Life After Grad SchoolLife After Grad SchoolCraig KnoblockCraig Knoblock

OutlineOutline

AcademiaAcademia

Research labsResearch labs

Large CompaniesLarge Companies

StartupsStartups

Starting Your Own CompanyStarting Your Own Company

AcademiaAcademia

Significant emphasis on teaching and Significant emphasis on teaching and research research

You have significant freedom to do what you You have significant freedom to do what you wantwant

Sabbaticals, consulting, free summers, travel, Sabbaticals, consulting, free summers, travel, etc.etc.

But you need to be a self starterBut you need to be a self starter

Writing PapersWriting Papers

Need to write at least 2 conference and 2 journal papers Need to write at least 2 conference and 2 journal papers every yearevery year

Submit your papers to workshops, conferences and Submit your papers to workshops, conferences and journalsjournals Submit early work to workshops, rewrite for conferences, Submit early work to workshops, rewrite for conferences,

and put in all the details in your journal articlesand put in all the details in your journal articles

Don’t get discouraged! Don’t get discouraged! Many good papers get rejectedMany good papers get rejected Learn from the reviewsLearn from the reviews Submit polished papers, not rough draftsSubmit polished papers, not rough drafts

Submit papers that you are proud of – it is your Submit papers that you are proud of – it is your reputationreputation

Getting FundingGetting Funding

Need to identify research topics that agencies/organizations care Need to identify research topics that agencies/organizations care enough about to fundenough about to fund This may just involve identifying good applications of your researchThis may just involve identifying good applications of your research Be proactive – understand the real-world problems and submit your ideas Be proactive – understand the real-world problems and submit your ideas

to the appropraite funding sourceto the appropraite funding source

Many possible sources of fundingMany possible sources of funding NSF, DARPA, AFOSR, ONR, NIH, etc.NSF, DARPA, AFOSR, ONR, NIH, etc. Learn how these different organizations workLearn how these different organizations work

Write white papers about your ideas and solicit feedbackWrite white papers about your ideas and solicit feedback

Participate in funding panels to better understand the review Participate in funding panels to better understand the review processprocess

Write proposals on topics your care aboutWrite proposals on topics your care about If you fail the first time, keep trying!If you fail the first time, keep trying!

Building a CommunityBuilding a Community

In some cases your research may fall squarely into a In some cases your research may fall squarely into a community and in others you may span several different community and in others you may span several different communititescommunitites

Find the people that care about what you are working on Find the people that care about what you are working on and you care about what they are working onand you care about what they are working on

Publish your work in the conferences they attendPublish your work in the conferences they attend

Attend those conferences every year if you canAttend those conferences every year if you can Don’t just hang out with the people you knowDon’t just hang out with the people you know Seek out people that are working on related topicsSeek out people that are working on related topics

Send those people copies or pointers to your papersSend those people copies or pointers to your papers

These are the people that may some day be asked to These are the people that may some day be asked to write you a letter of recommendationwrite you a letter of recommendation

Research LabsResearch Labs

Two types of placesTwo types of places Research is funded externally and you will need to Research is funded externally and you will need to

spend time writing proposals (ISI, Parc, SRI, BBN, spend time writing proposals (ISI, Parc, SRI, BBN, Fetch Labs)Fetch Labs)

Research is funded internally and you need to justify Research is funded internally and you need to justify your research to the mission of the company your research to the mission of the company (Microsoft Research, Bell Labs, IBM)(Microsoft Research, Bell Labs, IBM)

Usually no teaching or students, but sometime there Usually no teaching or students, but sometime there are staff support the research (ISI is an exception are staff support the research (ISI is an exception here)here)

Research labs can be a good place to develop a Research labs can be a good place to develop a research careerresearch career

As long as you are publishing, you can transition to As long as you are publishing, you can transition to an academic position lateran academic position later

Important to find an organization that fits what you Important to find an organization that fits what you like to dolike to do

Large CompaniesLarge Companies

Microsoft, Google, IBM, Adobe, Apple, etc…Microsoft, Google, IBM, Adobe, Apple, etc…

Many of these are large stable companies that provide good Many of these are large stable companies that provide good long-term employmentlong-term employment

Typically you get assigned to a specific product group and the Typically you get assigned to a specific product group and the focus can be quite narrowfocus can be quite narrow

Good for people that are risk adverse and are not willing to work Good for people that are risk adverse and are not willing to work long hourslong hours

Can be difficult/impossible to transition back to academia from Can be difficult/impossible to transition back to academia from these placesthese places

Compensation can be very good, but less likely to make a lot of Compensation can be very good, but less likely to make a lot of money on stock or optionsmoney on stock or options

Summer internships are a good way to explore this optionSummer internships are a good way to explore this option

StartupsStartups

Can be a more exciting place to work with opportunities Can be a more exciting place to work with opportunities to contribute to all aspects of a businessto contribute to all aspects of a business

Significantly higher risk (9 out of 10 startups fail!)Significantly higher risk (9 out of 10 startups fail!)

Salaries are often lower, but it is made up in stock Salaries are often lower, but it is made up in stock optionsoptions

Hours can be much longer, but this depends on the Hours can be much longer, but this depends on the place and the cultureplace and the culture

Payoff can be significantly higher if the company is Payoff can be significantly higher if the company is successfulsuccessful

Do your homework before taking a positionDo your homework before taking a position Do you believe that the company has a strong futureDo you believe that the company has a strong future Is the overall compensation package fair?Is the overall compensation package fair?

Starting Your Own Starting Your Own CompanyCompany

Step 1: Need a business idea that will make moneyStep 1: Need a business idea that will make money A technology does not make a businessA technology does not make a business Need to figure out how to apply the technology to solve a problem Need to figure out how to apply the technology to solve a problem

people care aboutpeople care about

Step 2: Protect your IPStep 2: Protect your IP If developed at USC, file an invention disclosure and try to get USC to If developed at USC, file an invention disclosure and try to get USC to

pay for the patentpay for the patent

Step 3: Raise fundingStep 3: Raise funding STTR and SBIR programs are a great source of funding for startupsSTTR and SBIR programs are a great source of funding for startups Angels may also be a good initial source of investmentAngels may also be a good initial source of investment VCs usually get involved laterVCs usually get involved later

Step 4: Build a strong teamStep 4: Build a strong team Need strong technical peopleNeed strong technical people But you also need to find people that know how to build a businessBut you also need to find people that know how to build a business

ConclusionConclusion

Select a type of place that fits youSelect a type of place that fits you

Make sure that you will work on things that Make sure that you will work on things that interest youinterest you

Find a place that has a culture that you likeFind a place that has a culture that you like

Consider other relevant aspects, such as Consider other relevant aspects, such as location, compensation, cost of living, location, compensation, cost of living, opportunities for advancement, etc….opportunities for advancement, etc….