Geoscience Careers in Academia Dr Kate Bulinski Associate Professor of Geosciences Bellarmine University School of Environmental Studies Louisville Kentucky A little about me Undergrad in geology Penn State2002 ID: 772505
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Geoscience Careers in Academia Dr. Kate BulinskiAssociate Professor of GeosciencesBellarmine UniversitySchool of Environmental StudiesLouisville, Kentucky
A little about me… Undergrad in geology, Penn State-2002Ph.D. in invertebrate paleontology, UC- 2008Began tenure track at Bellarmine University, Fall 2008Received tenure as an Associate Professor of Geosciences in the School of Environmental Studies, December 2013
What is my job like? Teach 3 classes each semesterAdvise Environmental Studies/Science MajorsConduct some research, often with studentsDo lots of service, to my university, to my community and to my disciplineTravel abroad regularly with studentsPeruGuatemalaIndia
Necessary Training for a Career in Academia: Get a Ph.D. In almost all cases (except for if you are a lab instructor of some sort) you will need a Ph.D. You will need to have publications as a product of your Ph.D. research.
Master’s or no Master’s Degree? Many people pursue a Master’s degree first because: Additional training if you haven’t had much experience doing independent researchA chance to work on a shorter-term project and publish a paperDoing a master’s degree can help you identify and create a very well-designed Ph.D. project
Master’s or no Master’s Degree? Some people choose not to do a Ph.D. if they:Have independent research experience as an undergraduateHave a strong project in mind Want to attend a very high-ranked university straight out of undergraduate that does not offer Master’s degrees. Want to cut down on the number of years spent in graduate school (not recommended for pursuing academia especially)
How to apply and get accepted to graduate school Search the internet for geology departments with people working on what you are interested in.Talk to the professor that you’ve had whose specialty most closely relates to what you want to study and ask him/her to identify a few potential advisors.
How to apply & get accepted to graduate schoolSend an email to potential advisors introducing yourself and inquiring whether they are accepting new graduate students in their lab.If you plan to attend any conferences (GSA, AGU), see if you can arrange to meet potential advisors there. Take the GRE’s no later than the fall of your senior year Send in your application packets. Some are due as soon as December of your senior year.
How to be a good graduate student You need to be self-motivated. Lazy students or chronic procrastinators do not make good graduate students If you get stuck on something, you need to search out the answers. No one is going to find them for you but yourself. Graduate School should be your JOB. Do not seek too many extracurriculars. Keep regular hours/a schedule.
How to be a good graduate student You need to welcome criticism and learn from itEven the best writers need editors.Your advisor’s job is to help you produce the best thesis or dissertation possible and prepare you for a career of research.
Necessary Training for a Career in Academia: Build Your C.V. If you are applying for a university with lots of teaching responsibilities, teaching experience is essential.Anything else you can add to your C.V. would be helpfulService activities related to the disciplineCompletion of workshops for teaching, grant writing etc.Fullbright fellowship or other graduate fellowships Awards
Necessary Training for a Career in Academia: Networking Present at conferences. Often.Be social at conferences and meet other people.Graduate students at other institutions will be your colleagues somedayThey could be collaborators on researchOther graduate students can serve as an important support network within the discipline
Necessary Training for a Career in Academia: Networking Network with faculty at other universities:Could serve as an external committee member on your dissertationMay peer-review one of your papersMay serve on a search committee when you are applying for jobsMay serve as a co-author on a manuscriptCan give you invaluable advice as you work on your career
Have a post-Ph.D. Plan Post-Docs?Applying for tenure-track jobs?Applying for other university positions?Seeking other kinds of careers for a Ph.D. in your field?Energy IndustryMuseums Science Policy/AdvocacyScience Writing
Why You Might Want To Pursue an Academic Career… The lifestyle can be very satisfyingYou get to teach students and help them launch their own careersYou get to conduct your own researchYou get to be involved in service to your community, university and discipline using your specific trainingSUMMERS FREE!! FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE!! SPRING BREAK, WINTER BREAK, FALL BREAK…
Why You Might Not Want To Pursue an Academic Career… Job AvailabilityNot as many positions as there used to beMany positions that ARE available are not tenure trackMany positions that are available may be in places you don’t want to liveIf you pick up a spouse along the way, finding a job for both of you in a new location after finishing your Ph.D. can be difficult…especially if they are pursuing academia too.
Why You Might Not Want To Pursue an Academic Career…Academia is changing.Lots of administrative work at timesSome institutions switching to online classesSome institutions struggling to attract students“Publish or Perish”Get grants or Perish Academia pays okay….industry pays better.
Questions?