Launching an academic research career.

1Department of Pathology and 2Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, TN 37232, USA e-mail: [email protected] Directing an independent research program in academia or industry is, and will continue to be, a highly sought-after occupation. However, like science itself, the careers in science are dynamic and sometimes elusive... take the initiative to prepare yourself for the transition to a permanent career position. It will be an effort well spent Directing an independent research program at an academic institution may be one of the most rewarding careers today. However, highly qualified young scientists increasingly opt out of an academic career because they find that navigating a successful career track towards becoming research faculty is challenging at best and confusing, or disheartening, when at its worst (see the ‘Fact and figures’ insert). The preparation for an academic career includes didactic training, the acquisition of technical skills, and specialization within a field. Whereas these aspects of scientific training are usually well defined for students, subsequent postgraduate career development diverges dramatically depending on the professional field. Although career development is well defined for graduates in legal, policy and medical fields, it remains relative poorly defined for the academic scientist. How does one secure a faculty position, run a research lab, and become a successful member of the larger academic research community? In the biological sciences, new graduates are facing extensive postgraduate training followed by a grueling job search. Once that elusive faculty position is secured, the race for funding and publishing fully occupies the scientist who was previously trained primarily to work at the bench. The purpose of this editorial, and some that will follow, is to illuminate the hurdles and issues that are faced by postdocs as they navigate the research track and break ground on their pristine research labs. Each article will address fundamental questions that are vital to the survival of junior faculty but, in many ways, apply to all young scientists venturing into career paths that were not so long ago considered ‘alternative’. The intent of the series is to provide insight and an understanding of that elusive pathway to independence. Here, we address the choice to become an academic scientist and how to prepare for the job search.