A wise person once told me that you always try to find spaces for talented people within the lab. Sometimes this is possible, and sometimes this isn't. If you are interested in joining the Baltrus lab as a postdoc, feel free to contact me wherever or whenever you'd like (email, conferences, etc...all good options). We get random emails about postdocs all the time, so it's best if you do something to make the message seem personalized to my lab. Did you read and enjoy one of my papers? Great! What did you like about it, what could I have done better? How do you see yourself and your own ideas for research fitting into the Baltrus lab? What would you like to get out of the experience?
I encourage all postdocs within the lab to explore their own independent research ideas, so long as it's not too expensive and so long as other research goals aren't neglected. I want to see you develop new lines of research and to take these with you when you start your own lab. Don't be afraid to talk with me about these endeavors. I want to hear about all of these results, I love new data. I'm well aware that ownership questions crop up, and I'll always be open and honest with you about where I think things stand.
I will do whatever I can to work with you to apply for postdoctoral fellowships. These are important, not only for your development as a scientist, but because they can provide you with a level of research independence that's not always possible if you are funded off of other grants to the lab. Being awarded a fellowship is also a great CV boost.
It's important to understand that not everyone that gets a PhD will get a job in academia. The reality of the situation is that there are many more PhDs produced than tenure track jobs at R1 institutions. That being said, there are many jobs at "other" places such as primarily undergraduate institutions and in industry. I want to work with you to find the best path forward, regardless of where that might be. Please feel free to discuss your career goals with me whenever possible, and we'll work to give you the skills you need to succeed (whether they be techniques, mentoring, teaching, and whatever industry contacts I can find). I apologize for the buzzwordiness of that last sentence.
If your are interested in writing a fellowship to join the lab, please contact me ASAP and we can start to think about ideas and how to craft the application. Some potential postdoctoral fellowships that are worth looking into:
Bisgrove Scholars
Life Sciences Research Foundation
USDA NIFA
NSF
NIH NRSA
ASM Fellowships
I encourage all postdocs within the lab to explore their own independent research ideas, so long as it's not too expensive and so long as other research goals aren't neglected. I want to see you develop new lines of research and to take these with you when you start your own lab. Don't be afraid to talk with me about these endeavors. I want to hear about all of these results, I love new data. I'm well aware that ownership questions crop up, and I'll always be open and honest with you about where I think things stand.
I will do whatever I can to work with you to apply for postdoctoral fellowships. These are important, not only for your development as a scientist, but because they can provide you with a level of research independence that's not always possible if you are funded off of other grants to the lab. Being awarded a fellowship is also a great CV boost.
It's important to understand that not everyone that gets a PhD will get a job in academia. The reality of the situation is that there are many more PhDs produced than tenure track jobs at R1 institutions. That being said, there are many jobs at "other" places such as primarily undergraduate institutions and in industry. I want to work with you to find the best path forward, regardless of where that might be. Please feel free to discuss your career goals with me whenever possible, and we'll work to give you the skills you need to succeed (whether they be techniques, mentoring, teaching, and whatever industry contacts I can find). I apologize for the buzzwordiness of that last sentence.
If your are interested in writing a fellowship to join the lab, please contact me ASAP and we can start to think about ideas and how to craft the application. Some potential postdoctoral fellowships that are worth looking into:
Bisgrove Scholars
Life Sciences Research Foundation
USDA NIFA
NSF
NIH NRSA
ASM Fellowships
