#ask science questions

#Career toolkit: Ask the Expert

Do you have a specific question about your science career? Submit your query or dilemma to the Nature Careers editor and a selection will be answered by Deb Koen, president and CEO of Career Development Services .

“Welcome to the Nature Careers ‘Ask the Expert’ Q&Amp;A column. It is my pleasure to offer advice in response to your career and job search questions. As president of Career Development Services, I have had the pleasure of working personally and online with a wide variety of readers and clients.

“I invite you to send your questions for a posted response in the column. While we can't respond to every request, we will try to select samples that represent the interests of our reading audience.

“Examples of questions may include topics related to the job search, interviewing, career management, work-place politics and dilemmas, interpersonal skills, career change, decision making and work-life balance. My goal is to deliver concise and practical advice that is immediately applicable.”

Deb Koen, president and CEO of Career Development Services

Questions and answers

Should I bother with a promotion?

Juggling two job offers

Writing a recommendation

A graceful goodbye

I'm a scientist moving towards retirement but not sure what I'll do next or even if I'm ready to retire. I can't begin to imagine "being retired". Is my reaction typical? Is there a process that you recommend?

Filling the gap

18 August 2011

Most researchers face employment gaps at one time or another during the course of a career. These can create problems, especially for those with extended time off. But there are ways to explain a jobless period and favourably position oneself for the next job opportunity.

Rebounding from a bad review

A fresh start

Passion and work

This past year, I started wanting something more. After studying a couple of career books, the idea of making the connection between passion and work - doing what I really thrive on doing - has appeal.

Making most of time

8 July 2009

My position was included in the recent round of layoffs at my company. This may seem like an odd question but now that I'm not working, other than looking for a job, what do I do with my spare time?

Responding to a negative performance review

28 April 2009

I just received the most negative performance review I have ever gotten. Moving from a university to corporate research has taken some adjusting, but overall I thought my work had been above par in my first six months here at a medical devices company. A few of the criticisms were expected but others caught me by surprise.

Finding an edge in pharma

Even though I'm well respected and it seems like I should be able to get another research position, I don't have an overall strategy in place.

Taking a sabbatical

29 October 2008

I am on the faculty of a smaller university and have been thinking seriously about taking a sabbatical. It's long overdue.

Performance appraisal worry?

27 August 2008

I'm in research at a small firm, and while I'm satisfied with my job, I'm worried because my manager is suggesting we complete a performance appraisal.

A switch from nonprofit to working in pharma

I worked as a research scientist for five years and really enjoyed it. But I realized that research at the bench wasn't going to be for me.

Language barrier

4 March 2008

This is a country where English is not well used, and I feel so disappointed that I cannot understand what they are discussing whenever we have lab meetings.

CV/Resume - worth the paper it's written on?

7 February 2008

Even though I've heard that networking can do more for you than a piece of paper and that resumes are only skimmed, I'm assuming that I probably still need one.

Thesis - gaining the fullest experience possible

13 December 2007

My PI provides encouragement when she's in town, but I'd prefer a stringent critical assessment of my work. She also may not be state-of-the-art, and I feel that I'm missing an essential part of my graduate experience.

Why have my PhD applications been rejected?

2 October 2007

I have applied as an international student to eight universities (all in top 75 rankings) in the US for PhD admissions. I expected at least three offers based on my academic and test profiles, but sadly, I was denied admissions in all places.

How do I become a management consultant?

12 September 2007

I am completing my PhD in Solid State Chemistry, and I want to go into management consultancy. What does it take, and how would I go about becoming a management consultant?

Structural biologist to scientist graphic designer

A moral dilema

As a graduate student, I have seen three separate occasions in which my advisor has knowingly allowed grossly negligent data handling and fraudulent data to be used in peer-reviewed published journals and theses.

Returning from a hiatus

12 April 2007

I have a PhD in biochemistry and lots of experience both in the lab and supervising students, technicians and postdocs. I had a career hiatus when I relocated with my husband to London and had a second child and was sick for a period of time.

Path to science/medical writing

15 February 2007

Even with the skills I attained and sharpened in the lab, in the field, in grant-writing and in publishing, I hit the legendary soft-money salary barrier.

High demand for biostatisticians

After working in a lab as a molecular biologist for twelve years, I returned to school for a master's degree in statistics (with a biostatistics emphasis). I am now finding that my lack of experience is a barrier to getting a job as a biostatistician.

How to relocate?

8 November 2006

I have a tenure position in Italy and a good lab. My CV is fairly strong-a Nature paper, a molecular cell on the way and plenty of grants by Italian standards. But I want to move because I feel that I could still perform better in a highly dynamic place.

Opportunities in "Natural resources"

I recently graduated with a BS in Natural Resources. This is my second career path and I believe I chose the right career. However, it is a competitive market, and I have been desperately seeking a job even remotely connected to natural resources for six months.

Facing a crisis

6 September 2006

I am an Assistant Professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, USA. Hurricane Katrina has had a profound effect on the careers of many faculty, fellows and graduate students, and the impact is still being felt a year after the storm.

Push for the publication of your work

1 August 2006

I have been unsuccessful in landing a rewarding job, even after all of the years of postdoctoral research experience. My goal is to serve humanity with a solution to fight and treat cancer. There are times I am thoroughly disgusted with my unsuccessful career outcome.

Be successful at interviews

13 July 2006

I have been told in some situations that I had the best CV and publication record. I also have strong letters of recommendation from high-level professors. I have had seven job interviews, yet I have received not a single job offer.

Whether to go for Ph. D or not?

27 April 2006

Engineering schools encourage students to go on for a Ph.D. right after a BS. I've heard that a Ph. D. is good mainly for work in academia, and I'm not interested in becoming a professor.

Caught between two PIs with conflicting goals

9 February 2006

I received good references when I applied for this fellowship, but this turn of events has severely affected my credibility. What should I do to salvage my career prospects in academia?

Charting and sticking to goals

26 January 2006

I always start out with big plans, but I'm so immersed in my research that by March my goals are totally out of my consciousness.

From scientific research to the publishing industry

Holistics

I was trained in Ayurvedic Medicine in India and practiced there before recently moving to the United States. I would like to know how well my training will transfer and what the job opportunities are in this field.

Age-related barriers

14 November 2005

I've been looking for a job for ages and could really use some help. Since completing my DPhil as a mature student I haven't been able to find work in scientific research. Although I have been short listed several times for postdoc positions, I find the job always goes to a younger candidate.

Nature conservation - focus on field work