Starting Your First Faculty Position – Things to think

aboutSandeep K. Tripathy MD, PhD

Gastroenterology ASWJanuary 25, 2008

Academic timeline

Asst.Professor

MedSchool

Residency

Fellowship

Instructor

mentored

Faculty

FullProfessor

Assoc.Professor

Initial faculty appointmentIf 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)

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?

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 pursue1. Investigator track

2. Clinical track

3. Research track

Asst.Professor

MedSchool

Residency

Fellowship

Instructor

FullProfessor

Assoc.Professor

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.

My goals

Longer-term goal (in 2-7 years): Develop an independent research program in the GI division that is funded by federally sponsored grants.

Asst.Professor

MedSchool

Residency

Fellowship

Instructor

FullProfessor

Assoc.Professor

me

Top three items to consider

• Resources

• Scientific environment

• Protected time

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.

Protected time (where else does the time go?)

• Clinical responsibilities– GI clinic– Inpatient GI consult service– Endoscopy time– Medicine service

• Teaching responsibilities• Institutional committees

Resources

• “Start up package”• Core facilities

– Transgenic, microscopy, flow-cytometry, procurement of human tissue samples

• Lab space– Special needs: working with virus

• Animal facilities

“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) EquipmentSupplies (3-5 yrs)Services (animal, hot waste, DNA…)

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

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.

Scientific environment (iii)• Institutional requirements for tenure.

• How is progress tracked?

• Manuscripts and Grants• External reputation• Teaching, service to the institution and

the profession

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?parm1=20

– Research Scholar Awardhttp://www.fdhn.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=20

– CCFA research awards http://www.ccfaprofessionals.org/site/c.fqKLLSOvElH/b.1310803/k.9649/Research_Awards.htm

– K01, K08, K22, K23 and K25 Awards http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/index.cfm

Other issues to consider.

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.

Staying at the place you trained?

Positives1. Mentor can be a valuable resource.2. Already know the system.3. Know who to collaborate with and how to get things done.

Negatives1. Competing with mentor for graduate students and post-docs.2. Need to “prove independence.”

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?

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are needed to see this picture.

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

Academic success is a cycle

Academic Success

Protected timeResourcesStrong environment

Strong grant proposals

Significant/PublishableResearch results

Visibility

Funding

Good ideas

Common themes regardless of academic track or position

• Protected time

• Adequate resources

• Strong scientific environment

Thank you

Good Luck!