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Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor

In this talk, Alana L. Welm, Assistant Professor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, shares her journey from trainee to faculty member. She discusses valuable advice for postdocs, strategies to navigate the job search, and tips for successfully transitioning as a new Assistant Professor. Topics include balancing family and dual careers, maintaining intellectual independence, and the importance of mentorship. Alana provides insights from her experience at Baylor and the University of Utah, addressing the challenges and rewards of academic life.

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Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor

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  1. Transitioning from Trainee to Assistant Professor Alana L. Welm Assistant Professor Department of Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah

  2. OUTLINE • My background/experience (perspective) • Advice for postdocs • (discussion) • Advice for the job search • (discussion) • Advice for the new Assistant Professor • (discussion) • Special Topics: balancing family and dual careers • (discussion)

  3. B.S. Microbiology, University of Montana 1992-1996 • (learned I LOVE science, research) • research since age 16, but no real publications • PhD, Baylor College of Medicine 1996-2000 • Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine 2000-2001 • (learn how to think, how to write) • 3 first author and 4 middle author papers • (married in 1997) • Postdoc, UC San Francisco 2001-2006 • (find a specialty, gain independence) • 2 first author and 2 middle author papers, 1 review • (Ella born in 2004; Corey born in 2006) • Assistant Professor, U of Utah 2007-present • (dual career – 2 tenure-track asst. profs. with 2 labs and 2 kids, both up for tenure in ~2 years) • 7 middle author papers, 1 review, 2 “real” papers in revision

  4. Advice for postdocs: • Go to the best lab you can! It’s easier than you think….Your work as a postdoc will set the stage for the rest of your career • Gain intellectual independence, and try to mentor junior researchers • Write your own grants/fellowships/papers. Give as many talks as possible • Carve out your own “niche” to serve as a starting point for your own lab – work with your mentor to ensure you have your own angle on the project

  5. At the Postdoc level: • Two things I wish I had done (in hindsight) • 1. Take a short business management course • Running a lab is like having a small business. Postdocs are NOT trained for this  trial by fire! • Learn how to manage people • (everyone has to be mentored differently) • Learn how to read/manage budgets • (what IS an encumbrance, exactly?!)

  6. At the Postdoc level: • What I wish I had done (in hindsight) • 2. Participate in faculty recruitment • Attend “job talks” and “chalk talks” • Talk with faculty afterward to hear their assessment • Learn what works (and what doesn’t!) and use the former in your own presentations

  7. Questions/discussion

  8. Advice on applying for academic research positions: • 3 components to a successful application (at least) • Cover letter: how do you fit in the department? • CV: honors, funding, papers • Research Statement: outline your first R01 • First impressions REALLY matter – a typical search yields 150-300 applications (at Utah) • Read your application from THEIR perspective – how will you benefit their program? • Have others read your application CRITICALLY

  9. Advice on applying for academic research positions: • Interview • Job talk – practice, practice, practice! • suit the audience – most won’t know your field • One-on-one meetings • review their papers/website beforehand • Social events (e.g. dinner or gathering) • be yourself! Are these colleagues you can envision “hanging out with?” • CHALK TALK – extremely important!! • describe your first R01 • handout to outline your Aims – keep on track • practice writing on the board

  10. Questions/discussion

  11. Starting as an Assistant Professor: • Know the “unwritten rules” • Find a mentor(s), determine the expectations • Get advice on managing people • Use your resources (admin assistants, etc.) • Get your lab going with a technically-competent person – often a senior technician who can do experiments AND train others • Get exposure to graduate students early • Invest time/money in a good website

  12. Special Topics • Balancing family with a career • set priorities (special evening/weekend time) • manage time effectively • learn to compromise • be flexible • utilize a sense of humor • take care of yourself, and ask for help!! • spouse • get someone else to clean the house occasionally • break the routine (e.g. eat out once in a while)

  13. Special Topics Dual careers Coordinate the job search * set priorities * find compromises Communicate the issue at the interview Heading two labs * Juggle or tag-team lab-related tasks to make things easier for both

  14. Questions/discussion

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