Stopwatch (Comstock) Image: Comstock What if you spill your water on the other person? Just apologize and hand over your napkin. When someone asks you who you are and what you do--whether it's a random stranger on a conference elevator (who may just end up being your next boss), or a Nobel Prize–winner sitting next to you at dinner after an on-campus lecture--your answer needs to be clear, crisp,...
Stand out in a crowd (byrne7214) The key to avoiding problems is to begin the faculty job with a detailed and documented understanding of what your institution expects from you and what you, in turn, can anticipate from the institution at each step of the tenure and promotion process. Science is increasingly collaborative, but individual performance is the key to getting tenure. You need a track ...
Formal programs can be invaluable in opening doors to new experiences. But how can you better prepare yourself for teaching without going into a program? Here are some suggestions. diamond.gifFinding a First Opportunity to Teach Volunteer to speak in the community--high school career days, events sponsored by environmental groups, or acting as a docent in a science museum can all give you a chanc...
Although academic careers are often the aim of graduate students' training, few programs really prepare their trainees for the main business of colleges: teaching. A handful of national programs are playing roles in changing this by training postdocs, new professors, or graduate students to become better faculty. One program, Project NeXT (New Experiences in Teaching), was launched in 1994 with s...
