P39: How To F Up Your Academic Career
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This document appears to be a set of slides from a presentation given by Flip Tanedo on how to succeed and avoid failure in an academic career. Some key points mentioned include the importance of gaining research experience as early as possible, preferably through summer programs; asking for letters of recommendation well in advance of deadlines; and seeking help and guidance from advisors, mentors, and peers rather than trying to do everything alone. The presentation also warns students that graduate school will be challenging and involves overcoming difficulties like imposter syndrome.
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P39: How To F Up Your Academic Career
- 1. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 Flip Tanedo 8 Nov 2018 UC Riverside Particle Theory Y O U R A C A D E M I C C A R E E R advice for early career academics from my own personal experience … your mileage may vary! f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u PHYSICS 39 FALL 2018 & HOW TO SUCEED TOWARD
- 2. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 2 Who I am North Hollywood HS Stanford Cambridge Durham Cornell UC Irvine HS College Grad School Professor Post-Doc to be honest… I’m still trying to figure this out UCR
- 3. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 3 Dark matter exists. We cannot see, smell, hear, touch, or taste it. How the heck do we do science on it? What I do … that’s a whole different talk.
- 4. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 4 Parallel Universes HS College Prof. Different School? Different Major? MEDICALSCHOOL INDUSTRY SCIENCE WRITER MILITARY TECH GOVERNMENT TEACHING PhD
- 5. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 5 What you need to know How much does grad school cost? What are the criteria for admission? What are the criteria for graduation? Is this something you want to do?
- 6. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 6 Reasons to go to grad school want to work as a scientist PhD is usually a requirement interested in specialized industry e.g. data science, laser stuff… insatiable curiosity about science one time in your life where you’ll get a chance to do something like this Not necessary: I want to be a professor.
- 7. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 7 reasons to go to grad school don’t know what to do with your life maybe you’ll figure it out … like doing homework theoretical physics is like homework, right? think it’s “the right thing” to do all my professors went to grad school… bad
- 8. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 8 This talk:
- 9. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 Flip Tanedo 8 Nov 2018 UC Riverside Particle Theory Y O U R A C A D E M I C C A R E E R advice for early career academics from my own personal experience … your mileage may vary! f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u PHYSICS 39 FALL 2018 & HOW TO fuck up
- 10. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 10 know the rules fail: applying to grad school “finding yourself”
- 11. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 11 using metrics for college Elements of a Grad School Application • Transcript of your grades • GRE scores (general + physics) When do you take this? How do you prepare? • Letters of recommendation Who should write them? How do you ask? • Research & personal statements What do you write about? fail:
- 12. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 12 LPT: start an application
- 13. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 13 using metrics for college Shit that [mostly] doesn’t matter • Your non-science extracurricular activities • Being an SI, SPS officer, Science Ambassador Unless this ties to your outreach / personal statement • Letters of recommendation from non-scientists • Double majoring/minoring in math Unless this is part of your research trajectory fail:
- 14. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 14 https://nerdist.com/artist-imagines-the-missing-links-in-pokemon-evolutions/ waiting until your senior year fail: freshman sophomore junior senior build your support team academic advisors, peers, mentors, … do research! especially REUs prepare for apps GREs, essays, discuss w/ your advisor(s) SHIT HITS THE FAN senioritis last summer vacation this period matters
- 15. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 15 Especially: off campus summer experiences! not doing research fail:
- 16. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 16 Be “well lopsided” “well rounded” fail: knows a little about a lot of stuff really, really knows a few things
- 17. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 17 Junior year: leave time to take the GRE and Physics GRE again, if necessary. only take the last GRE fail: Our department offers a summer GRE prep class!
- 18. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 18 last minute letter request fail: This little shit requests letters of recommendation the day before they’re due.
- 19. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 19 How to ask for a letter of rec • Talk in person to your recommender • Remind them, in writing why they like you Give them notes for what to include in your letter • Include a copy of your application materials Make sure they know the criteria of the application! • Identify all deadlines, agree to a reminder plan For me: every half life until the application is due
- 20. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 20 doing it alone fail:
- 21. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 21 If you’re doing everything well, then you’re probably not doing enough. -Howard Georgi fearing failure fail:
- 22. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 22 Extra Slides
- 23. f l i p . t a n e d o @ u c r . e d u 22 PHYSICS 39, FALL 2018 23 Warning: grad school is tough Dunning-Kruger peak of stupidity Impostor Syndrome esp. in grad school ability confidence internet trolls PhDstudents