Thread by Jessica Osterhout PhD
- Tweet
- Jan 4, 2023
- #Academy
Thread
I sought out a lot of advice last year before starting faculty interviews. After being lucky enough to be invited for several myself I found what worked for me (and what didn’t) so I thought I’d share as the next cohort gets started. In order of my perceived importance:
1. Chalk talk. Practice for multiple audiences that included different PIs, not just peers. The balance between “big picture” and “R01” style is key. Start off with a big picture pitch but have R01 style ready. I wish I would have written a specific aims page as part of my prep.
A quiet audience is not necessarily bad and many questions isn’t necessarily good – your success depends on enthusiasm in the room and your ability to satisfy the (reasonable) questions being asked. If they aren’t reasonable, other faculty in the room know it too.
2. Seminar. Its SO important for your audience to understand your seminar. Some worry using laymen’s terms make you sound less smart but I learned as a grad student with @hubermanlab that when your audience understands you, THEY feel smart and walk away with a better impression.
3. One-on-ones. Don’t underestimate these! I found the ease of dialogue was directly correlated with enthusiasm for my candidacy. Prep is hard because you can’t remember everyone’s background/work. Jot a few notes on a printed schedule to jog your memory just beforehand.
While prepping, think about how you may collaborate/relate. If you can’t relate your work, ask questions about how their biology/experiments work. Your interest in them lets them know how you’ll be as a colleague.
Don’t ask about culture/life in the department, even with junior faculty. Save this for a second visit (or over the phone later). You’ll get a sense of the culture based on the “feel” of the interactions you had over the course of the day.
4. Dinner. This "meeting" feels less formal but its still an evaluation. You can share some personal details about yourself. I didn’t hide my family status and only once did it receive a slightly negative response but it turns out the culture there was bad for a number of reasons
I like to relax with a glass of wine or a cocktail after a long/stressful day. I think this is fine unless no one else orders a drink (which luckily didn’t happen to me). Keep it to a level where you don’t actually get tipsy (especially as a woman, imo).
Importantly, it’s another opportunity to take interest in the faculty (hobbies, things to do in town/city). Again, don’t search for negative aspects of the dept. or university. If the conversation has a negative tone then people leave with less enthusiasm.
You should ask about experiences with the chair or mentoring committees (level of involvement, how helpful they are). You can ask about grad programs, teaching experiences, anything related to the position.
Final words: Interviews are exhausting and exhilarating. You spent 2 days thinking about your life there. You may grow attached to the place or the people. This makes rejection that much worse. I now know some signs it didn’t go well or I wasn't the top choice from the beginning:
1) 1+ search committee members don’t attend chalk talk. 2) repeated questions or many very critical questions during chalk talk. 3) cancellation of one-on-one meetings without explanation. 4) Awkward silences during one-on-ones.
5) Direct, negative feedback about your previous or future work, your talks, or you, personally (this happened more than once). 6) Faculty talking about another candidate in front of you 7) Faculty taking no interest in you at dinner.
Very last: follow up emails matter! But don't send if it's just a generic email. Send to those you had a good conversation with or have a follow up question for. To convey your enthusiasm, definitely send one to the chair and the search committee chair(s). GOOD LUCK!
