Table of Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
1 Preparing for Entering Academia 3
The Hard Truth About the Academic Life 3
Getting a Head Start as an Undergraduate Volunteer 5
The Undergraduate CV 7
Finding Your Research Interests 7
Summary 8
2 Applying for Graduate School 9
The Hard Truth About Applying to Grad Schools 9
Master’s Degree versus Ph.D. 11
Apply to People not Programs; and Finding a Good Fit 12
Contacting Professors 14
The Graduate Application 16
Statement Letter 17
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) 19
Write a CV 20
Reference Letters 21
Get a Website/Cards 21
Recruitment Weekend 22
Summary 23
3 Graduate School 25
The Hard Truth About Grad School 25
Seminars 28
Tool Up Early 35
The Notebook and the Pencil 36
Different Kinds of Advisors 36
Candidacy 37
Working with Other Graduate Students 40
Classes 41
Publications 42
Being a Teaching Assistant 45
Tips on Managing Your Time 46
Picking a Dissertation Topic and Writing Your Thesis 51
Choosing a Committee 52
Grants and Thesis Proposals 53
Meetings/Societies 54
Knowing When to Finish 56
Summary 57
4 Finding a Postdoctoral Position 61
The Hard Truth About Finding a Postdoc 61
Types of Postdocs 63
What a Postdoc Does 65
A Postdoc That’s Not a Postdoc 65
Summary 66
5 Postdoctoral Positions 67
The Hard Truth About Postdocs 67
Being the New Guy or Gal in the Lab 68
Advisors 69
Running Out of Time 71
Summary 73
6 Applying for Jobs 75
Applying for Jobs 75
Applications 76
Job Interviews 78
Research Presentations 83
Typical Questions You Are Asked in a Job Interview 85
Not Getting the Interview/Job 86
Getting an Offer 87
Summary 88
7 Assistant Professor 89
The Hard Truth of Being an Assistant Professor 89
Negotiating Start-Up 90
Other Considerations Before You Actually Start Your New Job 93
How to Spend Your Money and What to Expect 96
The First Year 97
Hiring People (Technicians, Students) 98
Finding Graduate Students 100
Making a New Course 102
Service 105
Getting Your First Grant 106
Getting Papers Out 109
Mentoring Committees, Reviews 110
Tenure Package and Reviews 110
Summary 112
8 Special Considerations for Women and Minorities, and Balancing Work and Family 115
The Hard Truth About Being a Minority in Science 115
The Hard Truth About Being a Woman in Science 116
The Two-Body Problem 119
Balancing Work and Family 119
Appendices 121
1 Example Undergraduate Curriculum Vitae 123
2 Example Graduate Student cv 126
3 Example Thesis Proposal 131
4 Example Job Cover Letter 138
5 Example Research Interests for Job Application 141
6 Example C.V. for Job Application 146
7 Example Teaching Statement and Philosophy for Job Application 154
8 Example Extra Statement for Job Application (Curatorial Statement) 157
9 Example Chalk Talk for Job Interview 160
10 Example Start-Up Wish List 162
11 Review Package Summary Presentation 165
Glossary 167
Index 173
