kick-start of an academic careerhomepages.ulb.ac.be/~dpaindav/stuff/talks/kickstart.pdfkick-start of...

Kick-Start of an Academic Career

Davy Paindaveine

UCL, September 2012

1 The structure of the academic career

2 Getting a job

Choosing a job

Finding a job

Preparing an application / an interview

3 Being a junior academic

The importance of research

Optimizing your research output

Getting grants

The structure of the academic career — and in particular, the promotion system —is very heterogenous across countries... (see the Professor Wikipedia page)

Yet most systems involve

an horizontal dimension

a vertical dimension

a crucial concept

The horizontal dimension

Academia involves two types of positions :

the research-teaching positions(managed by universities)

the research positions(managed by NSF-type of organisations)

In Belgium,

the professor positionschargé de cours -(hoofd)docentprofesseur - hoogleraarprofesseur ordinaire - gewoon hoogleraar

the FNRS/FWO positionschercheur qualifiémaître de recherchedirecteur de recherche

There are usually many more research-teaching positions.

The horizontal dimension

Academia involves two types of positions :

the research-teaching positions(managed by universities)

the research positions(managed by NSF-type of organisations)

In Belgium,

the professor positionschargé de cours -(hoofd)docentprofesseur - hoogleraarprofesseur ordinaire - gewoon hoogleraar

the FNRS/FWO positionschercheur qualifiémaître de recherchedirecteur de recherche

There are usually many more research-teaching positions.

The vertical dimension

The vertical dimension is associated with level of "seniority"(see above for Belgium)

Heterogeneity across countries here is huge, but you should be aware of the USsystem, where you consecutively turn (or not)

Assistant professor

Associate professor

Full professor

Most national systems involve three such levels...But the matching may be difficult to achieve.

Example: Belgium

The vertical dimension

The vertical dimension is associated with level of "seniority"(see above for Belgium)

Heterogeneity across countries here is huge, but you should be aware of the USsystem, where you consecutively turn (or not)

Assistant professor(a)⇔ Chargé de cours

Associate professor(b)⇔ Professeur

Full professor(c)⇔ Professeur ordinaire

Most national systems involve three such levels...But the matching may be difficult to achieve.

Example: Belgium

A crucial concept

What makes(a)⇔ disputable is the tenure concept.

According to Wikipedia, "Tenure commonly refers [to life tenure in a job and]specifically to a senior academic’s contractual right not to have his or her positionterminated without just cause".

You should read that "once you have tenure, you won’t get fired unless you killsome colleague or student". The goal is to guarantee academic freedom.

(a)⇔ is disputable because

chargé de cours is a tenured position

>< an assistant professor position is usually a tenure-track position

In the US, at some places in the UK, but also in other countries, a tenure-trackposition is usually a six-year position at the end of which your records areevaluated to decide whether you are given tenure or not. Take care: it is "up or out"!

A crucial concept

An important concept

A natural question of interest :

What are the requirements to get tenure?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer this question because the requirements areextremely heterogeneous again, this time even across institutions (getting tenureat, e.g., Stanford is much more challenging than in a third-league US university).

Applicants are evaluated based on their contributions to research, teaching, andadministration. In our field, research remains the most important factor.

In a tenure-track position, be informed about the requirements to get tenure

Quick summary of the US system:

Assistant professor: 4-8 years, tenure-track, up or out

Associate professor: mid-level, in most cases tenured, professor

Full professor: a senior, tenured professor

The UK system, in a snapshot:

Lecturer (or assistant prof): tenure-track or tenured positions

Senior lecturer (or associate prof): slightly higher level, tenured, professor

Reader (or associate prof): mid-level, tenured, professor

Professor: a senior, tenured professor

Quick summary of the US system:

Assistant professor: 4-8 years, tenure-track, up or out

Associate professor: mid-level, in most cases tenured, professor

Full professor: a senior, tenured professor

The UK system, in a snapshot:

Lecturer (or assistant prof): tenure-track or tenured positions

Senior lecturer (or associate prof): slightly higher level, tenured, professor

Reader (or associate prof): mid-level, tenured, professor

Professor: a senior, tenured professor

The French system, in a snapshot:

Maître de conférence: relatively junior tenured position(≈ assistant+ or associate prof)

Professeur des Universités (2nd, 1rst, or exceptional class) : full professor

Remarks :

The application system is quite complicated1) you need to apply for "qualification" through the "galaxie" website2) if you do qualify, you may send your application to universities that have aopening in your "section"(Section 26, e.g., is "applied math")The unofficial website "Opération postes" (dedicated to pure and applied mathsonly) is listing the openings...... but is also hosting data on the potential applicants...... and sequentially shows the rankings on the various positions to be filled(for France, this is the place to be on the web in June)

To go up to PU, you need to defend a second thesis ("habilitation")

Remarks :

The application system is quite complicated

1) you need to apply for "qualification" through the "galaxie" website2) if you do qualify, you may send your application to universities that have aopening in your "section"(Section 26, e.g., is "applied math")The unofficial website "Opération postes" (dedicated to pure and applied mathsonly) is listing the openings...... but is also hosting data on the potential applicants...... and sequentially shows the rankings on the various positions to be filled(for France, this is the place to be on the web in June)

Remarks :

The application system is quite complicated1) you need to apply for "qualification" through the "galaxie" website

2) if you do qualify, you may send your application to universities that have aopening in your "section"(Section 26, e.g., is "applied math")The unofficial website "Opération postes" (dedicated to pure and applied mathsonly) is listing the openings...... but is also hosting data on the potential applicants...... and sequentially shows the rankings on the various positions to be filled(for France, this is the place to be on the web in June)

Remarks :

The application system is quite complicated1) you need to apply for "qualification" through the "galaxie" website2) if you do qualify, you may send your application to universities that have aopening in your "section"(Section 26, e.g., is "applied math")

The unofficial website "Opération postes" (dedicated to pure and applied mathsonly) is listing the openings...... but is also hosting data on the potential applicants...... and sequentially shows the rankings on the various positions to be filled(for France, this is the place to be on the web in June)

Remarks :

The application system is quite complicated1) you need to apply for "qualification" through the "galaxie" website2) if you do qualify, you may send your application to universities that have aopening in your "section"(Section 26, e.g., is "applied math")The unofficial website "Opération postes" (dedicated to pure and applied mathsonly) is listing the openings...... but is also hosting data on the potential applicants...

... and sequentially shows the rankings on the various positions to be filled(for France, this is the place to be on the web in June)

Remarks :

Outline

2 Getting a job

Choosing a job

Finding a job

Getting grants

Choosing a job

Some relevant questions to choose a job :

(1) Should I go for a post-doc fellowship (PDF) orshould I rather go right away for a tenure-track position?

More and more often, a PDF actually is required to get a tenure-track position(especially in countries where there are no genuine tenure-track positions).

(+) PDFs are nice positions

to work on your research records (see later)

to start an independent line of research (see later)

to gain international experience (see later)

(-) PDF postpones the time you get tenure (PDFs are temporary positions, henceare one of the steps to obtain tenure).

Choosing a job

Irrespective of your answer to the previous question...

(2) Should I go abroad or not?

Going abroad brings you something needed in your cv...

... at a time where it is costless

More deeply, going abroad will place you in a new environment, where you will

learn new techniques

naturally start something fresh

start from scratch again

focus on research

Choosing a job

focus on research

Choosing a job

focus on research

Choosing a job

focus on research

Choosing a job

Clearly, there are many other factors that will decide what job you will go for.

Questions you should keep in mind when considering a position :

(3) Is the place providing a pleasant working environment?(quality of the researchers there, running seminars, funding available, etc.)

(4) Is the research conducted there compatible with my skills?(avoid too much orthogonality as much as perfect colinearity)

(5) Is a two-year contract exactly what I am looking for?

(6) Will the place look well on my CV when applying to the next job?

(7) Is it ok for me not to work in a stat department?

(8) What is the teaching load?

(9) Am I allowed to teach (on a post doc fellowship)?

Choosing a job

(10) What is the salary? How will it evolve? How is it fixed?

(11) How "easy" is the promotion process?

(12) ...

Finding a job

There are many stat jobs out there(arguably statistics is the field of mathematics that offers most jobs)

When looking for positions, you may want

to visit dedicated sites (mathjobs.org, math-jobs.com, jobs.phds.org, etc.)

to rely on national stat societies (BSS, SFdS, SSS, etc.)

to exploit international stat societies (IMS, ASA, ISI, etc.)

to subscribe to stat mailing lists (all-stat, stoch-ned, etc.)

I’ve been sitting in various appointment committees, inside and outside my ownuniversity. Here is a bunch of advices :

When preparing your application :

Read the announcementCheck you fit the profileApply only if you really want the jobFollow the instructions

Go for a short cover letter, tailored for the position

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is 1) publications2) publications 3) publications 4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

Carefully choose your reference

Get info on the department and, if possible, on the selection committee.Present yourself as a good fit (no perfect colinearity nor orthogonality)

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is

1) publications2) publications 3) publications 4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is 1) publications

2) publications 3) publications 4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is 1) publications2) publications

3) publications 4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is 1) publications2) publications 3) publications

4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

Carefully write your CV: what the committee will look for is 1) publications2) publications 3) publications 4) meetings / editorial service / ... 5) teaching

(as for the form, simply copycat CVs from previously successful graduates)

You are shortlisted. You now have to prepare the interview :

Get in contact with the chair of the selection committee to have as much infoas possible on what is expected from you there.

Present yourself as an ambitious researcherYou have a five-year plan...... that is not stating that you just want to replicate what you have been doing so farYou plan to submit your work to the best journalsYou have plans to get funding, at the highest level (ERC?)

Design specific courses from the teaching load (ask for it) and be prepared todescribe them (toc, teaching philosophy, ...)At the interface between teaching and research,

Explain how your research will inform your teachingYou want to integrate students into your research

Do not underestimate the importance of the social parts of the interview

Be prepared to explain why you want that position over another one

Be a chameleon (you should not prepare an interview for a business school asyou would do for a math dept)

Get in contact with the chair of the selection committee to have as much infoas possible on what is expected from you there.Present yourself as an ambitious researcher

You have a five-year plan...... that is not stating that you just want to replicate what you have been doing so farYou plan to submit your work to the best journalsYou have plans to get funding, at the highest level (ERC?)

Design specific courses from the teaching load (ask for it) and be prepared todescribe them (toc, teaching philosophy, ...)

At the interface between teaching and research,Explain how your research will inform your teachingYou want to integrate students into your research

Do not forget that you have questions for the selection committee :

You want to know about

promotions

salaries

funding

teaching loads

sabbaticals

Outline

2 Getting a job

Choosing a job

Finding a job

Getting grants

As a post doc, you will focus on research.

But as an assistant professor, you will be given three missions :

research

teaching

administration

Of course, how much you will invest in each of those missions depends on their(local) relative importance for tenure/promotion.

Still, keep in mind that research is important :

In most places, it is the most influential factor for tenure/promotion

It is needed to be happy in the job (peer-pressure)

(It is by far the easiest mission to forget about)

research

teaching

administration

research

teaching

administration

research

teaching

administration

"Optimizing" your research output (crucial in a publish-or-perish system) :

Carefully select topicstry to get some distance from the topic of your PhD thesishave both safe and ambitious projectsit is worth (but risky) going for hot topics

Properly select co-authorsmake sure you have (good) publications without your supervisor (independence)try to have authors outside your dept, outside your university, from abroad

Make it so that you have a "sexy" list of publicationsBe aware that top CVs require publications in top journals (AoS, JASA, JRSS B,Biometrika, Bernoulli), some of which as an independent researcher(be ambitious and DO NOT go for self-censorship)

besides, a reasonably long list of papers is also welcome(achieve this by going for second-league journals, etc.)

Of course, communicating about your research and meeting people is crucial :

Go to conferences and talk to people

Take part in local workshops/meetings and talk to people

Attend seminars in your dpt and talk to people

Networking is important...

Another way to do some networking is by organizing the local seminar series.If you are invited to do so, do not turn the invitation down!

More generally, never turn down an invitation!

As your work will become known, you will get invitations

to give seminar or conference talks

to write referee reports

to be part of a jury

Getting grants

(+) Funding is crucial for research. Grants allow you

to attend conferences, to let your students attend conferences

to invite collaborators to visit you

to hire PhD students / post docs

to buy computers, softwares, and books

(+) As a "side effect", grants also bring medals, that will play a positive role in yourcareer.

(-) Applying for grants is usually a time-consuming and exhausting process

Getting grants

It is hopeless to try and list the grants you could apply for, all the more so manygrants are regional or national ones (e.g., ARC / PAI)

It is more useful to know what types of grants are available :

Post doc grants (e.g., Marie-Curie fellowship)

Intra-university team grants (e.g., ARC)

Inter-university team grants (e.g., PAI)

Personal grants (e.g., MIS, ERC starting grant)

In this last type of grants, you are the "principal investigator" and the idea is to giveyou the possibility to start your own team.

These grants are usually extremely competitive. To have a chance to get suchgrants, you need to (i) have a great profile and (ii) have a great research project.

Getting grants

"Great" is still with respect to the values considered important in academia (which Itried to stress in this talk).

As a refreshment, you need

to have top publication records

to have an international experience

to be internationally visible

to be an "independent" researcher

Getting grants

Wrap up

Hopefully, this presentation gave you information about

how find the job that is good for you

how to prepare for the application/interview

how to "behave" as a young academic actor

what are the "universal values" in academia

Going for academia

To all of you who want to go for academia1, I wish

Good luck!

1P.S. To the other ones, I wish strictly the same.

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