Preparing for a career in science –applying for jobs · nGet first postdoc position n2nd postdoc or long term fellowship nPrestigious fellowship, ... n What type of postdocs are

Preparing for a career in science – applying for jobs

Prof. Stephen Smartt

UKRI STFC Introductory Course in Astronomy26 August 2018 1

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Structure n General introduction (10mins)n Fellowship opportunities (20mins)n The job application package (15mins)n Question and Answer session (15mins)

26 August 2018UKRI STFC Introductory Course in

Astronomy

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What this course is not

n General career advice n General Career workshop for your

futuren Designed to talk you into staying in

academia and science research


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What career path do you envisage ?

n Finish PhD within 3-4 yearsn Get first postdoc position n 2nd postdoc or long term fellowshipn Prestigious fellowship, tenure track or

permanent University lectureship


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Impact and multi-disciplinary workn Example - Seb Oliver’s talk tomorrow n Becoming increasingly well funded n Exciting opportunities : you will be employable across

many disciplinesn Coding, algorithm development, data analysis n Massive data sets – pervades much of modern

applied research


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3 major topics

n What type of postdocs are availableq Fellowships and �PDRA� positions (science) q Observatory/facility, instrumentation, software

development (technology)q UK Research Council, EU and US fellowship schemes

n Deadlines and what is realisticn How to write a CV for a science job


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Timescales and deadlinesn STFC/UK deadlines for fellowships are about

1 year before startn ESO and various European fellowships similar n EU Marie-Curie fellowships - approx 6-8

month lead timen US fellowship scheme deadlines Sept/Oct/Nov

for start following yearn You must think and prepare well in advance


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Do You Want a Career in Scientific Research ?

n Advantages -n Job satisfaction - you want to do it.

Creativity and original workn Will become teacher, supervisor, project

leadern In charge of your own directionn Opportunities to work and live abroadn Job security in permanent position


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n Disadvantages -n Will need to move aroundn Probable 1-3 short term contractsn No guarantee of permanent position –

career change in your ~30sn Salaries maybe lower than in private sector

– but highly variable n Promotion to positions of responsibility and

management are slow

Do You Want a Career in Scientific Research ?


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Your Objective – Think Long Term Now

n Get a permanent position or tenure track

n What is needed to do this ?n Scientific productivity + Grant awardsn Telescope/facility application successesn Project delivery and experience

n Get lectureship or long-term fellowship within 5 years (± 2) after PhD


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Long term fellowshipsn Very prestigious : need 3+ years of postdoc

experiencen Offered every yearn STFC Ernest Rutherford fellowships (5 years)

n Royal Society University Research Fellowships (5-8 years)

n ERC Starting Grant – 5 years, fellowship + funds for group (~1.5M euro)

n UKRI “Future Leaders” programme – new n Nearly all recipients get permanent university positionn Keep in mind for future goal


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Available Options – 3 Types of Post-doc Job

n Post-doctoral fellowships n Post-doctoral research assistants

(PDRA)n Support and facility jobs

n “Support scientists” for facilities/telescopesn Software supportn Instrument scientistsn Usually 25-50% research allocation


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UK/EU astrophysics fellowshipsn Royal Astronomical Society fellowships [DEADLINE 19th

October 2018]

n Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships [DEADLINE 12th

September 2018]

n European Southern Observatory fellowships [DEADLINE 15th October 2018]

n European Space Agency fellowships [DEADLINE 1st October 2018]

n Leverhulme Early Career Fellowshps [DEADLINE typically January-April, but 50% costs from the host University required]

n Various European University fellowships – all advertised on AAS Job register n http://jobregister.aas.org/


Astronomy

http://jobregister.aas.org/

US fellowship schemesn Hubble/Einstein/Sagan fellowships –

national schemes, huge competitionn US University fellowships – see AAS for

details (deadlines Oct-Nov annually)n E.g. Miller Fellowships at UC Berkeley, ~10

per year, across all science. ~100s applicants

n Many others – highly competitive


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Available Options – 3 Types of Post-doc Job

n Post-doctoral fellowships n Post-doctoral research assistants

(PDRA)n Support and facility jobs

n “Support scientists” for facilities/telescopesn Software supportn Instrument scientistsn Usually 25-50% research allocation


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PDRAs

n All post-doc jobs in UK apart from fellowships are �PDRAs�

n Advertised regularly through RAS, AAS

n Must work with employer on project –but wide variation

n Advantages – data already, well defined, group exists º papers


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Astronomy �Support Jobs�n ESO jobs in Garching and Chilen ALMA/HST/Spitzer/Chandra/XMM support centresn ING (La Palma), AAO (Australia), Gemini (Hawaii,

Chile), Keck (Hawaii)

n Research restricted, but wide experiencen Project management and deliveryn Often well paid!n Short term can benefit your careern Longer term Þ instrumentation development, project

delivery, technology development


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Recommendationn High profile fellowship will enhance long-term

prospects significantlyn Targeted PDRA positions can push paper productivity

up quicklyn Support jobs give wide experience, keep other doors

open

n Keep thinking during PhD and what you want to do. n End of 2nd or 3rd yr


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Task - CV design and discussionn See handoutn Discussion and design of a CV for

science jobsn Think what you should put in, how it is

structuredn Make model 2 page CVn Will discuss in Q&A


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CV – What to include n Personal details including contact informationn Academic record from first degree onwardsn Research experience n Recent facility awardsn Data analysis and computing skills if mentioned as a

requirement or if relevant for the positionn Public Understanding of Science work and anything else

which shows your communication skillsn Supervision/teaching experience

n Clear and easy to read and no longer than 2 A4 pages

UKRI STFC Introductory Course in Astronomy

26 August 2018 22

CV – What NOT to includen All your GCSE and A level resultsn Duke of Edinburgh Awardsn Life saving and music certificatesn Employment history of summer jobs unless strictly

relevant to an astronomy positionn Long essays on anything – they will not be read


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List of Publicationsn Follow a conventional style

n Refereed publications are most important – list most recent first

n Include in press and submitted papersn �In preparation�?n If not yet publicly available include web address n Conventional to keep conference proceedings and non-

refereed papers separaten Do not send copies of your publications unless

asked to do so


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Refereesn Ask the advice of your supervisorn Who to choose

n Your supervisorn Someone who knows your work welln One of your supervisors� collaborators if they are familiar

with your workn Head of Department or Very Important PersonVariety is good - Use the most appropriate available


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Asking Refereesn Ask in good time, particularly the first time when

your reference has to be written from scratchn Supply full details of the position you are applying

for n Provide a copy of your application


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Research Summaryn A research summary is essential if your work

is not yet published and you haven�t got a very extensive publications list

n No more than 3 pages including picturesn This is where you can make clear your

expertise in areas such as experimental/computational/observational techniques, data reduction or theoretical modelling


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Research Proposal

n Not always needed. Indeed, not relevant where job is defined by institution

n If applying to work on project with some time for own work, advantageous to show how own work will link with project/dept.

n Be realistic – good to show range of interests but remember you are applying for a 2/3 year position


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What to apply forn �You don�t get what you don�t apply for�n Be realistic!n You are unlikely to get a job in an area where you

have little or no experience



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Recommendationn High profile fellowship will enhance

long-term prospects significantlyn Targeted PDRA positions can push

paper productivity up quicklyn Support jobs give wide experience,

keep other doors openn Think now, apply soon - deadlines

looming


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Documents

Preparing for a career in science –applying for jobs · nGet first postdoc position n2nd postdoc or long term fellowship nPrestigious fellowship, ... n What type of postdocs are