{"id":99737,"date":"2024-09-21T17:26:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-21T21:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/?page_id=99737"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T16:58:00","slug":"academic-careers-postdoc-ing-and-professor-ing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/students\/professional-development\/career-exploration-transition\/academic-careers-postdoc-ing-and-professor-ing\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Careers &#8211; Postdoc-ing and Professor-ing"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Introductory resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TKuNSjf0PSA&amp;t=58s&amp;pp=ygUSc3VjY2Vzc2Z1bCBwb3N0ZG9j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Finding your perfect postdoc experience<\/a> (NIH OITE, 24-min video).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=x11XlTXBZvA&amp;pp=ygUsZnJvbSBncmFkdWF0ZSBzdHVkZW50IHRvIGFzc2lzdGFudCBwcm9mZXNzb3I%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">From graduate student to faculty &#8211; navigating academia<\/a> (OSU, 1-hour video).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/career.berkeley.edu\/grad-students-postdocs\/academic-job-search\/the-transition-from-grad-student-to-assistant-professor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">From graduate student to assistant professor &#8211; key faculty position descriptions and advice<\/a> (UC Berkeley).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bu.vault.com\/professions\/college-professors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What do college professors do?<\/a> (BU Vault).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Venturing further in this career area<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpimascientist.com\/career-guidance\/graduate-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Articles, funding resources, and helpful tips about postdoc-ing<\/a>, Help, I&#8217;m a Scientist!<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8218371\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A guide to setting a lab at a research-intensive institution<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhmi.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-10\/making-the-right-moves-second-edition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Making the Right Moves &#8211; A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdoc and New faculty<\/a>, HHMI.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhmi.org\/sites\/default\/files\/Educational%20Materials\/Lab%20Management\/entering_mentoring.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Entering Mentoring<\/a>, A guide and seminar to train the next generation of scientists.<\/li>\n<li>Building your team and seeking ways to motivate and engage teammates in the growth of your research program is crucial &#8211; a lot of online courses are available on these topics, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/learn\/managing-talent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Managing Talent<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Academics as entrepreneurs and innovators: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wipo.int\/en\/web\/technology-transfer\/access-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Transferring technology: from lab to market<\/a>, WIPO.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uGzhVHX_M0s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Faculty careers outside of the tenure track<\/a>, (ODU, 1-hour career panel video).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/facultyfactory.org\/podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Faculty Factory Podcast<\/a>, John Hopkins Medicine (podcast by and for current and future faculty).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul><\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Preparing your transition into this career area<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibiology.org\/the_strategic_postdoc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Strategic Postdoc (iBiology course)<\/a> &#8211; free, on-demand, online course to strategize your postdoc search and choose your postdoc lab wisely.\n<ul>\n<li>If you are (or when you become) a postdoc, consider leveraging <a href=\"https:\/\/www.postdocacademy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Postdoc Academy<\/a> resources and courses to make the most of your postdoc experience, prepare for conversations with mentors, and prepare to transition into your next step.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ymaws.com\/www.nationalpostdoc.org\/resource\/resmgr\/Docs\/going-in-with-your-eyes-open.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Going with your eyes open: what to ask before accepting a US postdoctoral position<\/a>, National Postdoc Association resource.<\/li>\n<li>As a postdoc and\/or faculty member, consider building and maintaining a personal advisory board of mentors. This <a href=\"https:\/\/members.ncfdd.org\/ncfddmentormap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mentor mapping activity from NCFDD<\/a> can help you map your current network of mentors and think of ways to expand it strategically.<\/li>\n<li>If you are aiming to transition into a faculty position after your postdoc, consider joining the <a href=\"https:\/\/futurepislack.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Future PI Slack<\/a> to support and get support from peers, give talks, prepare for the faculty job market, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tips and data to learn more about the faculty job market:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/career.ucsf.edu\/phds\/career-paths\/faculty\/acra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Academic Career Readiness Assessment<\/a> (ACRA) &#8211; to understand which skills to hone depending on the faculty role you are aiming for (teaching- <em>vs<\/em> research-intensive).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rahmanmsaidur.com\/Talks\/faculty-job-search.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Acing the Tenure Track Job Search: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Step of the Journey for Academic Candidates<\/a>, a faculty job search guide by Saidur Rahman, PhD.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/helpimascientist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Job-Search-Advice-by-Teresa-Lee.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Faculty Job Search advice and stories<\/a> from Teresa Lee, PhD.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41386-021-01225-w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A scientific approach to navigating the academic job market<\/a>, Nature.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/faculty-job-market-collab.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Accessing data on the faculty job market<\/a>, Faculty Job Market Collaboration.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8AeWCnFM6v0&amp;pp=ygUpYWNhZGVtaWMgY2FyZWVycyBiZXlvbmQgdGhlIHByb2Zlc3NvcmlhdGU%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Using academic analytics to understand the pathway to the professoriate<\/a>, 1-hour video.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Expand your network and learn from other academics:\n<ul>\n<li>Growing your network and <a href=\"https:\/\/intersectjobsims.com\/infointerviewguide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">having informational interviews<\/a> with PhDs who have transitioned into careers of interest to you will enable you to learn more about the job&#8217;s daily responsibilities, hiring process, career progression, etc., and the sector as a whole.\n<ul>\n<li>Look for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/students\/professional-life\/advising-mentoring\/alumni-mentoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GMS Alumni<\/a> who have transitioned into this career area.<\/li>\n<li>Look for and join relevant thematic online communities, like the <a href=\"https:\/\/newpislack.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">new PI Slack group<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The Social Scientist enables early-career scientists to receive mentorship from folks who have transitioned into various careers &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesocialscientist.org\/academia-mentors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">connect with academic career mentors<\/a> (administrators, professors, postdocs, research specialists&#8230;).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prepare your career transition:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mymedia.bu.edu\/playlist\/dedicated\/207936103\/1_9emp2sqk\/1_2lldbf4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Analyze job descriptions<\/a> to learn more about postdoc profiles and what institutions are looking for in different faculty positions.<\/li>\n<li>Seeking resources to prepare your applications? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pdpa\/for-doctoral-students\/phd-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PhD Progression<\/a> provides online modules to support your career preparation efforts. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pdpa\/for-doctoral-students\/phd-progression\/phd-pathways-subscription\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Register<\/a> for the Career Development pathways and explore <a href=\"https:\/\/bu.badgr.com\/public\/pathway\/61b4db30b1a5b47d25fff25e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">relevant job application preparation online modules<\/a> (for your CV, cover letter, teaching philosophy statement, research statement, etc.) at your own pace. Here is a great resource to help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.molbiolcell.org\/doi\/10.1091\/mbc.E19-01-0007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prepare for chalk talks<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Look for a Future Faculty Workshop like the <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.northeastern.edu\/advance\/faculty-recruitment\/future-faculty-workshop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New England Future Faculty Workshop<\/a> to get feedback on your faculty job application packet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introductory resources Finding your perfect postdoc experience (NIH OITE, 24-min video). From graduate student to faculty &#8211; navigating academia (OSU, 1-hour video). From graduate student to assistant professor &#8211; key faculty position descriptions and advice (UC Berkeley). What do college professors do? (BU Vault). Venturing further in this career area Articles, funding resources, and helpful [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20577,"featured_media":0,"parent":99331,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99737"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20577"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99737"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105615,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99737\/revisions\/105615"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/99331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}