Starting Your First Faculty Position Things to think about

1
Starting Your First Faculty Position Things to
think about

• Sandeep K. Tripathy MD, PhD
• Gastroenterology ASW
• January 25, 2008

2
Academic timeline
3
Initial faculty appointment
If an individual has not had a prior faculty
appointment at any institution, the initial
appointment should typically be at the Instructor
or Assistant Professor level. Instructors and
Assistant Professors on the Investigator Track
will receive one-year renewable appointments.
For faculty starting at the Instructor level,
the major criterion for promotion to Assistant
Professor on the Investigator Track is
demonstration of progress towards development of
an independent investigative program. Ordinarily,
promotion to Assistant Professor will occur
within three years of initial appointment as
Instructor. The tenure probationary period at the
School of Medicine is a maximum of ten years and
commences upon appointment or promotion to the
rank of Assistant Professor.
WUSM Appointments Promotions Guidelines and
Requirements (APGAR)
4
Instructor or assistant professor?

• When does the tenure clock start?
• Are you ready to be independent?
• Is there a change in clinical, teaching or
  administrative duties?
• Is there an increase in salary?

5
Different goals at different stages

• Medical school - get into IM residency program
• Residency - get into a GI fellowship program
• Fellowship - depends on which academic track you
  wish to pursue
• Investigator track
• Clinical track
• Research track

6
My goals
Immediate goal (present - 2 years) Develop
projects that can be used to start an independent
laboratory. Generate data and publish
manuscripts that will allow me to obtain
independent funding in the near future.
Longer-term goal (in 2-7 years) Develop an
independent research program in the GI division
that is funded by federally sponsored grants.
7
Top three items to consider
8
Protected time

• Maximize time spent developing your research
  projects.
• If you are not pushing things forward, nothing
  will happen.
• Early on, avoid taking on other responsibilities.
  Spend the time establishing your independent
  research program.

9
Protected time (where else does the time go?)

• Clinical responsibilities
• GI clinic
• Inpatient GI consult service
• Endoscopy time
• Medicine service
• Teaching responsibilities
• Institutional committees

10
Resources

• Start up package
• Core facilities
• Transgenic, microscopy, flow-cytometry,
  procurement of human tissue samples
• Lab space
• Special needs working with virus
• Animal facilities

11
Start up package

• Does it expire? (All money is not equal!)
• If you obtain funding do you have to give start
  up monies back?
• What does the start up package need to cover?
• Technician Salaries (3-5 yrs)
• Equipment
• Supplies (3-5 yrs)
• Services (animal, hot waste, DNA)

12
Scientific environment (i)

• Your scientific mentor and section Chief
• Suggestions on when and for which grants to apply
• Review the grants you submit
• Protect your time
• Regular meetings to track progress
• Scientific direction -- reality check!
• Colleagues/collaborators within and outside the
  division

13
Scientific environment (ii)

• Institutional attitude about research
• Interested in promoting basic science,
  translational, or clinical outcomes.
• Given current funding climate does the
  institution have bridge money set aside if your
  grant is triaged?
• Access to graduate programs with graduate
  students.
• Access to undergraduates who are interested in
  research.

14
Scientific environment (iii)

• Institutional requirements for tenure.
• How is progress tracked?
• Manuscripts and Grants
• External reputation
• Teaching, service to the institution and the
  profession

15
Special situation transition from Fellow to
Instructor at the same institution

• Secure protected time
• Choose the appropriate lab
• Apply for mentored grants
• AGA Fellowship to Faculty Transition Award
  http//www.fdhn.org/wmspage.cfm?parm120
• Research Scholar Award
• http//www.fdhn.org/wmspage.cfm?parm120
• CCFA research awards http//www.ccfaprofessionals.
  org/site/c.fqKLLSOvElH/b.1310803/k.9649/Research_A
  wards.htm
• K01, K08, K22, K23 and K25 Awards
  http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/index.cfm

16
Other issues to consider.
17
Interviewing at different places?

• You get a chance to see how other academic
  institutions are run.
• Meet other people in similar situations.
• You are more valuable than you think.
• Much easier to demonstrate your worth if others
  are interested.

18
Staying at the place you trained?

• Positives
• 1. Mentor can be a valuable resource.
• 2. Already know the system.
• 3. Know who to collaborate with and how to get
  things done.

Negatives 1. Competing with mentor for graduate
students and post-docs. 2. Need to prove
independence.
19
Family issues

• Does your spouse/significant other work?
• Can they find a job?
• Do you have Children?
• Schools
• Proximity to extended family
• Location
• Can you live in the city?
• Commute?

20
Academic success

• Goals are different at different stages of ones
  career.
• Many different pathways to achieve goals and be
  successful in academics.
• Common themes regardless of stage in career
• Protected time
• Adequate resources
• Strong scientific environment

21
Academic success is a cycle
Protected time Resources Strong environment
Significant/Publishable Research results
Good ideas
Visibility
Academic Success
Strong grant proposals
Funding
22
Common themes regardless of academic track or
position

• Protected time
• Adequate resources
• Strong scientific environment

23
Thank you

• Good Luck!