Working in a research university

Jeff GralnickDepartment of MicrobiologyBioTechnology Institute

BMBB Retreat - 07

Who am I?

• Undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cellularand Developmental Biology from Universityof Colorado - Boulder.– 4 years

• PhD in Bacteriology from University ofWisconsin - Madison.– 6 years

• Postdoc in Geobiology at Caltech.– 2.5 years

Getting an Academic Job#1

Start looking now.

JG’s$0.02

Set up a job search JG’s$0.02

Hmmm…looksinteresting:

University of Minnesota"Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment"

Two Faculty Positions in Biocatalysis, Bioenergy,or Biotransformations

The University of Minnesota is seeking outstanding candidates for two full-time, tenure-track/tenured facultypositions. Successful applicants will complement current strengths in biocatalysis, bioenergy, andbiotransformations. We are especially interested in candidates whose research interfaces with ongoing effortsat the Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment, the Center for Microbial and Plant Genomics, TheBioTechnology Institute, Center for Metals in Biocatalysis, and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.

The Department of Microbiology and the BioTechnology Institute seek an outstanding tenure-track facultymember investigating the role of microorganisms in biocatalysis,biotransformation, or bioenergy. The expected appointment is at the Assistant Professor level, butAssociate Professors will also be considered. Candidates will hold their academic appointment in theDepartment of Microbiology. For more information about microbiology and biotechnology please visit our websites at http://www.microbiology.med.umn.edu or http://www.bti.umn.edu/. Candidates must have a Ph.D. inmicrobiology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, plus postdoctoral experience, and a strong publicationrecord.

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and the BioTechnology Institute seek anoutstanding faculty member. Possible research areas include: bioenergy, biocatalysis, metabolic or microbialengineering, microbial biochemistry, biomaterials, or systems biology. The expected appointment is as atenure-track assistant professor, but candidates at a higher level will be considered. For more informationabout the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and the Biotechnology Instituteplease visit our web sites at http://www.cbs.umn.edu/BMBB/ and http://www.bti.umn.edu/. Candidates musthave a Ph.D. degree and a strong publication record. Postdoctoral or equivalent experience is desired.

Review of applications will begin May 20, 2004 and continue until both positions are filled.

The Job Ad

University of Minnesota"Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment"

Two Faculty Positions in Biocatalysis, Bioenergy,or Biotransformations

The University of Minnesota is seeking outstanding candidates for two full-time, tenure-track/tenured facultypositions. Successful applicants will complement current strengths in biocatalysis, bioenergy, andbiotransformations. We are especially interested in candidates whose research interfaces with ongoing effortsat the Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment, the Center for Microbial and Plant Genomics, TheBioTechnology Institute, Center for Metals in Biocatalysis, and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.

The Department of Microbiology and the BioTechnology Institute seek an outstanding tenure-track facultymember investigating the role of microorganisms in biocatalysis,biotransformation, or bioenergy. The expected appointment is at the Assistant Professor level, butAssociate Professors will also be considered. Candidates will hold their academic appointment in theDepartment of Microbiology. For more information about microbiology and biotechnology please visit our websites at http://www.microbiology.med.umn.edu or http://www.bti.umn.edu/. Candidates must have a Ph.D. inmicrobiology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, plus postdoctoral experience, and a strong publicationrecord.

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and the BioTechnology Institute seek anoutstanding faculty member. Possible research areas include: bioenergy, biocatalysis, metabolic or microbialengineering, microbial biochemistry, biomaterials, or systems biology. The expected appointment is as atenure-track assistant professor, but candidates at a higher level will be considered. For more informationabout the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and the Biotechnology Instituteplease visit our web sites at http://www.cbs.umn.edu/BMBB/ and http://www.bti.umn.edu/. Candidates musthave a Ph.D. degree and a strong publication record. Postdoctoral or equivalent experience is desired.

Review of applications will begin May 20, 2004 and continue until both positions are filled.

The Job Ad

This job ad was written for me!

Getting an Academic Job#1

Start looking now.• Get to know what is out there!• Get to know what institutes are looking for!

– You never know, they might be looking for you!• Get excited by prospects!

– Excellent motivation

JG’s$0.02

Getting an Academic Job#2

Have a good story to tell. Giving agood seminar is also important.

JG’s$0.02

Getting an Academic Job#3

Make sure they know you wantthe job!

JG’s$0.02

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7146/full/447791a.html

http://www.hhmi.org/resources/labmanagement/

Nature's guide for mentors

Resources to check out before you start

At the HelmBy Kathy Barker

To request a freehard copy of Makingthe Right Moves,contactlabmgmt@hhmi.org.When ordering,please supply yourmailing address andtelephone numberand indicate how thebook will be used.

Now what have you gottenyourself into?

• You now have 3 nearly full-time jobs!– You must run a renowned research lab.– You must write grants to run your renowned

research lab, and publish so your lab becomesrenowned.

– You must be a competent teacher.

Tenure• Achieving tenure is the single most important

academic goal as an assistant professor.

– We are motivated by science. Tenure means wecan do this as long as we like!

• At Minnesota, a packet is submitted in the fallof your 5th year.– 2.5 more years for me! :o

• Can vary from institution to institution:– UAB (Biochem), 9.5 years for packet submission

Tenure• Microbiology:

– 1-3 papers published per year in peer-reviewedjournals.

• Yes, there is a list (not comprehensive) of journals– More credit given for higher profile papers (e.g.

Science, Nature, PNAS), and highly citedpapers.

– Must acquire at least one externally funded grant(e.g. NSF, NIH, private foundations).

– Must demonstrate service to the University.– Must demonstrate ability to teach.

These requirements also are different from departmentto department and from University to University

Setting up a Lab• The big supply company reps will act like your

best friends in anticipation of a big ‘new lab’ order.• (Fisher, VWR)

• Be aware of ‘new lab’ discounts available throughmany distributors.

• Come up with a real list of what you really, really,need and send that list to any rep you can find.– This is likely not the exact list you used to negotiate

your startup package.• Tell them you will order from whoever gives you

the best deal.• This is the most precious money you will EVER

have because you can spend it on your labhowever you see fit.

Hiring People• Resist the urge to hire anyone and everyone who

will listen to you.• Lab composition is critical to a new lab, try to hire

hard working, creative and passionate people.– Luck is an incredible driver here (as in landing the job

in the first place!).• Who to hire?

– Postdoc: $35k salary ~ $42,000 total cost– Graduate student: $25k salary ~ $40,000 total cost

(fringe, tuition)• Training grad students is part of obtaining tenure!!

Getting advice• Books, websites, other faculty, official faculty

mentors.– The metrics to achieve tenure are not mystical. If

they are not spelled out in your offer letter or yourtenure code, the tenured faculty know. It is yourresponsibility to know exactly what they are.

• Your friends who are also new assistantprofessors are a GREAT help!– UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, Michigan State,

UW-Madison, U. Iowa, U. Minnesota, UAB• Time management

– Especially when writing grants, you must be ableto keep several hours to yourself.

– This is easily accomplished by showing up 2 hoursbefore anyone else (and hey - no traffic!).

Teaching• Different institutions will put more or less

emphasis on this. For tenure in Microbiologywe must simply be adequate.

• Having a stellar teaching recordwill NOT make up for a poorpublication record or inability tosecure a federal grant.

• Its fun and I like it. I’ll like it more aftertenure…

Writing Grants• It is an illusion that in academia you

can work on whatever you want.

• The reality is you can work on whateveryou can get funding for.

WritingGrants

• In 6 months, the lab was prettywell set up.

• The next 6 months was spentfiguring out the University andwriting my first grant.

• The next 4 months was spentpreparing to teach - a HUGEamount of work the first time.

• In the last 7 months I havewritten and submitted (as PI orCo-PI) 7 grants.

• Cech advocates being at thebench, however…

"Starting a ResearchGroup in 1978: Are theLessons Still Relevant?"

2002 course keynote by HHMIPresident and Nobel laureateThomas R. Cech. Advice onobtaining a faculty position andachieving tenure, leading aresearch team, mentoringstudents, balancing researchand teaching, and more.

WritingGrants

• In 2007, the funding situation issuch that one must constantlybe writing to secure funding.

• The funding rate for my NSFgrant last year was ~ 7% (OPP).– This section has traditionally been

~ 20%!• Must be able to diversify!!• This means your startup must

last longer.• This means internal university

funds are crucial for developingideas.

WritingGrantsWritingGrantsWritingGrantsWritingGrantsWritingGrants

All this $@!&%

But it is a blast!