Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering [Paperback]

Richard M. Reis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0780311361 | ISBN-13: 978-0780311367 | Publication Date: April 1, 1997 | Edition: 1

Tomorrow's Professor is designed to help you prepare for, find, and succeed at academic careers in science and engineering. It looks at the full range of North American four-year academic institutions while featuring 30 vignettes and more than 50 individual stories that bring to life the principles and strategies outlined in the book.

Tailored for today's graduate students, postdocs, and beginning professors, Tomorrow's Professor:

• Presents a no-holds-barred look at the academic enterprise
• Describes a powerful preparation strategy to make you competitive for academic positions while maintaining your options for worthwhile careers in government and industry
• Explains how to get the offer you want and start-up package you need to help ensure success in your first critical years on the job
• Provides essential insights from experienced faculty on how to develop a rewarding academic career and a quality of life that is both balanced and fulfilling

At a time when anxiety about academic career opportunities for Ph.D.s in these field is at an all-time high, Tomorrow's Professor provides a much-needed practical approach to career development.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Careers/Higher Education Tomorrow's Professor Preparing For Academic Careers in Science and Engineering "This (book) should be a major hit. There is no competition, there is a crying need, the book is interesting, well written, and comprehensive." Michael Lightner, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Colorado at Boulder "This book is a 'must read' for anyone considering or 'smack in the middle' of an academic career. In particular, the incorporation of advice from those in the field makes it unique and invaluable." Kim Needy, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh "Simply the best book on the market for scientists; comprehensive, analytical and broad in focus." Anne J. MacLachlan, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley Tomorrow's Professor is designed to help you prepare for, find, and succeed at academic careers in science and engineering. It looks at the full range of North American four-year academic institutions while featuring 30 vignettes and more than 50 individual stories that bring to life the principles and strategies outlined in the book. Tailored for today's graduate students, postdocs, and beginning professors, Tomorrow's Professor:
* Presents a no-holds-barred look at the academic enterprise
* Describes a powerful preparation strategy to make you competitive for academic positions while maintaining your options for worthwhile careers in government and industry
* Explains how to get the offer you want and start-up package you need to help ensure success in your first critical years on the job
* Provides essential insights from experienced faculty on how to develop a rewarding academic career and a quality of life that is both balanced and fulfilling
At a time when anxiety about academic career opportunities for Ph.D.s in these field is at an all-time high, Tomorrow's Professor provides a much-needed practical approach to career development.

About the Author

About the Author Richard M. Reis is the Executive Director of the Stanford Integrated Manufacturing Association and the Associate Director for Global Learning Partnerships in the Stanford University Learning Laboratory. Dr. Reis is also a consulting professor in both the Stanford University Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Departments. Among his many responsibilities is the teaching of a year-round seminar on preparing graduate students for academic careers in science, engineering, and business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 436 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press; 1 edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780311361
• ISBN-13: 978-0780311367
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is a primer on obtaining a position in academe., March 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering (Paperback)

Reading this book brought back vivid memories of my own job hunt just a few years ago; of the time, energy, and preparation needed to get an academic position. The author mentions today's tight job market, and recommends that job seekers keep a broad view by not ruling out jobs in government or industry. The book is, however, a primer on obtaining a position in academe, and the preparation needed to succeed once you are there. Tomorrow's Professor is thoroughly researched, and covers just about every imaginable base in preparing someone for an academic career. It is well written and easily read. The first part of the book details the peculiar culture of a university, including its teaching, research, and service missions; its governing structure; and tenure. It confirms much of the anecdotal evidence about universities that I thought were particular to the schools that I was familiar with. In Part Two the author outlines the foundation necessary for gaining an academic position. Any student seriously considering a future career in academe must begin early on developing the research and teaching portfolio necessary to gain a coveted position. In research, it is important to begin publishing research papers, presenting results and making contacts at conference, and helping to obtain external support. For teaching, one must go beyond working as a teaching assistant, and start teaching one's own classes. For the current job seeker, the heart of the book is Part Three, where Reis outlines job identification and application strategies. The time and energy required to find out about a particular position and tailor one's application to fit the requirements is well worth the effort, he writes. This section also covers most of the steps necessary in preparing an excellent application, and it is often the inclusion of these details that can make or break an application. In today's tough job market, where hundreds of people often apply for a single position, following the steps outlined in this book could give applicants the edge they need to be noticed. Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Academic Careers in Science and Engineering is an extremely invaluable read.

(John Crepeau is an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Idaho.)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for any Ph.D. candidate in engineering, January 9, 2007

By 

Jonathan Kimball "EE" (Mahomet, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering (Paperback)

This is an excellent overview of Ph.D. program goals, career options for Ph.D.s, and job search strategies. There's even a section on what to do in your early career on the tenure track. I'm in a position that gives me particular knowledge of the process, and still, this book is extremely useful. It provides multiple perspectives on the profession and addresses not only high-end research universities, but also liberal arts colleges with science programs and everything in-between.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very helpful book !, January 21, 2007

By 

R. Bose (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. I used it extensively as I prepared to apply for a faculty position in a science department. I strongly recommend it to anyone who would want to become a university professor in the future.