Academic Career Stepping Stones
The academic career path can be one of the most satisfying in the health sciences, in large part because of its multiple facets—teaching, research, scholarship, mentorship, and community service are all equally vital parts of the greater whole. To be successful you must continually learn, challenge yourself, develop your technical and professional skills, and cultivate strong relationships with your colleagues and mentors.
While embarking or progressing upon such an adventure may sometimes seem daunting, a single step is still the best (and only!) place to start. Consider these major stepping stones along your academic journey...
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single
step.
—Lao-Tzu
Set goals.
Most successful journeys begin with at least an idea of their eventual destination, and academic journeys are no different. Concentrate early on setting both short-term and long-term goals for your academic career, and you'll be much more likely to achieve success—even if it's not where you thought it might be.
Find the right environment.
Look for an intellectual environment that stimulates you, encourages you to be as creative as possible, and ultimately allows you to set yourself up for success. Don't forget—there's always more than one way to travel!
Obtain resources.
Resources include not only vital funding, but anything of value that allows you to do your work. Grants, equipment, lab space, and even human resources, such as technical and administrative staff, junior colleagues, and mentors are all hot commodities in academia and are competed for vigorously.
Do the work.
In all you do, plan for excellence—in your research, personal interactions, the classroom, the clinic, or wherever you find yourself during the course of your day. Understanding your relationship to each part of your job is vital, and consistent follow-through from intention to action is key.
Present your results.
Your achievements can only be measured relative to the work of your colleagues and peers. You must prepare well to present results, regularly, to peers in your department and institution, as well as at meetings and in scholarly, peer-reviewed publications. A legacy of quality scholarship is largely the written record of academic success.
Get evaluation and feedback.
To cite an oft-used phrase, "You can't know where you're going if you don't know where you've been." But ultimately, it's true—self- and peer-evaluation is essential to finding your way. Seeking advice from mentors and superiors, as well as simple and regular self-reflection, can help keep you current and on the right track.
Know the competition.
While sections of any journey might be taken at a relaxing amble, at other times it's a race. In academia it's important to realize others may be on the same path you are, seeking the same scarce resources, publications, or positions. Keeping yourself connected within the academic community, both formally and informally, will help you keep up with the pace of the crowd.
Strive for balance.
A sense of balance is important both within the full academic scope of your job as well as within your life. Dedication to family, maintaining good physical and mental health, and following other intellectual, cultural, and spiritual pursuits all play a role in enjoying a full and satisfying life. Luckily, most academic institutions offer many social resources and outlets—don't be afraid to use them.
Revisit your goals.
Like the advanced diagnostic tools you might use in research, you also need occasional recalibration to ensure your perception is accurate. Track your goals, monitor your progress, and revisit your plans based on where you've been. Maintaining an individual development plan as well as seeking regular advice from mentors can help you stay the course.
Maintain a sense of adventure.
The history of scientific pursuit is filled with "Eureka!" moments, where open-minded investigators made connections they could never have anticipated. Part of the true joy and challenge of an academic career is fostering this sense of discovery—both in yourself and in your students. Remain open to the fork in the road, or the unforeseen path, and your journey may take you places you never thought possible.
