. But you need to be a self starter But you need to be a self starter

Writing Papers Need to write at least 2 conference and 2 journal papers every year Need to write at least 2 conference and 2 journal papers every year Submit your papers to workshops, conferences and journals Submit your papers to workshops, conferences and journals Submit early work to workshops, rewrite for conferences, and put in all the details in your journal articles Submit early work to workshops, rewrite for conferences, and put in all the details in your journal articles Don’t get discouraged! Don’t get discouraged! Many good papers get rejected Many good papers get rejected Learn from the reviews Learn from the reviews Submit polished papers, not rough drafts Submit polished papers, not rough drafts Submit papers that you are proud of – it is your reputation Submit papers that you are proud of – it is your reputation

Getting Funding Need to identify research topics that agencies/organizations care enough about to fund Need to identify research topics that agencies/organizations care enough about to fund This may just involve identifying good applications of your research This may just involve identifying good applications of your research Be proactive – understand the real-world problems and submit your ideas to the appropraite funding source Be proactive – understand the real-world problems and submit your ideas to the appropraite funding source Many possible sources of funding Many possible sources of funding NSF, DARPA, AFOSR, ONR, NIH, etc. NSF, DARPA, AFOSR, ONR, NIH, etc. Learn how these different organizations work Learn how these different organizations work Write white papers about your ideas and solicit feedback Write white papers about your ideas and solicit feedback Participate in funding panels to better understand the review process Participate in funding panels to better understand the review process Write proposals on topics your care about Write proposals on topics your care about If you fail the first time, keep trying! If you fail the first time, keep trying!

Building a Community In some cases your research may fall squarely into a community and in others you may span several different communitites In some cases your research may fall squarely into a community and in others you may span several different communitites Find the people that care about what you are working on and you care about what they are working on Find the people that care about what you are working on and you care about what they are working on Publish your work in the conferences they attend Publish your work in the conferences they attend Attend those conferences every year if you can Attend those conferences every year if you can Don’t just hang out with the people you know Don’t just hang out with the people you know Seek out people that are working on related topics Seek out people that are working on related topics Send those people copies or pointers to your papers Send those people copies or pointers to your papers These are the people that may some day be asked to write you a letter of recommendation These are the people that may some day be asked to write you a letter of recommendation

Research Labs Two types of places Two types of places Research is funded externally and you will need to spend time writing proposals (ISI, Parc, SRI, BBN, Fetch Labs) Research is funded externally and you will need to spend time writing proposals (ISI, Parc, SRI, BBN, Fetch Labs) Research is funded internally and you need to justify your research to the mission of the company (Microsoft Research, Bell Labs, IBM) Research is funded internally and you need to justify your research to the mission of the company (Microsoft Research, Bell Labs, IBM) Usually no teaching or students, but sometime there are staff support the research (ISI is an exception here) Usually no teaching or students, but sometime there are staff support the research (ISI is an exception here) Research labs can be a good place to develop a research career Research labs can be a good place to develop a research career As long as you are publishing, you can transition to an academic position later As long as you are publishing, you can transition to an academic position later Important to find an organization that fits what you like to do Important to find an organization that fits what you like to do

Large Companies Microsoft, Google, IBM, Adobe, Apple, etc… Microsoft, Google, IBM, Adobe, Apple, etc… Many of these are large stable companies that provide good long-term employment Many of these are large stable companies that provide good long-term employment Typically you get assigned to a specific product group and the focus can be quite narrow Typically you get assigned to a specific product group and the focus can be quite narrow Good for people that are risk adverse and are not willing to work long hours Good for people that are risk adverse and are not willing to work long hours Can be difficult/impossible to transition back to academia from these places Can be difficult/impossible to transition back to academia from these places Compensation can be very good, but less likely to make a lot of money on stock or options Compensation can be very good, but less likely to make a lot of money on stock or options Summer internships are a good way to explore this option Summer internships are a good way to explore this option

Startups Can be a more exciting place to work with opportunities to contribute to all aspects of a business Can be a more exciting place to work with opportunities to contribute to all aspects of a business Significantly higher risk (9 out of 10 startups fail!) Significantly higher risk (9 out of 10 startups fail!) Salaries are often lower, but it is made up in stock options Salaries are often lower, but it is made up in stock options Hours can be much longer, but this depends on the place and the culture Hours can be much longer, but this depends on the place and the culture Payoff can be significantly higher if the company is successful Payoff can be significantly higher if the company is successful Do your homework before taking a position Do your homework before taking a position Do you believe that the company has a strong future Do you believe that the company has a strong future Is the overall compensation package fair? Is the overall compensation package fair?

Starting Your Own Company Step 1: Need a business idea that will make money Step 1: Need a business idea that will make money A technology does not make a business A technology does not make a business Need to figure out how to apply the technology to solve a problem people care about Need to figure out how to apply the technology to solve a problem people care about Step 2: Protect your IP Step 2: Protect your IP If developed at USC, file an invention disclosure and try to get USC to pay for the patent If developed at USC, file an invention disclosure and try to get USC to pay for the patent Step 3: Raise funding Step 3: Raise funding STTR and SBIR programs are a great source of funding for startups STTR and SBIR programs are a great source of funding for startups Angels may also be a good initial source of investment Angels may also be a good initial source of investment VCs usually get involved later VCs usually get involved later Step 4: Build a strong team Step 4: Build a strong team Need strong technical people Need strong technical people But you also need to find people that know how to build a business But you also need to find people that know how to build a business

Conclusion Select a type of place that fits you Select a type of place that fits you Make sure that you will work on things that interest you Make sure that you will work on things that interest you Find a place that has a culture that you like Find a place that has a culture that you like Consider other relevant aspects, such as location, compensation, cost of living, opportunities for advancement, etc…. Consider other relevant aspects, such as location, compensation, cost of living, opportunities for advancement, etc….