1. Considering Joining the Next Generation of Researchers? Talk with Us
Sponsored by ASHA’s Research & Scientific Affairs Committee (RSAC)
A component of PROGeny: Promoting the next generation of researchers

2. Disclosure Statement
The authors of this presentation have no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationship(s) with the products or services described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in this presentation.

3. Setting the Stage for Our Conversation
Richard G. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Member, ASHA Research & Scientific Affairs Committee
Presidential Professor,
The Graduate Center of
the City University of New York

4. Critical Need for Researchers
Approximately 1/3 of faculty openings will go unfilled due to a shortage of qualified applicants
Ph.D programs are operating well below capacity with only 22-50% of available slots being filled
One of the top two factors restricting PhD enrollment is the insufficient number of qualified applicants
Research is one of the cornerstones of evidence-based practice
Academic researchers are needed to train the next generation of clinicians and researchers

5. Can You Help Fill this Need for Researchers?
Have you had research experience?
If not, find a way to be involved in research
If yes, did you enjoy it?
If you enjoy research, the next step is Ph.D. study
A PhD is a research degree, rather than a clinical degree
Choose an area of specialty
A PhD is a mentored degree, so it’s crtitical to find the right faculty mentor
Once the PhD is completed, seek employment as a researcher
A wide array of options, even within university settings
What does a research career look like? What does a researcher do each day?
Our panel will illustrate different routes to a research career and different approaches to academic careers

7. For More Information: http://www.asha.org

10. Our Panel
Françoise Brosseau-Lapré, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Assistant Professor Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University Kaitlin Lansford, Ph.D. School of Communication Science and Disorders Florida State University Lizbeth H. Finestack, PhD, CCC-SLP Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences University of Minnesota

11. Françoise Brosseau-Lapré Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Assistant professor
Speech, language, and hearing sciences
Purdue university

12. How Did I Get Here? BA, Psychology from McGill University
Undergraduate honors thesis in Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto’s laboratory
M.Sc. Applied in Speech-Language Pathology from McGill University
Did not complete a research thesis
Clinical speech-language pathologist
Pediatric rehabilitation center (Marie-Enfant)
The Montreal Children’s Hospital

13. How Did I Get Here? During my full-time, clinical work
Looked for opportunities to participate in research
Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic at the Children’s Hospital
Attended conferences
Spoke with researchers, including previous professors at McGill, and research students about their experiences
Started to develop a list of questions I would like to answer

14. How Did I Get Here? Back to school…
PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University
Randomized controlled trial of efficacy of interventions for French-speaking children with speech sound disorders
Dr. Susan Rvachew

15. How Did I Get Here?
PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University
Courses and seminars
Teaching graduate class to clinical SLP students
Guest lectures
Publications
Research presentations
Some grant writing experience
Clinical work at hospital 1 day per
week until I had kids

16. Current Position Assistant Professor
Research: Child Phonology Laboratory
Explore ideas and hypotheses / develop studies
Collect data to answer research question(s)
Analyze data and disseminate results
Mentoring/training for junior faculty
ASHA’s Lessons for Success Program (spring 2015)
ASHA’s Advancing Academic & Research Careers Award
Support academic and research endeavors of newer faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders

17. Current Position Assistant Professor Teaching Classroom teaching
Undergraduate students in SLHS
Clinical MS-SLP students
Research mentoring
MS-SLP students (thesis option)
PhD student
Undergraduate SLHS students working in the lab

18. Current Position Assistant Professor Service
Departmental: very little for Assistant Professors at Purdue
College: very little for Assistant Professors at Purdue
National and International
Manuscript reviews
ASHA Convention Organizing Committee
International Expert Panel on Multilingual Children’s Speech

19. Academic Life Busy, but very, very rewarding and stimulating career
Through research and teaching, possibility of improving the communication skills and lives of thousands of children/families I will not meet personally
Helping students become future critically-thinking SLPs who apply research findings in the service of evidence-based practice

20. Academic Life Juggling many different balls / “CEO” of a lab
Teaching
Writing
Manuscripts
Conference abstracts
Grant proposals/progress reports
IRB applications/renewals
Managing people
Students, research assistants, employees
Managing a budget

21. Academic Life Be ready to be patient
Developing research ideas
Submitting grants
Setting up the study
Hiring personnel
Purchasing equipment
etc. It takes time… but it is incredibly stimulating!
Be prepared for rejection, and embrace the “congratulations” letters along the way

22. Academic Life Very busy, but offers flexibility and is
Intellectually stimulating
Thinking, asking questions, trying to solve puzzles
Reading
Exchanging with colleagues / mentors
Analyzing data
Dissemination
Very busy, but offers flexibility and is
incredibly rewarding

23. Assistant Professor Florida State University klansford@fsu.edu
Kaitlin Lansford
Assistant Professor
Florida State University

24. My Path

25. Doctoral Training Arizona State University Dr. Julie Liss
Motor Speech Disorders Lab
Timeline:
6 years? That’s a long time! Why?

26. Life happens
Comps Baby!
Dissertation Baby!

27. My Doctoral Experiences in a nutshell
Coursework
Research
Development of research ideas, design etc
Conference presentations – ASHA, ASA, CMS
Manuscripts – preparation, submission, rejection (sometimes), publication
Grantsmanship – ASU dissertation award, NIH F31, ASHA Lessons for Success
Lab management
Teaching
Guest lecturing – getting your feet wet
Taught 3 full courses – course prep takes TIME!!

28. Life after grad school

29. Current position Assistant Professor (2012-present)
Research: Motor Speech Disorders Lab
Perception of disordered speech – dysarthria
Perceptual similarity in dysarthria
Perceptual training
Teaching
2:1 teaching load (1:1 in the first year)
Motor speech disorders (on campus, distance), research methods, and introduction to communication disorders

30. Current position Service To the department and College
Minimal at first, although now that I’m in year three it’s ramping up
To the University
Nearly never happens at the Assistant Professor level, but I was fortunate enough to take part in a scholarship committee at the University level
To the profession
Scholarly reviews
ASHA Program Committee - MSD

31. Daily Life My “jobs” Scientist Writer Teacher Mentor Fundraiser
Lab manager
Mother

32. Daily Life
While finding balance is challenging, especially in the beginning, an academic career has many REWARDING benefits
Flexibility
Autonomy
Dynamic work environment with the BEST colleagues
Meaningful contributions – not only to the field, but to the next generation of SLPs

33. Who am I? Lizbeth H. Finestack, PhD, CCC-SLP Assistant Professor
Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
University of Minnesota

34. My path Raised in Central Illinois Undergrad at University of Kansas
MA at University of Minnesota
SLP in Chicago
PhD at University of Kansas
Post-doc at University of Wisconsin
Faculty at University of Minnesota
-highlight:
undergraduate research experience
Completed MA thesis – advocate for self
Clinical experience – and fall back
Expand on other areas in next 3 slides

35. Important turning points in my path
Getting involved in research as undergrad…doing thesis…finding a great board of mentors…taking advantage of diverse opportunities as a PhD student…taking a chance on a post-doc…and know following steady course with an open mind

36. My Research
Development of an explicit intervention approach to teach grammatical forms to children with language impairment, including children with primary language impairment and children with ASD.
NIH R01
NIH R03
Post-doc Project
Dissertation

37. My Research
Gain a better understanding language development of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities to inform intervention.
NIH R01 Supplement
Simons Grant
Single Subject Study
Post-doc Data

38. What DO I do? Teaching Service Research Publications Grants
Your silos/buckets will depend on your position – should be unique to your own needs

39. How?

41. Favorite Parts
Freedom
Flexibility
Students
Learning
Sharing

42. Thank you!
Questions
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