Reflections On a Post-Doc
- 1. REFLECTIONS ON A POST-DOC Heather M. Gilmartin, PhD, NP Research Nurse Scientist Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation Department of Veterans Affairs October 25, 2016 1
- 2. THE KEY TO ALL THINGS IS TO START BEFORE YOU ARE READY 2
- 3. A PHD IS NOT ENOUGH? WTF Reflection #1 3
- 5. FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Reflection #2 5
- 6. PAPERS & TALKS & GRANTS – OH MY! Stay on the road– do not get sidelined (beware the poppies) Finish what you’ve started – (run the data, write it up, submit for publication – rinse – repeat) Befriend the Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man – you never know…. Remember why you are doing this – to get (____________). 6
- 8. BE SELFISH ;) Write a little bit (or a lot) every day Set daily goals that you can meet and feel the thrill of checking them off Never work for more then 90 minutes without a “break” Build renewal into your day – every day Make time for solitude Check emails sparingly – if at all You’re a post-doc – no one should expect you to do anything! 8
- 9. NEVER EAT ALONE Reflection #3 9
- 10. MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN If you read a paper that you want to use in your work – email the author and start a dialogue If you want to meet someone – stalking is completely appropriate If you’re giving a talk, invite everyone you know or want to know Traveling to a University town? Ask if you can stop by and maybe give a talk? For free? 10
- 11. MENTORS ARE THE SPECIAL SAUCE Reflection #4 11
- 12. GUIDE TO BEING AN EFFECTIVE MENTEE Select the right mentor(s) Be respectful of your mentor’s time and manage it wisely Communicate efficiently and effectively with your mentor Be engaged, energized, and collaborative 12 Chopra, V. et al. (2016) The BMJ.
- 13. JUST SAY NO Reflection #5 13
- 14. THE POWER OF A POSITIVE NO 14
- 15. TAKE TIME FOR A TEST DRIVE Reflection #6 15
- 16. TYPES OF RESEARCHER Academic Researcher Embedded Researcher Clinical Researcher For-profit Researcher Research Supporter 16
- 17. Do not worry About things falling into place Where they fall is the place Mark Hartley 17
- 18. THE POST-MORTEM 18 Mentors Advice Heather Gilmartin Get good work out the door Don’t let perfect get in the way of done Figure out the sequencing Papers out for review (1-6 week pause) IRB submission (6-12 week pause) Data requested (1-3 month pause) Grant out for review (3 month pause) It’s in the pauses that you get the other work done Make connections Make friends before you need them Be open to new things Read outside your area and talk to people outside your comfort zone Don’t be a doer Just because I know what to do, doesn’t mean I’m the one to do it.
- 19. It is not the strongest nor the most intelligent researcher that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change the most receptive to feedback and the one who can quiet the inner doubt and fear of failure quickly and on a daily basis. H. Gilmartin, PhD, NP October 19, 2016 19
Editor's Notes
- #4: All I can say about this is, WTF! But if it is not enough, what is? I would start with asking your post-doc advisors and classmates what is enough? Then the follow-up question is how will I fail to meet that mark? I call this a pre-mortem and it looks something like this…
- #5: What does a successful post-doc look like, what are the opportunities for failure and what do I do to prevent failure?
- #6: To earn the ruby slippers and get to Oz
- #10: The best way to becoming a member of the old-boy (or old-girl) network is by taking advantage of opportunities to make yourself known. If you read a paper that you want to use in your work – engage the author in a dialogue. If you know someone you want to work with is going to be at a conference or is hosting a seminar, reach out to them and ask to meet. If you’re giving a talk, invite everyone you know! Will you be traveling or do you think you might want to work with a distant team? Mention you’ll be in town and could stop by to meet and maybe give a talk? For free?
- #11: The best way to becoming a member of the old-boy (or old-girl) network is by taking advantage of opportunities to make yourself known
- #12: Your mentor is your guide, but you have to take the initiative and make things happen
- #14: You will not be judged by how many friends you made, how many meetings you went to, how many trainings you attended, or how many reviews you completed. You will be judged by your scientific output before anything else. So, being selfish and saying, “Thanks for the opportunity, but no” to committee work, review work, co-writer or faux project manager work is okay. It can be a positive no if you phrase it, “once I get my work done and get a permanent job, I will get on board immediately” Once you win permanent employment in the research community, you can serve on all the committees you want. Not before.
- #15: You first have to identify what you want to say yes to – your self usually Then you can say no to what is being offered for you have a real reason you can articulate to yourself or others. Then you say yes to them in that you’ll commit to working with them in the future.
- #17: Academic Researcher Tenure track – University based Detached from the “bosses” (the patient and taxpayers who fund your work) Goal: Novel ideas, publish, continue funding cycle Embedded Researcher VA, Kaiser, IHI, government agencies Your boss is ever present and wants to be kept abreast of work (newsletters to patients, C-suite) Goal: Novel, affordable, and realistic ideas that can be implemented a.s.a.p. and given away (share everything) Make public and adopt before publication Learn, move on, improve as quickly as possible Clinical Researcher Hospital or Clinic Based – Clinician or Management level Your Boss: Your patients, staff, or Board Goal: Conduct research pertinent to your clinical setting or facilitate research in your setting For-profit Researcher Big Pharma & Tech Funding is not an issue – your bosses are the Board and investors Goal: Prove a product, sell the product Once you go for-profit, hard to come back to academic or embedded position Research Supporter You are in a leadership position and support your staff in conducting research and get involved as needed to keep the bar high, while ensuring the research is in line with the bigger vision