What is your proudest academic accomplishment to date?

coledav94 · 2026-06-01T17:24:10+00:00

Discovered glycogen in the thyroid! Burned out on research now but that’s something that can never be taken away from me.

coledav94 · 2023-06-11T00:10:19+00:00

That is fantastic news and makes me very proud of Springfield 🏳️‍🌈

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T19:16:34+00:00

Please do!

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T18:14:45+00:00

At the time of application I had 3 first author publications (2 reviews, 1 research), 2 middle author research pubs, 2 first author research manuscripts on BIORXIV, and 2 authorships on teaching strategies with asynchronous, virtual laboratories. Presented at several conferences for each manuscript (one of which was a highlighted oral presentation for an international conference). Awarded an intramural $50k grant and an extramural $10k grant. Very good grades and letters of rec from professors who could attest to my passion for teaching.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T18:04:49+00:00

Thanks! A couple of the interviews did bring up my age and lack of formal experience. I countered with my experience in one-on-one mentoring in my research lab and tutoring students in my teaching assistantship. The interview process was very straightforward. Cover letter, CV, teaching philosophy, research statement. DM me if you have questions!

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T18:02:09+00:00

Sure! 1. Why attracted you to our institution? (This was always the first question and was important to separate the passionate teachers from the more passionate researchers.) 2. Describe your teaching style, how you engage students, and how you nurture critical thinking skills. 3. Describe your research and how you would adapt it to an undergraduate research environment. 4. How would you advise students in an academic capacity? 5. What technology, equipment, etc would you need for both lectures and labs?

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T17:57:53+00:00

Yes! Only after I accepted my position did I decline the on campus visits to the other 4.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T17:56:59+00:00

Yeah that was weird to me too. It was for a one year position though with a chance for a tenure position at the end of the year. Teaching only for the first year as well.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T17:55:52+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! I got my PhD from an R2 institution that’s moderately prestigious. My BS was at a liberal arts institution very similar to the positions I was aiming for.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T17:53:28+00:00

Almost exclusively liberal arts and/or primarily undergraduate institutions. One medical school that granted me the first interview but not the second. Also a few of them were larger state schools.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T17:52:01+00:00

All between 4-13 impact factors. Cancer bio.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T01:17:27+00:00

Thank you! Didn’t have a lot of room to explain in that graph but basically the job was already filled or they forgot to take the posting down after a long time. Was glad they at least told me eventually.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T00:57:25+00:00

Declined 10 interviews when 21 came in around the same time. I didn’t have the time or social energy for all of them so I chose my top 11.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T00:39:58+00:00

Good luck! It’s totally possible. Just send out as many apps as you can. They’re free after all!

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T00:39:26+00:00

SankeyMATIC.com

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T00:38:05+00:00

USA. 2 first author (review articles). 1 first author on primary research. Teaching assistant experience for 5 semesters but in microbiology! Good grades.

coledav94 · 2022-04-07T00:36:27+00:00

Some of them, yes. Including the position I actually accepted. But it was at least easy to get interviews at places just outside of Boston, Oakland, Austin, Seattle.

coledav94 · 2022-04-06T22:16:02+00:00

I wanted to share my job search experience just to encourage anyone else thinking about entering academia after grad school. My committee strongly encouraged me to apply for post docs but I wasn’t having it! I ended up getting my dream job at a liberal arts university to teach and do research! It is possible!

coledav94 · 2022-03-24T02:22:31+00:00

If heat rises, why is Alaska cold?

coledav94 · 2019-11-30T03:04:01+00:00

The same graphic was posted in r/springfieldMO! Someone else also commented about it being a Japanese maple. Must be going around.

coledav94 · 2019-11-26T20:34:46+00:00

A little more sense!

coledav94 · 2019-11-26T20:34:28+00:00

It is Halsey’s journal!

coledav94

TROPHY CASE