Job talk

Currently the Biology Department is hiring 2 new faculty members. This is a very interesting time to be in this department, especially as an aspiring academic, as you get the opportunity to see firsthand what many parts of the interview process are like for faculty positions, which include a 'job talk' or seminar given to the department. Unfortunately, the first two candidates have come and gone, and I was only able to attend the third talk, which was today. 

I left the talk, thinking mostly positive things about the candidate. He did a great job in helping people like myself who have NO experience in genetics and cell bio, at least somewhat understand his current research. However, after leaving, it's very interesting to hear what others had to say about it, which wasn't all good. For me, its tough, as like I said I have nothing to compare his talk to, but others did. Opinions are also highly dependent on what field of biology you study, as other candidates were more "EEB" (Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour) based, and this one was definitely more "MCIB" (Molecular, Cell and Immune Biology) based, and I suppose, rightfully so for an MCIB faculty position. 

These job talks are a critical part of what I have been told is a rigorous, long and competitive job interview. The interviewing process lasts 2 full days from before 8am until late at night. Candidates meet with probably over half of the faculty and labs in the department, they meet with the Dean and other University members, they give a job talk which outlines their current and proposed research, they have a lunch with Undergrads and one with Grad Students, dinners out with faculty and of course, the job interview itself. 

So far, the CV's of the candidates have been amazing...I am SO jealous. I could only hope to be as successful as any one of them has been thus far. Many have Nature and Science papers (something I don't ever anticipate having) with very respectable teaching and lab experience as post-docs or staff scientists). Today's candidate actually did his Undergraduate degree at Queen's and mentioned it had been almost ten years to the date that he last stepped foot in this building, having just graduated with his BsCH and now here he is being interviewed for a faculty position in that same department...what a crazy feeling that would be.