TIBBS Career Blitz Career Profile Questionnaire

Career Profile: Michael J. Bruno

What is your current title and how long have you worked in your current job?

Instructor of Chemistry at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Where did you get your PhD and what discipline was it in?

Cornell University, Biochemistry

Did you do a postdoc?

Yes, at UNC through the SPIRE Program

What are your main daily responsibilities?

I teach three different classes over the year: chemistry, biochemistry and research. I also have to advice students, write letters of recommendation and develop teaching labs. Since I teach Research as well, I need to be able to mentor 6-12 students at a time in individual chemistry projects.

What are the keys to success in your career field?

Being organized and disciplined; being able to think on your feet; enjoying speaking in front of people; having sympathy for students who aren’t doing well.

What were the most important factors in choosing your career path?

I knew I wanted a job where I interacted with students so I continued to make choices where I got to be a part of the classroom. My SPIRE post-doc was particularly important because it gave me exposure to pedagogy as well as gave me the opportunity to explore what it was like to teach.

What activities (if any) did you participate in that helped you be successful in obtaining your job?

Getting a job teaching at an elite high school is difficult insofar as there aren’t many of them. I met my dean by volunteering to judge the science fair for several years and that signaled in a strong way that I was willing and eager to engage with young people.

What 1 or 2 pieces of advice do you have for people who want to land a job like yours?

My advice would be to tailor your experience to demonstrate clearly that you are focused and engaged on student learning. Whenever possible, engage with young people either through volunteer work or other activities that allow you to interact with them. I found that when I was hired and when I was doing hiring recently that candidates with demonstrated experience and knowledge of teaching went a long way compared to candidates with only scientific content knowledge and no classroom or student experience.