1.1 --- a/postdoc.txt Fri Jul 03 16:50:47 2009 -0700 1.2 +++ b/postdoc.txt Sat Jul 04 18:10:46 2009 -0700 1.3 @@ -23,42 +23,35 @@ 1.4 1.5 ==== Personal availability ==== 1.6 1.7 -I have a small lab and meet frequently with all members of my lab. Once or twice a day, I walk around and chat with lab members who are not too busy. These chats last from twenty minutes to over an hour. I try to make sure that I check in with each lab member at least once a week, if not more. I have an open door policy and frequently have multi-hour discussions with lab members who walk in. 1.8 +I have a small lab and meet frequently with all members of my lab. Once or twice a day, I walk around and chat with lab members who are not too busy. These chats last from twenty minutes to over an hour. I check in with each lab member at least once a week, if not more. I have an open door policy and frequently have multi-hour discussions with lab members who walk in. 1.9 1.10 1.11 -==== Technical skills mentoring ==== 1.12 -Postdocs in my lab work closely with me and receive a large amount of one-on-one training in theoretical skills such as how to: 1.13 +==== Skills mentoring ==== 1.14 +Postdocs in my lab work closely with me and receive a large amount of 1.15 +one-on-one training and practice in theoretical skills such as how to: 1.16 1.17 -* be on the lookout for unexplained regularities within experimental data 1.18 -* come up with interesting new theoretical hypotheses 1.19 -* search the literature for existing theoretical hypotheses that might explain a regularity in data 1.20 -* mathematically formalize hypotheses 1.21 -* apply advanced mathematical tools from physics, mathematics, and statistics to solve problems 1.22 -* produce formal mathematical proofs 1.23 -* rigorously make predictions based on a theoretical hypothesis 1.24 -* make predictions which can be tested by comparison with data already available in the literature 1.25 -* search the literature for this data 1.26 -* know when it is time to apply a theoretical approach, and when it is time to apply a computational approach 1.27 -* use computational methods to analyze data 1.28 -* find or create appropriate controls for analyses of data 1.29 -* make predictions which can be plausibly tested by new experiments 1.30 -* interpret the results of available data and new experiments in a rigorous manner 1.31 -* explain the importance and relevance of particular research topics 1.32 -* explain hypotheses and results in a clear fashion 1.33 +* be on the lookout for unexplained regularities within experimental data; come up with interesting new theoretical hypotheses; search the literature for existing theoretical hypotheses that might explain a regularity in data; mathematically formalize hypotheses 1.34 +* apply advanced mathematical tools from physics, mathematics, and statistics to solve problems; produce formal mathematical proofs; rigorously make predictions based on a theoretical hypothesis 1.35 +* make predictions which can be tested by comparison with data already available in the literature; search the literature for this data; know when it is time to apply a theoretical approach, and when it is time to apply a computational approach; use computational methods to analyze data; find or create appropriate controls for analyses of data; make predictions which can be plausibly tested by new experiments; interpret the results of available data and new experiments in a rigorous manner 1.36 +* explain the importance and relevance of particular research topics; explain hypotheses and results in a clear fashion 1.37 1.38 +Postdocs also have the freedom to choose which lines of inquiry to 1.39 +pursue, to find and to assist in the application of grants, and to choose which venues to give 1.40 +talk at; these choices provide valuable practice in career decision-making. 1.41 1.42 +The Salk Institute as well as the University of California at San 1.43 +Diego (UCSD), which is located across the street, offer a variety of 1.44 +seminars and workshops for postdoctoral career development. Salk is 1.45 +also a charter member of the National Postdoctoral Association. 1.46 + 1.47 +In addition to remote conferences, for which travel support is provided, postdocs have frequent opportunities 1.48 +to give talks to other members of my lab, to lab meetings of other 1.49 +labs at Salk and UCSD, and to periodic small regional neuroscience conferences 1.50 +which are located here. 1.51 1.52 ==== Career planning and professional development ==== 1.53 1.54 One alternative is to have a formalized bureaucratic system where postdocs and mentors produce written plans and evaluations of themselves and each other. This can be counterproductive in a small lab. Instead, I meet frequently with each member of my lab and we discuss career development on an ongoing basis. 1.55 1.56 1.57 - 1.58 -Postdoctoral scholars 1.59 - 1.60 - 1.61 -one alternative formalized beurua counterprodu in a small lab 1.62 -ongoing basis 1.63 - 1.64 - 1.65 \end{document}