1.1 Binary file postdoc.pdf has changed

2.1 --- a/postdoc.txt Fri Jul 03 16:50:47 2009 -0700 2.2 +++ b/postdoc.txt Sat Jul 04 18:10:46 2009 -0700 2.3 @@ -23,42 +23,35 @@ 2.4 2.5 ==== Personal availability ==== 2.6 2.7 -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. 2.8 +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. 2.9 2.10 2.11 -==== Technical skills mentoring ==== 2.12 -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: 2.13 +==== Skills mentoring ==== 2.14 +Postdocs in my lab work closely with me and receive a large amount of 2.15 +one-on-one training and practice in theoretical skills such as how to: 2.16 2.17 -* be on the lookout for unexplained regularities within experimental data 2.18 -* come up with interesting new theoretical hypotheses 2.19 -* search the literature for existing theoretical hypotheses that might explain a regularity in data 2.20 -* mathematically formalize hypotheses 2.21 -* apply advanced mathematical tools from physics, mathematics, and statistics to solve problems 2.22 -* produce formal mathematical proofs 2.23 -* rigorously make predictions based on a theoretical hypothesis 2.24 -* make predictions which can be tested by comparison with data already available in the literature 2.25 -* search the literature for this data 2.26 -* know when it is time to apply a theoretical approach, and when it is time to apply a computational approach 2.27 -* use computational methods to analyze data 2.28 -* find or create appropriate controls for analyses of data 2.29 -* make predictions which can be plausibly tested by new experiments 2.30 -* interpret the results of available data and new experiments in a rigorous manner 2.31 -* explain the importance and relevance of particular research topics 2.32 -* explain hypotheses and results in a clear fashion 2.33 +* 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 2.34 +* apply advanced mathematical tools from physics, mathematics, and statistics to solve problems; produce formal mathematical proofs; rigorously make predictions based on a theoretical hypothesis 2.35 +* 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 2.36 +* explain the importance and relevance of particular research topics; explain hypotheses and results in a clear fashion 2.37 2.38 +Postdocs also have the freedom to choose which lines of inquiry to 2.39 +pursue, to find and to assist in the application of grants, and to choose which venues to give 2.40 +talk at; these choices provide valuable practice in career decision-making. 2.41 2.42 +The Salk Institute as well as the University of California at San 2.43 +Diego (UCSD), which is located across the street, offer a variety of 2.44 +seminars and workshops for postdoctoral career development. Salk is 2.45 +also a charter member of the National Postdoctoral Association. 2.46 + 2.47 +In addition to remote conferences, for which travel support is provided, postdocs have frequent opportunities 2.48 +to give talks to other members of my lab, to lab meetings of other 2.49 +labs at Salk and UCSD, and to periodic small regional neuroscience conferences 2.50 +which are located here. 2.51 2.52 ==== Career planning and professional development ==== 2.53 2.54 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. 2.55 2.56 2.57 - 2.58 -Postdoctoral scholars 2.59 - 2.60 - 2.61 -one alternative formalized beurua counterprodu in a small lab 2.62 -ongoing basis 2.63 - 2.64 - 2.65 \end{document}