C&EN: EDUCATION - GRADUATE EDUCATION AND BEYOND

MADELEINE JACOBS AND LINDA RABER

Getting launched into an academic career in chemistry really begins for many well before they ever interview for a job at a college or university. According to the American Chemical Society, almost half of bachelor's degree recipients plan to continue with full-time graduate studies. Many newly minted Ph.D. recipients will take a job in industry or government, but many will also be vying for the limited number of positions in colleges and universities.


RIGHT STUFF Choosing well when picking a graduate school adviser is one of the keys to success. Isiah M. Warner, a chemistry professor at Louisiana State University (standing), is well-known for being an outstanding graduate adviser and mentor. PHOTO BY JIM ZIETZ, LSU UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

In this special report on graduate education and beyond, C&EN takes a look at some of the intimate aspects of academic life and how to negotiate a successful career in that part of the chemical enterprise. C&EN begins with how to choose a graduate program that is right for the individual. What seems to be a straightforward road can often have detours and potholes; the article by Senior Editor Linda Raber provides a road map for a smooth journey. Senior Editor Stephen Ritter takes a look at one professional organization that has helped minorities get launched in careers.

Once the Ph.D. is in hand, it's time to write that first application for a tenure-track position. This road is also full of intricate twists and turns. Valerie Young, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Ohio University, gives C&EN readers the benefit of her experience, having prepared her own successful tenure-track application and having reviewed dozens of others.

Still, there are more detours ahead on the successful academic journey. Setting up a laboratory and running it well are two different tasks that require very different skills. Assistant Editor Amanda Yarnell describes programs and resources aimed at smoothing the transition from graduate school to a career in independent research.