You are not alone Brian, I did my entire graduate work with Research Assistanships and am running into the same hurdle. I'd actually prefer more research than teaching, but what I have noticed is that the pure research openings have dried up. There seem to be a decent number of jobs in academia but they seem to want more teaching and less research. Combine that with the worst job market in 80 years and I think you are going to have many qualified applicants for each position. In addition, the agencies that normally hire for research (NMFS, USGS, etc) or have NRC post-docs are not hiring at all. In the mean time I'd do what others have suggested - publish as much as you can and try and get some teaching experience. It's tough out there.
Michael Garvin, PhD University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 17101 Point Lena Loop Road Juneau, AK 99801 907-796-5455 [email protected] On Jul 10, 2013, at 10:03 AM, Brian Bodah <[email protected]> wrote: > ECOLOGers, > I am a graduating Ph.D candidate who had the misfortune of earning my > degree through a research assistantship. I say this because my career goals > involve a teaching appointment. I've been applying for teaching positions > and post docs for several months now, but there's not a single one who will > consider someone without actual college level teaching experience. > Before attending graduate school I taught science in both the Massachusetts > and Minnesota state school systems, I have quite a bit of experience teaching > students from kindergarten - adult/continuing education level, but I have > never taught a college level course as I simply didn't have a teaching > assistantship. > If even post doc teaching positions will only consider former TAs, how is > someone supposed to overcome their lack thereof? I hold a master's level > certificate in environmental education and have taught in 2 different states, > yet this means nothing - that was simply wasted, irrelevant time/experience? > I don't think my case is extremely rare, there are many students who earn > their PhDs through RAs. I'm a very good teacher, but my PhD was paid for > through research. I've become quite disheartened in the search for a remedy > to this quandry. > Any help, suggestions, or guidance from the greater ECOLOG community > regarding a way to overcome this would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Brian Bodah, Ph.D. Candidate > Department of Biosystems Engineering > Washington State University
