Professional Visibility Over the Lifespan: - PowerPoint Presentation

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Professional Visibility Over the Lifespan:Musings of for a reluctant self-promoter

Debra Titone

Associate Professor

Department of Psychology

McGill UniversitySlide2

Professional VisibilityNot natural to manage for “typical” academic researcher… we would’ve gotten MBAs instead“Noble” to “Shameless” Continuum

Your research gets you noticed without even trying

Your authentic interests drive your research; you occasionally take steps to get you and your work noticed

Your authentic interests & a calculated sense of what’s “hot” drive your research; you often take steps to be in the right place at the right timeYour desire for visibility drives your research agenda, the professional activities in which you engage, the 1000’s of Facebook friends you have, and the car you driveSlide3

Life-cycle of an academicSlide4

Life-cycle of an academic

A baby academic

is bornSlide5

Life-cycle of an academic

Stuff happensSlide6

Life-cycle of an academic

Graduate

schoolSlide7

Life-cycle of an academic

PostdocSlide8

Life-cycle of an academic

Assistant ProfessorSlide9

Life-cycle of an academic

TENURESlide10

Life-cycle of an academic

Associate ProfessorSlide11

Life-cycle of an academic

Promoted to Full Professor?Slide12

Life-cycle of an academic

Emeritus StatusSlide13

Life-cycle of an academic

Time for

a vacationSlide14

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesCommon to all career stagesPublish good work in a smallish # of domains

Network

= talk enthusiastically about what you do & enthusiastically inquire about what other people

doNetwork in your department, institution, at conferencesEmphasize the positive aspects of your surroundings; you are a part & product of themPromote your own work, the work of others in your lab, your advisor, your department, your university… there’s no profit in being stingy

Be “present” in your department – e.g., attend colloquia & ask questions; serve on student committees

within reason

If opportunities present themselves, act on them..

Do research that you love

Be yourself – suppress “imposter syndrome”Slide15

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesPre-Ph.D. – good habits start hereGood first author publications are essential

Cultivate

professional relationships with your advisor, lab-mates, other professors in your department, and other students

Cultivate a reputation as someone who upgrades life in the lab, program, department.. Don’t be a drag…Enthusiastically spread credit around where appropriateRepresent your lab/department wellLet your advisor(s) know that you are interested in meeting people at conferences etc. – don’t be odd about it, but don’t be shy either

Tell your adviser(s) that you want to get involved with journal reviewing and other professional opportunitiesSlide16

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesPostdoc – the stakes are higher bc

you need a job

Same as before, but now you are

cultivating a broad, inclusive professional circle Cultivate opportunities to give talks, and visits to meet other researchersStart thinking of yourself as someone who can put other people into contact with each otherPapers still essential, but now think about external funding (if you haven’t already); become

skilled in this

process; serving

on grant-review panels helps

immensely,

it’s the only service really

worth doing

***special note to WOMEN, you may be thinking about starting a family, which rarely enhances professional visibility – lost time, harder to attend conferences, etc.. BUT it is your life, after all..Slide17

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesAssistant Professor

– great, but now things ramp up..

First author publications still important, but papers where your students are first authors count as much or more

Your students’ successes are now a direct reflection on you – it’s a win-win situation that is IDEAL for the reluctant self-promoterEstablish a publication record that is clearly independent of your mentors, with your studentsStrive to be the mentor and colleague you were lucky to have, or that you wished you had,

BUT only

accept EXCELLENT

students

Be visible and positive in your department; get involved with the governing structure of your department

But don’t let your department overburden you with service – research & teaching are top priorities that get you visibility in your field and tenure, service is not

Make an effort to get to know likely tenure-letter writers

Aim for TALKS at conferences rather than poster presentationsSlide18

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesTenured Associate Professor – you did it!Same as before, but now you’re hitting your stride in your research, being more choosy about what research you do and publish

You’re organizing symposia, workshops, & meetings rather than just submitting abstracts

You’re giving talks, getting papers published, semi-confident about securing funding, sending students to good labs & positions, gaining an international reputation

You continue to cultivate your professional circle & enjoy an extensive network of colleagues, former & current students and collaborators – Psychonomics is MUCH more fun..

Very important, because to ever get promoted to full professor, you need important people to say you are PROVEN in the eyes of your field; non-stellar, wishy-washy letters are the kiss of deathSlide19

Visibility-enhancing behaviors at different career stagesFull Professor & beyond Same as before, but now you are growing/maintaining your reputation, rather than fading into obscurity

You’re

among the leaders in your field but you still have to compete for new grants; you may become a “target” for scholarly take-

downYour research is more integrative/expansiveYou’re creating scholarly and professional opportunities for your students, colleagues, and othersYou’re making the academic ecosystem a better place, both scientifically and professionally; you’re creating organizations like

Women in Cognitive ScienceSlide20

Professional Visibility = good work, strategy, luck