TIBBS Career Blitz Career Profile Questionnaire
Career Profile:
What is your current title and how long have you worked in your current job?
· Assistant Professor of Biology
Where did you get your PhD and what discipline was it in?
· I got my PhD from University of Arizona in Physiology
Did you do a postdoc?
· I was a SPIRE postdoctoral Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill
What are your main daily responsibilities?
· At Elon we teach a 24hr credit load per academic year- that typically equates to two lectures and 3 labs if I have a full semester. With that in mind, teaching in what I do for a large chunk of my day. The rest of the time I am meeting with research students, advising, and working on various committees for Elon. Beyond Elon’s campus I have a 15mo old kiddo that also keeps me on my toes.
What are the keys to success in your career field?
· Hmmm- perhaps I should answer this after I find out about tenure packet in the spring. I don’t know if I have any one piece of advice that is all encompassing. I think that success in academics is probably the same across the board; you have to be willing to work hard and have a certain love/ passion for science.
What were the most important factors in choosing your career path?
· For me it was about playing to my strengths and determining what I really like to do. I love science- so teaching it was a natural fit for me. I was never the graduate student or postdoc that aspired to publish in Nature or Science, realized early on that I can have a bigger impact in the classroom that I ever could at the bench.
What activities (if any) did you participate in that helped you be successful in obtaining your job?
· My postdoctoral fellowship certainly helped. I also talked to a lot of people that were at smaller liberal schools. I think the earlier you know you want to be at the smaller school the better you will be able to hunt for experiences that will help prepare you for my type of job.
What 1 or 2 pieces of advice do you have for people who want to land a job like yours?
· Get teaching experience.
· Talk to people! Get advice and network- this goes for any field in science really.