1. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Abstract Graduation is just around the corner and you are considering your options. Should I pursue a career in academia or is industry the way to go? As an engineer you immediately recognize that this is one of the more important multi-objective optimization problems you will face. Among other factors you want to maximize your earning potential, intellectual interest, job security, and influence on health care and society in general. In this panel discussion I will describe the three common career choices available in the academic setting: teaching track, research track, and tenure track. We will describe each of these career options, how to secure your desired job and how each of these choices reflects your preferences with regard to our optimization problem.

2. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Oh, the Places You'll Go! Ziv Yaniv Computer Aided Interventions and Medical Robotics, Georgetown University Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! Dr. Seuss

3. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Choosing Your Career Path, Multi-Objective Optimization Maximize: Earning potential. Intellectual interest. Job security. Influence on health care. Subject to: Location. Family obligations. Financial obligations, …

4. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Academia or Industry Academia: Most important objective is intellectual interest, and possibly job security. Industry: Most important objective is earning potential, possibly influence on health care.

5. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Academia Graduate Student Postdoctoral Researcher Tenure TrackTeaching Track**Research Track* *Research Track is not available in all countries. **Teaching Track usually does not require going through the postdoctoral phase.

6. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Academia Graduate Student Tenure TrackTeaching TrackResearch Track * In some countries, skipping the postdoctoral research phase is not an option.

7. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Planning Your Transitions 1. Secure funding for your next phase: Graduate Students – Apply for postdoctoral research grants. Having your own funding will allow you to choose where to go (most labs will readily accept you). Postdoctoral researcher – Apply for independent funding that will initially support your research as a junior faculty. 2.Plan in advance, approximately a year in advance.

8. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Postdoctoral Researcher What to expect: Research – if funded by mentor, focus will be on their subject of interest, otherwise you have more flexibility to pursue your personal interests. Teaching – usually not part of this academic phase. Service to the community – review for journals and conferences. Grants - participate in grant writing with your mentor, submit your own grant.

9. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Teaching Track What to expect: Research – usually not part of the work. Teaching – primarily undergraduate students. Service to the community – usually not part of the work. Grants - usually not part of the work.

10. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Teaching Track Objective functions: Earning potential Intellectual interest. Job security. Influence on health care. (indirect)

11. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Research Track What to expect: Research – the bulk of your time. Teaching – academic supervision of graduate students. Service to the community – review papers (journal, conference), involved in organization of conferences etc. Grants – secure your own funding to support students and lab equipment. This is the sole source of your salary.

12. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Research Track Objective functions: Earning potential Intellectual interest. Job security. Influence on health care.

13. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Tenure Track What to expect: Research – about 40% of your time. Teaching – undergraduate students and academic supervision of graduate students (about 40% of your time). Service to the community – review papers (journal, conference), involved in organization of conferences etc. Grants – secure your own funding, this will support your students, lab equipment and add to your salary.

14. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Tenure Track Objective functions: Earning potential Intellectual interest. Job security. Influence on health care.

15. Pathways to Success in Biomedical Engineering Minisymposium EMBC’08 Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.) Oh, the Places You'll Go! Dr. Seuss