200.662 Professional Development Seminar

Organized by S. Yantis

Fall, 2007

V. Kandinsky, Composition viii (1923)

Class meets: Tuesdays, 10:30-noon, in Ames 217
Organizer: Steven Yantis
email: yantis@jhu.edu
phone: 410.516.5328

 

Course Objectives

The purpose of this graduate seminar, aimed at second and third-year students in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, is to discuss practical issues related to becoming a professional scientist and academic. These are issues that you will no doubt encounter anyway as you progress through graduate school and your career, but here the intent is to systematically cover a wide range of topics in a structured way with comments and discussion with a range of faculty and others.


Resources

Darley, J.M., Zanna, M.P., & Roediger, III H. (2003). The Compleat Academic : A Career Guide (Second Ed.) Washington, DC: APA books.

Sternberg R.J. (2003). Psychology 101-1/2: The unspoken rules for success in academia. Washington, DC: APA books.

Perlman, B. et al. (Eds.) (1999). Lessons learned: Practical advice for the teaching of psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Society.

Honor in Science. (1991). Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.

On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research. National Academy Press.

The Responsible Researcher: Paths and Pitfalls. Sigma Xi.

Jody Culham's advice for young scientists

Survival Skills for Graduate Students

How to be a successful graduate student


Topics

September 11 Success in graduate school: Getting the most out of your mentor and learning professional skills (Darley, Zanna, & Roedinger [hereafter DZR] Ch. 1)
Gallagher, Halberda, Yantis

September 18 The Perfect Post-Doc: How to Find, Fund, and Profit From Yours (DZR ch. 2). Take a look at the NRSA fellowship application (PHS 416-1) and the new NIH Pathway to Independence program
Shelton, Stuphorn, Yantis

September 25 Getting a Job: The CV and “The Interview” (bring copies of your CV to the seminar for distribution) (DZR ch. 3)
Feigenson, Halberda, Yantis

October 2 Scientific Ethics: Research Integrity, Human and Animal Subject Protection.
For this discussion, please read “Honor in Science”, which has been distributed to you, The Responsible Researcher: Paths and Pitfalls, and the on-line booklet On Being a Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research, published by the National Academy Press. Also print out and read the JHU Policy on Integrity in Research. In addition, you must complete either the Human Research or the Animal Research Compliance Testing at https://secure.lwservers.net/jhmrct) Visit the websites of the Homewood Human Subjects Review Board and the Animal Care and Use Committee.
Fortune, Egeth, Yantis

October 9 Careers in Academia, the promotion & tenure process; A day in the life of an academic (DZR ch. 7, 12, 13). Take a look at the JHU Homewood Schools Tenure Regulations
Ball, Yantis

October 16 Careers outside Adademia (DZR ch. 4)
S. Becker, R. Rauschenberger, B. Vaughan, Courtney, Yantis

October 23 To Teach: Developing and Managing a Course / Becoming a mentor (DZR ch. 5, 6). See also Perlman et al. (1999)
Holland, Yantis

October 30 The Funding Universe (start-up funds, Federal agencies and private foundations)
Yantis + Rep from research admin office

November 6 No meeting (SfN)

November 13 Writing and Reviewing Grant Proposals (Aims, Background, Rationale, Research Plan, and the Anatomy of a Grant Proposal including budget) Take a look at the standard R01 Grant Application (PHS 398) and the NSF Grant Proposal Guide
Holland, Egeth, Yantis

November 20 The Funding Process: Program and Peer Review at NSF and NIH (DZR ch. 8, 9) NIH Study Section video
Ball, Yantis

November 27 Writing and Reviewing Scientific Papers (DZR ch. 10) and Attending Scientific meetings
Feigenson , Gallagher, Stark, Yantis

December 4 Managing your career (DZR ch 19, 20)
Gallagher , Yantis