I have a draft of K99 that I had completed 2 months ago. That includes research strategy, candidate information, and other shit. If you have done this much, kudos.
But this is not the whole story.
I have to get more done for the application to submit. That includes letters from collaborators, mentors, institutional people and many other documents that may not make a lot of sense but they are necessary for your grant.
I dont know what is up with the collaborator and the institutional people. I requested a letter 6 weeks ago and send them a draft of the letter a week ago, and still nothing. All they have to do is put the draft I have written on their letter head and send it to me.
The deadline is looming, and if there is a delay in my application, I gonna make some phone calls !
For now it is wait and see...
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Faculty position rejection
So, I heard from the head of the department yesterday, and he told me that they are not interested in supporting my area of research. Therefore, they wont be making me an offer.
Now I am not sure, if this comment was to lay me down easy or was it because they are interested more in another related area? Time will tell.
Anyway, I will have to tell you that it is a sigh of relief that I heard from them. No matter it is yes or no, as long as you get the answer. Waiting game is a gut wrenching thing, which can take a toll on your emotional energy. I didn't knew that till yesterday, when a NO made me feel better and relaxed !
Now I am not sure, if this comment was to lay me down easy or was it because they are interested more in another related area? Time will tell.
Anyway, I will have to tell you that it is a sigh of relief that I heard from them. No matter it is yes or no, as long as you get the answer. Waiting game is a gut wrenching thing, which can take a toll on your emotional energy. I didn't knew that till yesterday, when a NO made me feel better and relaxed !
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Faculty interview and visit -- 1
Those of you who have been following the blog know that I have been invited for a on-site visit and interview at New University (NW). I will share few of the details of the visit below.
So the interview went something like this. I arrived in the city at night around 8pm and was picked up by the head of the department (HOD) and his wife. On the way to the restaurant, HOD kept on talking to me about my research and his wife kept on telling me how good the city is. I also had a rapid tour of the campus during this time. Thereafter, we all went to a pleasant restaurant; ate, talked about research, life, family etc. I also was asked if I am married ( I know it is illegal) but I kept my cool and went on with the conversation. It was a pleasant evening.
My next day was scheduled to start at 830 in the morning. Faculty member was there to pick me up from the hotel lobby and we went to have breakfast. The next step was to go to the department where I had back to back meetings till late evening. I also had to give a seminar at mid-day.
The meeting were pleasant and the faculty had a lot of interesting questions. Most of the question were basic, since almost no one in the department works on the kind of problems that I do. However, I had practiced a lot to explain my research to a non-scientific person (practiced on my wife) so I think I was doing good at that end.
The seminar also went fine. I had formulated the talk in a manner that would allow people not working in my area, to understand the research and know how important (read: fundable) it is. I had one hour to speak. My practice runs on the talks finished some where from 35 to 50 minutes. I was able to finish mine in 45 minutes, which was optimal. Had a question session for the next 15 minutes with some very interesting questions. There was one guy however, who kept on interrupting during the talk, telling me that this work has already been done ( read: research is useless). I was most polite most of the time, and answered all of his questions very professionally.
After this I went for lunch with another official; after lunch met two deans, few more faculty members till it was around 530. Thereafter, the HOD and I sat and he answered few of the questions that I had all day. He was then kind enough to take me to the airport and I came back to my place ( there was a glitch in the flight, but you guys wouldn't want to hear that:).
This was my first faculty interview ever and I throughly enjoyed it !. I already feel that I have matured enough to the point that I can be a faculty member. Lets hope they make me an offer. By the way, I also learnt that there were more than 200 applicants for the position, and I was the second one on their list..yaay !
In the coming days, as time permit, I will be doing a post on advice on what I did before and during the visit. This would be my way of thanking the blogosphere for helping me out.
So the interview went something like this. I arrived in the city at night around 8pm and was picked up by the head of the department (HOD) and his wife. On the way to the restaurant, HOD kept on talking to me about my research and his wife kept on telling me how good the city is. I also had a rapid tour of the campus during this time. Thereafter, we all went to a pleasant restaurant; ate, talked about research, life, family etc. I also was asked if I am married ( I know it is illegal) but I kept my cool and went on with the conversation. It was a pleasant evening.
My next day was scheduled to start at 830 in the morning. Faculty member was there to pick me up from the hotel lobby and we went to have breakfast. The next step was to go to the department where I had back to back meetings till late evening. I also had to give a seminar at mid-day.
The meeting were pleasant and the faculty had a lot of interesting questions. Most of the question were basic, since almost no one in the department works on the kind of problems that I do. However, I had practiced a lot to explain my research to a non-scientific person (practiced on my wife) so I think I was doing good at that end.
The seminar also went fine. I had formulated the talk in a manner that would allow people not working in my area, to understand the research and know how important (read: fundable) it is. I had one hour to speak. My practice runs on the talks finished some where from 35 to 50 minutes. I was able to finish mine in 45 minutes, which was optimal. Had a question session for the next 15 minutes with some very interesting questions. There was one guy however, who kept on interrupting during the talk, telling me that this work has already been done ( read: research is useless). I was most polite most of the time, and answered all of his questions very professionally.
After this I went for lunch with another official; after lunch met two deans, few more faculty members till it was around 530. Thereafter, the HOD and I sat and he answered few of the questions that I had all day. He was then kind enough to take me to the airport and I came back to my place ( there was a glitch in the flight, but you guys wouldn't want to hear that:).
This was my first faculty interview ever and I throughly enjoyed it !. I already feel that I have matured enough to the point that I can be a faculty member. Lets hope they make me an offer. By the way, I also learnt that there were more than 200 applicants for the position, and I was the second one on their list..yaay !
In the coming days, as time permit, I will be doing a post on advice on what I did before and during the visit. This would be my way of thanking the blogosphere for helping me out.
Friday, February 17, 2012
preparing for the faculty appointment visit
I think the adrenaline from yesterday has wearied off today. Now, that I can think clearly I have realized that I have to give a seminar.
Got a call from the secretary that the visit had to pushed back a week because of the conflict in schedule. Looks like I will be working my ass off on preparing the slides and yes, practicing them !
I have chosen two projects that I would like to talk about. Both are great projects, from two broad fields that I have worked on in the past.
The reason for choosing these two is: It would show the faculty my diversity, since both the projects are from related fields but generally people don't work on both of them. Also both the projects are in depth, which will show them my depth. Last but not least I have prepared two cool potential applications of my project that I will like to show them off at the end. Hope it all goes well.
Got a call from the secretary that the visit had to pushed back a week because of the conflict in schedule. Looks like I will be working my ass off on preparing the slides and yes, practicing them !
I have chosen two projects that I would like to talk about. Both are great projects, from two broad fields that I have worked on in the past.
The reason for choosing these two is: It would show the faculty my diversity, since both the projects are from related fields but generally people don't work on both of them. Also both the projects are in depth, which will show them my depth. Last but not least I have prepared two cool potential applications of my project that I will like to show them off at the end. Hope it all goes well.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The agony may be over :D
Today, I am happy. Got an email from one of the departments that I applied to for a faculty position.
They wanted to invite me for an on-site interview. I am excited...yayy !
I have a prepare a talk though. I do have bit and pieces of talks that I have given recently, but all of the talks have been geared towards experts in the field. As I have been suggested (by blogosphere: http://scientopia.org/blogs/drbecca/tt-job-search-advice-aggregator/) that I have to give one that is geared towards no-experts. Let see how it goes.
If any one else has pearls of wisdom for job talk, let me know.
They wanted to invite me for an on-site interview. I am excited...yayy !
I have a prepare a talk though. I do have bit and pieces of talks that I have given recently, but all of the talks have been geared towards experts in the field. As I have been suggested (by blogosphere: http://scientopia.org/blogs/drbecca/tt-job-search-advice-aggregator/) that I have to give one that is geared towards no-experts. Let see how it goes.
If any one else has pearls of wisdom for job talk, let me know.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The agony of waiting
Recently, I have been waiting for many things i.e. waiting for my papers to come back after peer review; and results of the faculty applications that I have submitted to various places.
As it turns out, that I got the reviews of the paper back. There were three reviewers. Two of them said accept and one said reject. Lo and behold, the editor said that they are going to reject the paper. The issue that the third reviewer had raised is a controversial one in the field, and we (as a lab) tilt towards the other camp. In either case, the reviewer seems to be a big wig, the editor has said reject to the paper. I know, it does not make sense.
On the other hand, I did get a call from a faculty the other day. They wanted to phone interview me. Needless, to say I was awesome and the interview went very fine (I think !). Lets see if they are going to call me for an onsite interview. Its looks good though, since one of my recommenders told me that the department called and wanted to ask more about me. So, the wait is on !
As it turns out, that I got the reviews of the paper back. There were three reviewers. Two of them said accept and one said reject. Lo and behold, the editor said that they are going to reject the paper. The issue that the third reviewer had raised is a controversial one in the field, and we (as a lab) tilt towards the other camp. In either case, the reviewer seems to be a big wig, the editor has said reject to the paper. I know, it does not make sense.
On the other hand, I did get a call from a faculty the other day. They wanted to phone interview me. Needless, to say I was awesome and the interview went very fine (I think !). Lets see if they are going to call me for an onsite interview. Its looks good though, since one of my recommenders told me that the department called and wanted to ask more about me. So, the wait is on !
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
excellent professor
So my PI comes to me and a bunch of other colleagues and started talking about the guy that the institute is going to hire. He shows us the CV of this new guy from a hot shot company that he works for and guess what? This guy is only 2 years senior than I am i.e. he got his PhD just two years before when I did and has less publication record (of course I am factoring in the two years older part :D).
After looking at the CV all of my colleagues started chatting that this guy is not senior enough for the position. I look at my PI and tell him that they should hire me, if they are to hire a young one like the hot-shot dude since I am more competent in what I do.
My PI looks at me and says: "Yes, there are talking going on to hire you as a permanent member but you can be an excellent professor as well !"
Well sure but if you are to hire someone that young you should make this offer to me ! I bet they will make me an offer when I have a faculty position. Then we will play :D
After looking at the CV all of my colleagues started chatting that this guy is not senior enough for the position. I look at my PI and tell him that they should hire me, if they are to hire a young one like the hot-shot dude since I am more competent in what I do.
My PI looks at me and says: "Yes, there are talking going on to hire you as a permanent member but you can be an excellent professor as well !"
Well sure but if you are to hire someone that young you should make this offer to me ! I bet they will make me an offer when I have a faculty position. Then we will play :D
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