Books on Academic Careers
Academic Environment: A Handbook for Evaluating Employment Opportunities in Science
Karl W. Lanks
Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis 1996
Provides the results of a survey of faculty at U.S. medical schools and major universities which evaluated the institutions on their academic environment, personal and family life and productivity. The pooled results from the 50 top small colleges (page 51) provide an interesting comparison to the results from larger universities.
Todd Wehr Library Call #: Q 148 L289a 1996 / ISBN #: 156032436
Academic Scientists at Work: Navigating the Biomedical Research Career
Jeremy M. Boss and Susan H. Eckert
New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers 2003
This book provides advice on landing a position in academic research and how to get organized once you've started. The most valuable part of the book may be the Job Comparison Worksheets found in the appendices. These provide a great starting point to stimulate your thoughts about issues that should be the basis of comparison of different positions. Once you find a position, the chapter entitled "Gettin' Money" has some very helpful information on grantsmanship.
Todd Wehr Library Call #: W 88 B745a 2003 / ISBN #: 030647493X
Getting Tenure
Marcia Lynn Whicker, Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, Ruth Ann Strickland
Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications 1993
For those pursuing academic careers, finding a job is the first step in a challenging process leading to tenure. This book explains the tenure process in detail and makes the case for the importance of planning ahead for gaining tenure. The chapter on the "Ten Commandments of Tenure Success" would be worthwhile reading for every new faculty member.
Todd Wehr Library Call #: LB 2335.7 W571g 1993 / ISBN #:0-809-5302
How to Succeed in Academics
Linda L. McCabe and Edward R.B. McCabe
San Diego: Academic Press 2000
Blueprint for how to build an academic career. Tips are provided on successfully accomplishing common academic functions such as writing abstracts, papers, grant applications and making effective oral and poster presentations.
Todd Wehr Library Call #: LB 1778 M122h 2000 / ISBN #: 0124818331
Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Academic Careers in Science and Engineering
Richard M. Reis
New York: Wiley Interscience 1997
This is a well-written book on how to prepare, compete, and succeed in an academic career. It provides some perspective with an overview of the modern academic enterprise. The author walks systematically through the stages of a scientific career including preparation, applying for positions, first years on the job, and achieving tenure.
Todd Wehr Library Call #: Q 149 R375t 1997 / ISBN #: 0780311361
Winning the Games Scientists Play
Carl J. Sindermann
Cambridge Massachusetts: Perseus Publishing 2001
Sindermann breaks down the scientist's work into its component tasks of writing, presenting, attending conferences, chairing sessions, participating in meetings, etc. Each of these tasks are considered games in which the rules are not always clear. The author provides suggestions for how to play the game which can be summed up in the dictum (p 154) "Whatever the game is, play it as a professional."
Todd Wehr Library Call #: Q 175 S616w 1982 / ISBN #: 0306410753