Lili Li, President
College of Forestry, Wildlife
& Environment
Abner Nunes, Professional Dev. Chair
College of Science & Mathematics
Adam L. Bachman, Social Chair
College of Engineering
Nitesh Kasera, President-elect
College of Engineering
Vandana Gurung, Social Chair-elect
College of Science & Mathematics
Sindhi Ramesh, Prof. Dev. Chair-elect
College of Pharmacy
The Auburn University Postdoctoral Fellow Association (PDA) holds monthly professional development workshops and social events. All active postdocs are considered members of the PDA and are strongly encouraged to participate in the events and get involved in the PDA. We value your contributions to research and the scholarly community and will do whatever we can to support you. Welcome to the Auburn family!
Biggio Center For The Enhancement Of Teaching And Learning Links
Auburn University Human Resources Development (HRD)
- Auburn University Human Resources Development (HRD) courses
- open to all AU employees
- courses on communication, conflict resolution, diversity, and workplace culture
- Supervisor Pathways offers a series of coursework to develop leadership, mentoring, and management skills
Miller Writing Center Links
Books: Academic Careers
The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into A Job (2015)
At the Helm: Leading Your Laboratory (2010)
The Academic Job Search Handbook (2008)
The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology (2007)
Building a Successful Career in Scientific Research: A Guide for PhD Students and Postdocs (2006)
Funding
PIVOT (opportunities to find funding, create profiles to reflect expertise, etc.):
On-line CITI Training (which is required for IRB/IACUC but also some agencies):
Courses include:
- Animal Care and Use (ACU) courses.
- Conflict of Interest (COI) course.
- Essentials of Research Administration course.
- Export Control (EC) course.
- Good Lab Practices (GLP) course.
- Human Subjects Research (HSR) courses.
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Basic course.
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Refresher course.
Collaborative Funding Mechanisms by Agency
Science & Medical Writing
Medical Writing: A Brief Guide for Beginners (2015)
Successful Scientific Writing (2014)
The Science Writer’s Handbook (2013)
Career Opportunities in Technical Writing (2008)
A Field Guide for Science Writers (2006)
Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower (2005) – Chapters 2 & 3: Technical Writing & Science Writing
YouTube Videos On Publishing
What is a journal article impact factor
Should I publish in an open access journal?
What is an embargo in scholarly publishing?
What are academic social networking sites: ResearchGate and Academia.edu?
What is the difference between single blind or double blind peer review in publishing?
Miscellaneous
PubMed: Comprises 26 million+ citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.
ResearchGate: A social networking site for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators
National Science Foundation: Special Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows
Consolidated Professional Development Calendar for AU Campus
Postdoc Mentoring & Networking
MentorNet, the E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science, connects mentors and mentees in engineering, science, and mathematics. MentorNet was created to foster the retention and success of women and underrepresented minorities in particular, but welcomes anyone interested in connecting with peers and experienced professionals in their field. The MentorNet Community offers the One-on-One E-Mentoring Program, which pairs postdocs with professionals in an email based mentoring relationship, the E-Forum for web based discussion of issues like job searches and the work/life balance, as well as resources and a résumé database. To learn more and find a mentor (or become a mentor), visit the MentorNet website. Membership is available on an individual basis
Professional Association Job Boards
The following professional associations post job listings to all site visitors. Other organizations require membership to access job postings.
American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Human Genetics
American Society for Cell Biology
Biomedical Engineering Society
Medical Science Liaison Society
Humanities & Social Science Resources
The Humanities PhD Project Supports doctoral students and faculty in the humanities as they imagine, plan for, and pursue multiple career paths as humanists in the world, in the academy and beyond.
National Endowment for the Humanities Supports “Next Generation PhD” projects at twenty-eight U.S. campuses. The NEH also employs student interns on a rolling continuous basis.
The Versatile Ph.D. OPA offers Versatile PhD, a web-based resource for postdocs interested in exploring career opportunities beyond academe. The site is mainly for Humanities and Social Science Postdocs, but may benefit others as well. Access this supportive, web-based community by clicking here or copy and paste the following link into your browser – https://webapps.grad.unc.edu/auth/versatilephd.html. (Requires Onyen registration). The site includes:
- PhD Career Finder – Provides information about careers in various disciplines
- Discussion Forums – Helps you learn from others and get your specific questions answered
- Panel Discussions – With PhDs now employed in various fields such as grant writing, management consulting, university administration, and policy analysis
- Members Directory – Is searchable and can assist in networking
- Meetups – Which occur regularly in many cities across North America
- MyVPhD – Lets you manage your account and sign up for email notifications of forum discussions and/or jobs
National Center For Faculty Development & Diversity
NCFDD is an independent faculty development center dedicated to providing external mentoring, professional development, and a supportive community for advanced graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members across institutions. Visit the website and register as an Institutional Sub-Account Member. You must use your UNC email address for registration.
- The Monday Motivator – A weekly message that reinforces core ideas presented in webinars and provides support for individuals making the transition to a faculty position.
- Webinars – Monthly 60-90 minute Guest Expert professional development sessions
- Multi-Week Courses – Intensive workshop series guided by expert facilitators
- Discussion Forum – A place for members to connect, share information, peer-mentor, problem solve, and celebrate each others’ success.
- The Library – A resource that provides transcripts, slides, and audio recordings of past webinars.
- Career Center – Search job openings, subscribe to new posting notifications in your field, and learn more about the job search process.
- Resources – Recommended readings, writing clubs, productivity we apps and more.
Examples Of Linkedin Groups (Approximate Membership # In Parentheses)
Science Jobs (163,000)
American Public Health Association (54,000)
Contract Research/Development/Manufacturing Organization Professionals (39,000)
Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (26,000)
The Life Science Executive Exchange, sponsored by BioInformatics LLC (24,000)
Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (14,000)
Medical Science Liaisons & Medical Affairs Networkers (10,000)
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (8,000)
Life Science & Medical Device Sales Representatives (7,000)
Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine (7,000)
Science Writers (6,000)
The Science Advisory Board (6,000)
The PostDoc Forum (4,900)
Association of University Technology Managers (1,000)
Recommended Professional Organization
Industry Job Talks
Similar to faculty interview Job Talks and Chalk Talks, many industry job interviews require a presentation on your past and current research. If you have questions about the talk (e.g., audience, duration, preferred subject matter, setting, audiovisual equipment) – ask the hiring manager with whom you have been communicating.
To ace your job talk, you need to know your audience: Science Magazine