The Postdoc Journey:A perspective from the halfway point?

Tiffany A. Timbers, Ph.D. , Banting Postdoctoral FellowLeroux Lab, Dept. of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Simon Fraser University1

Biography

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BiographyPrevious:

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BiographyPrevious:

• 2001 - 2005 B.Sc. in Biology, Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)

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BiographyPrevious:

• 2001 - 2005 B.Sc. in Biology, Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)

• 2005 - 2012 Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC) Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory

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BiographyPrevious:

• 2001 - 2005 B.Sc. in Biology, Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)

• 2005 - 2012 Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC) Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory

Current:

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BiographyPrevious:

• 2001 - 2005 B.Sc. in Biology, Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)

• 2005 - 2012 Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC) Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory

Current:

• 2012Postdoctoral Fellow, Depart. of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University How do we sense the environment?

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Where am I going next?

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Where am I going next?

Plan A: Tenure Track Assistant Professor (Biology/Neuroscience)

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Where am I going next?

Plan A: Tenure Track Assistant Professor (Biology/Neuroscience)

Plan B: Data Scientist (any field)

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

• Get a fellowship

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

• Get a fellowship

• Network

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

• Get a fellowship

• Network

• Create on online presence

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

• Get a fellowship

• Network

• Create on online presence

• Create an stellar application package and apply for jobs

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Plan A - How am I going to get there?

• Publish papers

• Get a fellowship

• Network

• Create on online presence

• Create an stellar application package and apply for jobs

• Prepare for interview(s)5

How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

• Outstanding supervisor (Michel Leroux) and research group, as well as an extremely supportive Department (MBB)

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

• Outstanding supervisor (Michel Leroux) and research group, as well as an extremely supportive Department (MBB)

• Grant writing support from Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows (Deena Colburn) and Research Grant Facilitator (Theresa Kitos)

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

• Outstanding supervisor (Michel Leroux) and research group, as well as an extremely supportive Department (MBB)

• Grant writing support from Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows (Deena Colburn) and Research Grant Facilitator (Theresa Kitos)

• Career guidance and job search training from APEX program

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

• Outstanding supervisor (Michel Leroux) and research group, as well as an extremely supportive Department (MBB)

• Grant writing support from Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows (Deena Colburn) and Research Grant Facilitator (Theresa Kitos)

• Career guidance and job search training from APEX program

• Job application peer working groups for postdocs (Jackie Amsden, Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows)

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan A:

• Outstanding supervisor (Michel Leroux) and research group, as well as an extremely supportive Department (MBB)

• Grant writing support from Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows (Deena Colburn) and Research Grant Facilitator (Theresa Kitos)

• Career guidance and job search training from APEX program

• Job application peer working groups for postdocs (Jackie Amsden, Dept. Grad Studies and Postdoctoral Fellows)

• Practice job talk series (SFU’s Postdoctoral Fellow Association) 6

When might I execute Plan B (Data Scientist)?

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When might I execute Plan B (Data Scientist)?

Possible exit ramps from Plan A:

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When might I execute Plan B (Data Scientist)?

Possible exit ramps from Plan A:

• Gap of > 2 years in publishing papers

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When might I execute Plan B (Data Scientist)?

Possible exit ramps from Plan A:

• Gap of > 2 years in publishing papers

• 6 months before I run out of Fellowship funding

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When might I execute Plan B (Data Scientist)?

Possible exit ramps from Plan A:

• Gap of > 2 years in publishing papers

• 6 months before I run out of Fellowship funding

• Unforeseeable change(s) in life circumstances/priorities

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan B:

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan B:

• Data-intensive postdoc research project

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan B:

• Data-intensive postdoc research project

• Volunteer work with Software Carpentry

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How my postdoc at SFU is preparing me for Plan B:

• Data-intensive postdoc research project

• Volunteer work with Software Carpentry

• Job search, networking and self-marketing training (APEX program)

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Postdoc at SFU

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Postdoc at SFU

Plan A: Professor

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Postdoc at SFU

Plan A: Professor

Plan B: Data Scientist

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Thank-you's SupervisorMichel Leroux, Ph.D.

Lab membersVictor Jensen, Ph.D.Chunmei LiChristine KondratevCatrina Loucks, M.Sc.Kwangjin Park, M.Sc.and many others!

FundingBanting CIHR

Extra-helpful mentors in MBBLynne Quarmby, Ph.D.Esther Verheyen, Ph.D.

Other extra-helpful peopleJackie Amsden, M.A. (DGS, SFU) Sue Hampton, M.A., Ed.D. (DGS, SFU) Don Moerman, Ph.D. (Zoology, UBC)Kiran Soma, Ph.D. (Psychology, UBC)Catharine Rankin, Ph.D. (Psychology, UBC)Jayne Yack, Ph.D. (Biology, Carleton)