1.2 Progress to a permanent position, postdocs

To attain our categorical long-term interest in attaining a permanent position we must pass specific milestones in timely fashion. The Survival Skills and Ethics program at the University of Pittsburgh provides excellent resources, including:

-> Writing research articles

-> Attending professional meetings

-> Evaluating research seminars

-> Grantpersonship

-> Keeping laboratory notebooks in the natural and physical sciences

-> Creating visual aids

-> Writing letters of recommendation

-> Speaking to multi-cultural audiences

Each of these steps requires that you document your every move. Record your thoughts about important conversations you hold with your supervisors and mentors; progress and problems in your research; and counsel you receive from superiors and give to subordinates. If in doubt as to whether to write something down, err on the side of caution.

Author: Gary Comstock
Maintained By: Gary Comstock
Last Updated: 2009-01-26