Sundar A Christopher Professor and Chairman Department of Atmospheric Science Associate Director ESSC UAHuntsville sachristopherwordpresscom Outline How did I get to this point Advice that helped me ID: 460242
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Navigating Graduate School and Beyond
Sundar A. ChristopherProfessor and ChairmanDepartment of Atmospheric ScienceAssociate Director, ESSCUAHuntsville
(sachristopher.wordpress.com)Slide2
OutlineHow did I get to this point?
Advice that helped me?The best/worst parts of my job?My bookSlide3
My Journey
1) COIMBATOREINDIA, 11N, 77E(BE)12) Rapid City, SD44N, 103W (MS)2
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3) Fort Collins, CO41N,
105W
(PhD)
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4)
Huntsville, AL
35N,
87W
(MA)
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5) Sydney, Australia
34S, 151E
6)
UK Met office
Exeter, UK, 50N, 3W
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Global Aerosol Distribution from SatellitesSlide4
Career ProgressionM.S. > PhD > Assistant Professor
Typical career progression after that Associate Professor > Tenure > Full Professor and now the chairmanAlso serve as Associate Director for ESSC - research centerSlide5
Advice that helped meDo good research
Stay on top of state of the artPublish like crazyCommunicate effectivelyDon’t get too big for your britches!Slide6
Why Psychology degree?Industrial/Organizational Psychology has always been fascinating for me
I studied motivation and job satisfaction Helps me in my current job to deal with students and faculty better – I think!Slide7
Best part of my jobI thoroughly enjoy teaching
Light bulbs went on in my head during the radiation budget lecture (M.S) and I still do research in that areaWriting papers/proposalsI get excited when students succeed at the highest levels including winning awards (One of my students is a PECASE award winner, $1M for research!)Slide8
Worst part of my jobNeedless meetings/Administrative trivia
Seeing students/faculty perform below potentialNot being able to stop and smell the roses!Encountering leadership in academic chain of command who do not have a vision and serve primarily as wet blankets (OK, I got that out of my system)Slide9
Why the book?Primarily written for graduate students and their advisors
I teach this as a 1 credit course in the ATS department every Fall semesterStudents often do not know how to effectively navigate graduate school and beyondAdvisors have a professional obligation to empower students beyond classes and researchSlide10
Without vision there is chaosNeed to know where you are going – while in graduate school
Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) analysis is a mustWhere do I want to be? Where am I now? How am I going to get there?Slide11
Huge visionA resume should only be a place holder
If you did the right things in graduate school, jobs should come looking for you!Slide12
Manage your advisor (Boss)Know what your advisor expects of you – especially if you are on a research assistantship
Do you know their strengths and weakness?Mentor versus advisor – beware!Slide13
Work ethicsTime management – Stay organized
Project ManagementLife managementBecome a resource centerTAKE OWNERSHIP/BE PROACTIVEGrad school is a fantastic time in your lifeSlide14
WritingThere are smart ways to ditch a formal dissertation
Write peer reviewed papersYes, you can write a proposal while in graduate school – ATS 782 provides a complete experience for proposal writingSlide15
CommunicatingYou need to learn how to communicate in formal and informal ways while in graduate school
Attend a conference and learn how to networkWork in teams (all of this is preparation for your real job to come)Slide16
Advice Know where you want to go and then diligently prepare for that goal – Without vision there is Chaos!
Learn how to serve various communities (local, regional, national) while in graduate schoolPrivate organizations? If that is your goal, know what skills they needSlide17
1. Introduction
2. SowingCast a Vision/Do a SWOTAvoid the Resume
3. Your Advisor and You
What Your Advisor Expects from You
Manage Your Advisor
4. Skills
Work Ethics for a Graduate Student
Take Initiative: Becoming a Resource Center
Take Ownership
Work Hard and Smart
/
Be Whole
5. Organize.
Manage Your Time
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Beat the Stress
Don't Get Weary
6. Writing
Ditch the Dissertation
/
Write a Paper
7. Proposals
Why Write a Proposal
Budgets
/
The Actual Proposal
Top Ten Dos for Proposal Writing
Proposal Review Process
/
Proposal Evaluation
8. Communicating
Learn to Talk
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Conferences
9. Teams
Pick your team
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Become a Team Player
10. Jobs
Danger of Not Finishing
Staying on
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Postdoc
Get a Job
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Job Interview
11. Career Exercises
Job Hunting and CV Exercises
Proposal Writing Exercises
12. Concluding Thoughts: The Final Word
“
Really
Navigating Graduate School and BeyondSlide18
Final Slide
Shameless plug : Read my book on Navigating Graduate School and Beyondsundar@nsstc.uah.edusachristopher.wordpress.com