September 25, 2012

Academic Advice by Prof. Juan B. Gutiérrez (back when he was a postdoc, 2012)

Juan B. Gutiérrez I am a Professor of Mathematics at The University of Texas at San Antonio. I direct the Biomathematics Research Group (BRG); the BRG explores mathematical and computational models at multiple scales (from genes to ecology).

I am always available to talk to current and prospective students. If you need academic advice, you might want to check the following videos first. These videos were recorded in the 2012 SACNAS Conference, when I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (2010-2012). They are part of the www.sciencecareerpath.org library. The following links will take you to specific videos in this page.

So, you think your can’t overcome your circumstances…

I cannot advise you on how to carve your own path through life; however, I can assure that –no matter how hard you have had it– many others have succeeded against all odds before (i.e. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!). Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are wondering whether post-graduate education is useful…

Why it is useful (at least how it was useful to me). Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are considering a career in science…

Part 1 (transition from undergraduate student to graduate student). Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

Part 2 (life as a graduate student). Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

Where to go next: Postdoctoral fellow? Postdoctoral associate? Research Scientist? What is the difference?

Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are wondering how to reach a balance between your personal life and your academic work…

Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are having trouble keeping up with academic work…

It is OK to fail, it is not OK to quit. You might want to jump to 1:49, or use this link. Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are wondering how to manage your time in academia…

Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are wondering what is mathematical biology…

Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you are wondering why interdisciplinarity is important…

Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

So, you worry about how your ethnic background will impact your career…

I am deeply committed to contribute to have the face of success match the face of the nation; if the mismatch worries you, talk to me. Video recorded at the 2012 SACNAS Conference:

Juan B. Gutiérrez, Ph.D.
0