Survival Guide for New Ph.D.'s

MOTIVATION

The current employment landscape in science has become more competitive than ever, with young scientists requiring very long postdoctoral periods before obtaining a stable position. Additionally, the requisites and merits that need to be accredited to access career-advancing grants and contracts are ever-changing, making it so that small missteps in building a CV and merits can significantly delay the progress of the scientific career. This special session is addressed to Early Career Researchers and PhD students in their final year, and aims at providing a succinct but comprehensive overview of the variety of merits that young scientists should be on the lookout for opportunities to fulfill. Our invited talks will feature experts who will cover all the possible general career paths that a postdoctoral researcher can follow, including careers in teaching or in the industry.

We encourage all young researchers attending this year’s SEA meeting to join us and get a guide for your next steps in science.

FORMAT

The mini-symposium will take place during lunch time and will feature invited talks by experts on each topic. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the experts, this is a unique opportunity to resolve any doubts you may have on how to approach your career so take advantage of it!

Given the lunch time slot in which it will take place, we invite you to bring along your lunch. The organization offers lunchboxes as an option which should be ideal for this purpose. We expect the talks themselves to take up about 40-50 minutes, plus any time spent on questions from the audience.

Date: Wednesday 17th 13:30-15:15h

We do not accept contributed talks but if anyone wants to submit a poster with relevant information to the session, such as experiences or opportunities for researchers they are welcome and can be submitted on the link below.

Submit your poster

INVITED TALKS

Navigating the Early Science Career Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities in Astrophysics

Short overview of the status of research careers for young postdocs in the field of astrophysics, with special emphasis on the opportunities and challenges they must face in their first years of research.

Speaker: Artemi Camps Fariña, Postdoctoral Research, María Zambrano Grant at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

How to apply for a postdoctoral research position: common pitfalls in developing a competitive CV and the importance of cover letters and personal interviews.

Securing a postdoctoral research position is a crucial step for young researchers, and the application process requires careful consideration. This talk examines the common pitfalls encountered when developing a CV for postdoctoral positions. Attendees will gain practical tips on showcasing their research impact, collaborations, and publications effectively, ensuring their CVs reflect a comprehensive academic profile.

Additionally, the talk will underscore the importance of cover letters as personalized narratives that go beyond a mere summary of qualifications.

The final segment will focus on preparing for personal interviews. Attendees will learn how to effectively communicate their research vision, showcase their potential contributions to the host institution, and navigate questions about future career aspirations.

Speaker: TBC

Research grants in Europe (MSCA, ERCs…) the beginning of our own line of research.

One of the possible career opportunities is to search for funding through the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions funded by the Horizon Europe programme or via the Starting Grants funded by the European Research Council.
The speaker will explain how to apply for these grants and give guidance on how to write successful proposals.

Speaker: Leticia Riaza Gambero is the NCP in Spain for MSCA and ERC. She is a Senior Officer for the promotion of European projects at the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, FECYT.

Applying for a project in the Spanish National Plan

The “Planes Estatales” for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation include specific grants for young doctors, known as JIN or Type A Projects: These are projects directed by one or two PIs, with relevant scientific-technical contributions and innovative proposals, which must meet specific requirements in addition to the general ones established in each call. These requirements are focused on a young person, who has defended his/her doctoral thesis in the last few years, generally ten years.

Speaker: Helena Domínguez Sánchez, researcher at Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón (CEFCA). She has been the PI of a JIN project and currently is the PI of a national coordinated project.

There is science outside academia: R+D+i in Industry

There is the possibility of working in R&D in industry, as Spain has companies whose business model is based on market-oriented research. The PhD profile is one of the most sought after by these companies.

Speaker: María Luisa García Vargas, General Manager of FRACTAL S.L.N.E, an engineering company for the development of professional scientific Instrumentation and Software.

Teaching at university: the academic life as a professional opportunity

One of the options that young researchers can follow is the teaching pathway. Starting with the positions of Assistant Doctor or Contracted Doctor, it is possible to build a career within the university while continuing to perform research, since the universities provide research hours for their teaching staff.

Speaker: Miriam Cortés Contreras, Profesora Ayudante Doctor at Universidad Complutense de Madrid

SOC

Ainhoa Sánchez Penim (UCM, Madrid), co-chair; Artemi Camps Fariña (UCM, Madrid), co-chair; Laia Casamiquela (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris Meudon); Pablo G. Pérez González (INTA-CSIC, Madrid); Sebastià Barceló Forteza (UGR)