Library

Postdoc Library Collection

- Books may be borrowed for a maximum of 2 weeks. The Postdoc Office always retains a single copy of all titles for in-office use and perusal.
We are always adding new titles so check back often.

Click on the links below to navigate to a particular topic:
Academic Teaching Careers | Careers in Academia | Careers Away from the Bench | Practical Advice for any Career Path | CV/Resume/Cover Letter | Lab Management | Grant Writing & Manuscript Writing | Communicating Your Science

ACADEMIC TEACHING CAREERS

Ambrose, Susan A. et al. How Learning Works: Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching.
Distilling the research literature and translating the scientific approach into language relevant to a college or university teacher, this book introduces seven general principles of how students learn. The authors have drawn on research from a breadth of perspectives (cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; educational research; anthropology; demographics; organizational behavior) to identify a set of key principles underlying learning, from how effective organization enhances retrieval and use of information to what impacts motivation. Integrating theory with real-classroom examples in practice, this book helps faculty to apply cognitive science advances to improve their own teaching.

Angelo, T.A. & Cross, K.P. Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers.
This revised and greatly expanded edition of the 1988 handbook offers teachers at all levels how-to advise on classroom assessment, including:

  • What classroom assessment entails and how it works.
  • How to plan, implement, and analyze assessment projects.
  • Twelve case studies that detail the real-life classroom experiences of teachers carrying out successful classroom assessment projects.
  • Fifty classroom assessment techniques
  • Step-by-step procedures for administering the techniques
  • Practical advice on how to analyze your data

Bain, Ken. What the Best College Teachers Do.
What makes a great teacher great? Who are the professors students remember long after graduation? This book, the conclusion of a fifteen-year study of nearly one hundred college teachers in a wide variety of fields and universities, offers valuable answers for all educators.
The short answer is--it's not what teachers do, it's what they understand. Lesson plans and lecture notes matter less than the special way teachers comprehend the subject and value human learning. Whether historians or physicists, in El Paso or St. Paul, the best teachers know their subjects inside and out--but they also know how to engage and challenge students and to provoke impassioned responses. Most of all, they believe two things fervently: that teaching matters and that students can learn.
In stories both humorous and touching, Bain describes examples of ingenuity and compassion, of students' discoveries of new ideas and the depth of their own potential. What the Best College Teachers Do is a treasure trove of insight and inspiration for first-year teachers and seasoned educators.

Blumberg, Phyllis. Developing Learner-Centered Teaching: A Practical Guide for Faculty.
Developing Learner-Centered Teaching offers a step-by-step plan for transforming any course from teacher-centered to the more engaging learner-centered model. Filled with self-assessments and worksheets that are based on each of the five practices identified in Maryellen Weimer's Learner-Centered Teaching, this groundbreaking book gives instructors, faculty developers, and instructional designers a practical and effective resource for putting the learner-centered model into action.

Fink, L. Dee. Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses.
In this thoroughly updated edition of L. Dee Fink’s bestselling classic, he discusses new research on how people learn, active learning, and the effectiveness of his popular model; adds more examples from online teaching; and further focuses on the impact of student engagement on student learning. The book explores the changes in higher education nationally and internationally since the publication of the previous edition, includes additional procedures for integrating one’s course, and adds strategies for dealing with student resistance to innovative teaching. 
This edition continues to provide conceptual and procedural tools that are invaluable for all teachers when designing instruction. It shows how to use a taxonomy of significant learning and systematically combine the best research-based practices for learning-centered teaching with a teaching strategy in a way that results in powerful learning experiences for students. Acquiring a deeper understanding of the design process will empower teachers to creatively design courses that will result in significant learning for students.

Nathan, Rebekah. My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student.
After fifteen years of teaching anthropology at a large university, Rebekah Nathan had become baffled by her own students. Their strange behavior—eating meals at their desks, not completing reading assignments, remaining silent through class discussions—made her feel as if she were dealing with a completely foreign culture. So Nathan decided to do what anthropologists do when confused by a different culture: Go live with them. She enrolled as a freshman, moved into the dorm, ate in the dining hall, and took a full load of courses. And she came to understand that being a student is a pretty difficult job, too. Her discoveries about contemporary undergraduate culture are surprising and her observations are invaluable, making My Freshman Year essential reading for students, parents, faculty, and anyone interested in educational policy.

Nilson, Linda B. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Research for College Instructors.
This expanded and updated edition of the best-selling handbook is an essential toolbox, full of hundreds of practical teaching techniques, classroom activities and exercises, for the new or experienced college instructor. This new edition includes updated information on the Millennial student, more research from cognitive psychology, a focus on outcomes maps, the latest legal options on copyright issues, and more. It will also include entirely new chapters on matching teaching methods with learning outcomes, inquiry-guide learning, and using visuals to teach, as well as section on the Socratic method, SCALE-UP classrooms, and more.

Palmer, Parker J. The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life.
This book builds on a simple premise: good teaching cannot be reduced to technique but is rooted in the identity and integrity of the teacher. Good teaching takes myriad forms but good teachers share one trait: they are authentically present in the classroom, in community with their students and their subject. They possess "a capacity for connectedness" and are able to weave a complex web of connections between themselves, their subjects, and their students, helping their students weave a world for themselves. The connections made by good teachers are held not in their methods but in their hearts — the place where intellect, emotion, spirit, and will converge in the human self — supported by the community that emerges among us when we choose to live authentic lives.

Weimer, Maryellen. Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning: Professional Literature that makes a difference.
In this book, Maryellen Weimer provides an essential resource for anyone who is engaged in efforts to improve teaching in higher education. This comprehensive book draws on a wide array of sources to help practitioners build on the foundation laid by existing scholarly work on teaching and learning. Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning reviews previously published work on teaching and learning to better guide those engaged in pedagogical scholarship and to help develop a literature that meets the needs of faculty.
Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning includes an analysis of the practitioner literature on teaching and learning in two main categories—the wisdom of scholarship and research scholarship. The first category uses the lens of experience to analyze instructional issues, and the second category employs more objective frames to assess instructional issues. The book explores four experiential approaches to teaching and learning (personal accounts of change, recommended-practices reports, recommended-content reports, and personal narratives and includes an analysis of the three most common research methods (quantitative investigation, qualitative studies, and descriptive research). Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning also includes information about other methods in addition to the main approaches.

Back to top


CAREERS IN ACADEMIA

Barnes, SandraOn the Market: Strategies for a Successful Academic Job Search.
Sandra Barnes presents both big-picture strategic thinking and nuts-and-bolts suggestions to help junior scholars obtain satisfying academic employment in today's highly competitive market. Noteworthy features of "On the Market" include: easy-to-read checklists for navigating the search process; clues to "reading between the lines" of job postings; practical advice on preparing the "paperwork": CVs, teaching portfolios, conference papers, journal articles, etc.; no-nonsense tips - the "dos and don'ts" - for a variety of interview settings; frank discussion of both the professional and the personal aspects of any job search; attention to the concerns of nontraditional and underrepresented groups; and, guidance for untenured scholars who want to switch jobs. Written in a straightforward and pragmatic manner, this rich resource will help scholars identify their ideal job - and then land it.

Bloomfield, Victor A. and Esam E. El-Fakahany. The Chicago Guide to Your Career In Science.
Embarking upon research as a graduate student or postdoc can be exciting and enriching—the start of a rewarding career. But the world of scientific research is also a competitive one, with grants and good jobs increasingly hard to find. The Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science is intended to help scientists not just cope but excel at this critical phase in their careers.
Victor A. Bloomfield and Esam E. El-Fakahany, both well-known scientists with extensive experience as teachers, mentors, and administrators, have combined their knowledge to create a guidebook that addresses all of the challenges that today’s scientists-in-training face. They begin by considering the early stages of a career in science: deciding whether or not to pursue a PhD, choosing advisors and mentors, and learning how to teach effectively. Bloomfield and El-Fakahany then explore the skills essential to conducting and presenting research. The Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science offers detailed advice on how to pursue research ethically, manage time, and communicate effectively, especially at academic conferences and with students and peers. Bloomfield and El-Fakahany write in accessible, straightforward language and include a synopsis of key points at the end of each chapter, so that readers can dip into relevant sections with ease.


Boss, JeremyAcademic Scientists at Work: Navigating the Biomedical Research Career.
Academic Scientists at Work guides the scientist on the journey from the end of a postdoctoral career to the point of promotion to Associate Professor. The book includes valuable advice on: -Choosing and getting your ideal academic job; -Setting up and effectively managing the lab; -Obtaining funds; -Teaching and mentoring; -The promotion and tenure process. Also offered are template worksheets and point-by-point instructions on how to complete them, with downloadable blank worksheet versions contained in the accompanying CD-ROM. Included are six database program files that can be used to help the reader organize his/her laboratory specific reagents. Academic Scientists at Work is a valuable resource for the Career Scientist who demands and expects the best.

Dee, Phil. Building a Successful Career in Scientific Research: A Guide for PhD Students and Postdocs.
From PhD student to post-doc, Phil Dee has been sharing his career experiences with fellow scientists in his regular and acclaimed Science Next Wave column since 2000. Now his invaluable and entertaining advice is available in this compact warts-and-all guide to getting your science PhD and subsequent post-doctoral employment as a researcher. Phil Dee offers you the inside track on what life in the lab is really like with down-to-earth suggestions for making the most productive use of your time, dealing with personal relationships in science and maintaining your morale, as well as dealing with more practical issues like how to design a good poster. As well as being based on the author's own experiences, the book brings together a wealth of advice from other scientists who have made it in science, and from a few who haven't. The book will be accessible to all early career scientists worldwide.

Deneef, A Leigh and Craufurd D. Goodwin. The Academic’s Handbook.
This new, revised, and expanded edition of the popular Academic’s Handbook is an essential guide for those planning or beginning an academic career.
Faculty members, administrators, and professionals with experience at all levels of higher education offer candid, practical advice to help beginning academics understand matters including:
— The different kinds of institutions of higher learning and expectations of faculty at each.
— The advantages and disadvantages of teaching at four-year colleges instead of research universities.
— The ins and outs of the job market.
— Alternatives to tenure-track, research-oriented positions.
— Salary and benefits.
— The tenure system.
— Pedagogy in both large lecture courses and small, discussion-based seminars.
— The difficulties facing women and minorities within academia.
— Corporations, foundations, and the federal government as potential sources of research funds.
— The challenges of faculty mentoring.
— The impact of technology on contemporary teaching and learning.
— Different types of publishers and the publishing process at university presses.
— The modern research library.
— The structure of university governance.
— The role of departments within the university.

Feibelman, PeterA Ph.D. Is Not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science.
Despite your graduate education, brainpower, and technical prowess, your career in scientific research is far from assured. Permanent positions are scarce, science survival is rarely part of formal graduate training, and a good mentor is hard to find. This exceptional volume explains what stands between you and fulfilling long-term research career. Bringing the key survival skills into focus, A Ph.D. Is Not Enough! proposes a rational approach to establishing yourself as a scientist. It offers sound advice of selecting a thesis or postdoctoral adviser, choosing among research jobs in academia, government laboratories, and industry, preparing for an employment interview, and defining a research program. This book will help you make your oral presentations effective, your journal articles compelling, and your grant proposals successful. A Ph.D. Is Not Enough should be required reading for anyone on the threshold of a career in science.

Fiske, Peter. Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for Scientists.
The job market is more complex and challenging than ever before. Although young scientists and engineers are facing a larger array of career choices, many of them are not getting the job hunting and career development advice they need to make wise decisions. If you're a new scientist or seeking a mid-career change, Peter Fiske’s Put Your Science to Work: The Take-Charge Career Guide for Scientists gives you practical advice and proven techniques for finding both traditional and non-traditional jobs in science. It includes examples of resumes and cover letters, and stories of scientists who have moved into a wide range of careers. Written with humor and insight, Put Your Science to Work gives readers a broad view of career possibilities and tools for choosing the best job options. Completely revised and updated from Fiske’s best-seller To Boldly Go: A Practical Career Guide for Scientists, this second edition offers expert help on how to achieve success now.

Heiberger, Mary Morris and Julia Miller Vick.  The Academic Job Search Handbook.
The Academic Job Search Handbook provides specific advice on all aspects of job-seeking in an increasingly tight academic market, from the appropriate timetable for the application process, to illegal or odd interview questions, to negotiating offers, starting a new job, seeking tenure, and everything in between. New information in the third edition includes more examples and advice for candidates in scientific and technical fields, as well as more references for those applying for adjunct positions and to community colleges. A new chapter and some of the all-new sample written materials reflect the reality that many new Ph.D.s are considering career options outside academia. The sample materials also include more examples of the "teaching philosophies" now commonly asked for in job ads. This edition offers expanded information on internet search methods and more examples of useful websites.

McCabe, Edward and Linda L. McCabeHow to Succeed in Academics (Successful Career Management).
This is a how-to book for the academic life based on more than 50 years combined personal experience and 8 years of formal group mentoring as part of a workshop on these topics. The unwritten rules of university life are shared through fictional vignettes that are all too real. Secrets to successfully achieving short-term and long-term goals are provided in the progress timelines and suggested milestones. Beginning with selecting a training program and choosing a job, this book takes the student, fellow, or faculty member through the maze of academic secrecy to a new level of understanding and empowerment.

Pritchard, Peggy.  Success Strategies for Women in Science: A Portable Mentor.
The under-representation of women in science is a well-documented fact that is of increasing concern to educators, administrators and government policy makers. This book, for women nearing the end of their formal training and beginning their careers in science, draws upon the experience of successful female scientists in academia, industry and research institutes from across North America and Europe. The contributors provide readers with a broad perspective on life as a scientist. Chapters address topics such as mentorship, networking and balancing career and family responsibilities and discusses the current issues and concerns women face in their careers.

Reis, Richard M. Tomorrow’s Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering.
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.

Rosei, Federico. Survival Skills for Scientists.
This book provides young scientists, from physicists through to sociologists, the counsel and tools that are needed to be their own agents and planners, to survive and succeed, hopefully even thrive in science. Making a good career based on peer-reviewed science means navigating many stressful phases from graduate school through to permanent employment. Performing artists pay agents to help them in this effort. In effect, this book is designed to allow you to act as your own agent. You are counseled to analyze yourself deeply to know clearly what you want and whether you can live with it, how to make career choices and what you should then keep in mind, when to fight and when to yield. The unwritten rules of the “science game” are explained, including how to become published and known, the pitfalls of peer review and how to evade them, papers and posters, job interviews and getting your science funded. Interspersed with this are illustrative anecdotes and a fair amount of humor. While the book is aimed at young scientists, from graduate students and beyond, more senior scientists will benefit from seeing the world from the point of view of rising scientists and become aware of the preoccupations of people in a system which has changed much from when the present senior scientists were rather younger.

Sindermannm Carl J. Winning the Games Scientists Play.
In this inspiring book of personal insight and sound advice, veteran scientist Carl J. Sindermann gives an insider's look at the competitive world of science and reveals the best strategies for attaining prominence and success. Taking apart the many different roles scientists must play during their careers, Sindermann compares common mistakes scientists make with what the best strategists do -- whether they are publishing papers, presenting data, chairing meetings, or coping with government or academic bureaucracy. In the end, he maintains, well-honed interpersonal skills, a savvy eye on one's competitors, and excellent science are the keys to a satisfying and successful career.

Whicker, Marcia Lynn, Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, and Ruth Ann Strickland.  Getting Tenure (Survival Skills for Scholars).
Have I published enough? Will the department chair sponsor me through the process? What can I do to ensure that I get it? The process is a complicated one involving many players and all facets of the scholar's life, according to Marcia Lynn Whicker, Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld, and Ruth Ann Strickland. Achieving success is not something to be left to chance or in someone else's hands; there are clear, positive steps you can take to help yourself toward that goal. The authors suggest being prepared to think politically, manage your image, and focus your attention on things that matter to the decision makers, for tenure is not simply rewarding the productive and discarding the rest. This brief, practical guide demystifies the tenure process and gives concrete advice to graduate students and junior faculty on how to strategize to maximize your chances of hearing those golden words "you got it".

Back to top

CAREERS AWAY FROM THE BENCH

Basalla, Susan and Maggie Debelius.  "So What Are You Going to Do with That?": Finding Careers Outside Academia.
Graduate schools churn out tens of thousands of Ph.D.’s and M.A.’s every year. Half of all college courses are taught by adjunct faculty. The chances of an academic landing a tenure-track job seem only to shrink as student loan and credit card debts grow. What’s a frustrated would-be scholar to do? Can he really leave academia? Can a non-academic job really be rewarding—and will anyone want to hire a grad-school refugee?
With “So What Are You Going to Do with That?” Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius—Ph.D.’s themselves—answer all those questions with a resounding “Yes!” A witty, accessible guide full of concrete advice for anyone contemplating the jump from scholarship to the outside world, “So What Are You Going to Do with That?” covers topics ranging from career counseling to interview etiquette to translating skills learned in the academy into terms an employer can understand and appreciate. Packed with examples and stories from real people who have successfully made this daunting—but potentially rewarding— transition, and written with a deep understanding of both the joys and difficulties of the academic life, this fully revised and up-to-date edition will be indispensable for any graduate student or professor who has ever glanced at her CV, flipped through the want ads, and wondered, “What if?”

Borbye, L.  Secrets to Success in Industry Careers: Essential Skills for Science and Business.
Secrets to Success in Industry Careers introduces you to the differences between what is needed in school and what is needed in industry. It describes the entire process of obtaining a job including analysis of a job description, writing an application, preparation for an interview, and conduct during and after an interview. Most importantly, this book is the ideal "industry-insider" guide because it provides you with skills and understanding essential for success on the job. Fictional anecdotes make it easy to understand application of these skills, summarized at the end of each chapter and supported by self guided assessment questionnaires. This is the ideal guide on how to succeed for anyone seeking a job or already employed in both industry and academic environments.

Brown, Sheldon.  Opportunities in Biotechnology Careers.
Each book of the “Opportunities in” series offers: the latest information on a field of interest, training and educational requirements for each career, salary statistics for different positions within each field, and up-to-date professional and Internet resources. Opportunities in Biotechnology Careers offers job seekers essential information about a variety of careers within the biotechnology field and includes training and education requirements, salary statistics, and professional and Internet resources.

Campbell, John J. Understanding Pharma: The First, Practical Guide On How Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies Really Work.
The pharmaceutical industry is extremely complex, and so are the inner workings of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies operating within it. Even the most seasoned industry professionals may find it difficult to understand the activities of, and interdependencies among, all key functions within a pharmaceutical company. Yet this knowledge is crucial when the responsibilities for--or repercussions of--key initiatives ripple across an organization.

Drapes, Michaela RVault Guide to the Top Pharmaceutical & Biotech Employers.
Vault brings its famed journalistic, insider approach to pharmaceuticals and biotech industry employers. This 3rd edition of the Guide provides business profiles, hiring and workplace culture information on top employers, including Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, McKesson, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Syntelabo, Schering-Plough, and more.

Freedman, TobyCareer Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development.
Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of careers in the life science industry, with all their ups and downs. The author, Toby Freedman, Ph.D., has conducted interviews with hundreds of key players in the industry, who provide first–hand explanations of their day–to–day roles and responsibilities, and offer key insights into how they landed those jobs in the first place. Careers in everything from discovery research to venture capital are covered in detail. Each chapter includes valuable sections on preparing yourself for a prospective career: educational requirements and personality characteristics needed; recommendations of books, magazines, and Web site resources; and issues to consider regarding salary and compensation. The book also includes interviewing and job searching tips, as well as suggestions on writing a resume specifically for industry.

Friedman, Yali. Building Biotechnology: Starting, Managing, and Understanding Biotechnology Companies.
Friedman (entrepreneur and business consultant, with a doctorate in biochemistry) provides a guide to the disparate legal, regulatory, commercial, and scientific issues facing those interested in founding and/or managing a biotechnology company. He covers issues of intellectual property and regulation before turning to business issues such as funding; research, development, and marketing; and business development. He also provides a number of chapters covering scientific issues such as drug development, applied research, and research applications.

Gimble, JeffreyAcademia to Biotechnology: Career Changes at any Stage.
The book deals with both the abstract and practical aspects of moving from a univerisity laboratory to a position in the biotech industry. Each chapter lists common and unique features to evaluate breaking down complex decisions into manageable elements. Several sections provide "how to" guides for the preparation of manuscripts, patents, grants, and internal company documents.

Kreeger, KarenGuide to Non-Traditional Careers in Science: A Resource Guide for Pursuing a Non-Traditional Path.
Environmental-scientist-turned-science-writer Karen Kreeger taps the experiences of nearly 100 scientists to provide case studies and career options for scientists in her Guide to Non-Traditional Careers in Science . The handbook is organized by profession and includes one-on-one interviews, job-hunting advice, and comprehensive lists of resources — from people to societies, Web sites to training programs. While many jobs undoubtedly require additional qualifications outside of a specialized degree, the book explains that scientists do not necessarily need to obtain a JD, MBA, or MD in addition to a PhD to find a fulfilling career. The author goes further into the subject by detailing the situations of those with BA/BS, Master, JD, and MD degrees. The guide approaches the practical realities of delving into non-traditional employment. More than required reading for freshly-minted degree holders, this book is a must for faculty members and advisors.

Moussalli, Carole. Vault Career Guide to Biotech.
"Biotechnology," or "biotech" for short, refers to the application of biological research techniques to develop products and processes using biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives of organisms. Biotech processes have been used for thousands of years, yet the industry we know today is scarcely more than a quarter century old. The industry is rapidly growing -- it tripled in the 1990s -- which translates to rapidly growing career opportunities as well. Vault brings its award-winning career information process to this important and booming industry, with information on career paths for both the science and business sides.

Preston, AnneLeaving Science: Occupational Exit from Scientific Careers.
The past 30 years have witnessed a dramatic decline in the number of U.S. students pursuing advanced degrees in science and an equally dramatic increase in the number of professionals leaving scientific careers. "Leaving Science" provides the first significant examination of this worrisome new trend. Economist Anne E. Preston examines a wide range of important questions: Why do professionals who have invested extensive time and money on a rigorous scientific education leave the field? Where do these scientists go and what do they do? What policies might aid in retaining and improving the quality of life for science personnel? Based on data from a large national survey of nearly 1,700 people who received university degrees in the natural sciences or engineering between 1965 and 1990 and a subsequent in-depth follow-up survey, "Leaving Science" provides a comprehensive portrait of the career trajectories of men and women who have earned science degrees. Alarmingly, by the end of the follow-up survey, only 51 percent of the original respondents were still working in science. During this time, federal funding for scientific research decreased dramatically relative to private funding. Consequently, the direction of scientific research has increasingly been dictated by market forces, and many scientists have left academic research for income and opportunity in business and industry. Preston identifies the main reasons for people leaving scientific careers as dissatisfaction with compensation and career advancement, difficulties balancing family and career responsibilities, and changing professional interests. Highlighting the difference between male and female exit patterns, Preston shows that most men left because they found scientific salaries low relative to perceived alternatives in other fields, while most women left scientific careers in response to feelings of alienation due to lack of career guidance, difficulty relating to their work, and insufficient time for their family obligations.
"Leaving Science" contains a unique blend of rigorous statistical analysis with voices of individual scientists, ensuring a rich and detailed understanding of an issue with profound consequences for the nation’s future. A better understanding of why professionals leave science can help lead to changes in scientific education and occupations and make the scientific workplace more attractive and hospitable to career men and women.

Robbins-Roth, CynthiaAlternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower (Scientific Survival Skills).
Alternative Careers in Science describes the various career tracks available to scientists and gives the inside scoop on the skills and personality types suited to each profession.  It also contains important information regarding career expectations and salary potential. This book will allow scientists to compare career opportunities. Each chapter covers a different career track and includes the basic job description, qualifications, responsibilities, and what career opportunities stem from each position. KEY FEATURES: Illustrates a typical day's scenario, explains what career opportunities stem from a position, describes the basic job, qualifications, responsibilities, and expectations, covers how long to expect to be in a training phase, shows existing steps in the promotion ladder and salary ranges, presents a different career track in each chapter, and allows scientists to compare career opportunities.

Sinche, Melanie V.  Next Gen PhD: A Guide to Career Paths in Science
For decades, top scientists in colleges and universities pursued a clear path to success: enroll in a prestigious graduate program, conduct research, publish papers, complete the PhD, pursue postdoctoral work. With perseverance and a bit of luck, a tenure-track professorship awaited at the end. In today’s academic job market, this scenario represents the exception. As the number of newly conferred science PhDs keeps rising, the number of tenured professorships remains stubbornly stagnant. Only 14 percent of those with PhDs in science occupy tenure-track positions five years after completing their degree.
Next Gen PhD provides a frank and up-to-date assessment of the current career landscape facing science PhDs. Nonfaculty careers once considered Plan B are now preferred by the majority of degree holders, says Melanie Sinche. An upper-level science degree is a prized asset in the eyes of many employers, and a majority of science PhDs build rewarding careers both inside and outside the university. A certified career counselor with extensive experience working with graduate students and postdocs, Sinche offers step-by-step guidance through the career development process: identifying personal strengths and interests, building work experience and effective networks, assembling job applications, and learning tactics for interviewing and negotiating—all the essentials for making a successful career transition.
Sinche profiles science PhDs across a wide range of disciplines who share proven strategies for landing the right occupation. Current graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, mentors, and students considering doctoral and postdoctoral training in the sciences will find Next Gen PhD an empowering resource.

Stonier, Pete D. Careers with the Pharmaceutical Industry.
In recent years, many factors have combined to change the operating environment of the international pharmaceutical industry leading to greater specialisation and sophistication. This new edition will give an update of the different opportunities in drug discovery and development and the scientific, medical or other specialist training needed to accomplish them. The scope of this edition has been broadened to encompass all major roles, including marketing and sales.

Back to top

PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR ANY CAREER PATH

Bolles, Richard Nelson. What Color is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers.
Still the best-selling job-hunting book in the world, "What Color is Your Parachute?" is the most complete guide for first-time job seekers as well as second and encore careers changers. For more than three decades, it remains a mainstay on best-seller lists, from Amazon.com to "Business Week" to the "New York Times", where it has spent more than six years, and it has been translated into 20 languages. The 2009 edition is an even more useful book, with its updated, inspiring, and detailed plan for changing readers' lives. With new examples, instructions, and cautionary advice, "Parachute" is, to quote "Fortune" magazine, 'the gold standard of career guides'.

Chapman, Jack. Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute.
Proving your worth to a potential employer can begin well before the negotiating interview-which is why you need to be prepared. For 15 years, Negotiating Your Salary has been the bible for salary negotiations and, updated for the new millennium, this career classic is back to coach a new generation of job hunters. Nationally known career advisor Jack Chapman teaches you when to bring up the salary issue, how to respond to interviewers' offers, and simple strategies that can help you double your salary. For the already employed, he also covers how to make the most of raises and salary reviews, and much more. This revised edition includes a new chapter on the ins and outs of negotiating with dot-coms and start-ups, and information on stock options and vesting schedules. With NEGOTIATING YOUR SALARY you can be sure to get every last penny that you deserve.

Cosentino, Marc P.  Complete Case Interview Preparation.
Cosentino demystifies the consulting case interview. He takes you inside a typical interview by exploring the various types of case questions and he shares with you a system that will help you answer today's most sophisticated case questions. 101 jammed-packed pages of helpful interviewing hints, frameworks, practice cases and more!

Fisher, Roger. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In.
Getting to Yes offers a concise, step-by-step, proven strategy for coming to mutually acceptable agreements in every sort of conflict—whether it involves parents and children, neighbors, bosses and employees, customers or corporations, tenants or diplomats. Based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, a group that deals continually with all levels of negotiation and conflict resolution from domestic to business to international, Getting to Yes tells you how to: Separate the people from the problem; Focus on interests, not positions; Work together to create options that will satisfy both parties; and Negotiate successfully with people who are more powerful, refuse to play by the rules, or resort to "dirty tricks".

Hankel, Isaiah. Black Hole Focus: How intelligent people can create a powerful purpose for their lives.
In this book, you will learn:

  • How to understand what you really want in life and how to get it
  • Why people with a powerful purpose live to 100
  • How to rapidly improve focus and change your life using the secret techniques of an international memory champion
  • How people like Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey, and J.K. Rowling transformed pain into purpose
  • How to start a business by avoiding willpower depletion and the life hack lie

Black Hole Focus includes exclusive case studies from medical practitioners, research scientists, lawyers, corporate executives and small business owners who have used the techniques described in this book to achieve massive success in their own lives. 

Kadoor, John. 201 Best Questions to Ask On Your Interview.
Asking the right questions can help job seekers ace the interview and land that job The most critical question job interviewers ask is often the last one. That's when they lean forward and say, "Do you have any questions?" As author John Kador points out, that's the applicants' moment to shine, to demonstrate that they have done their homework and that they're good fit with the organization. Most of all, it provides an applicant with an opportunity to ask for the job. A powerful resource for vast and growing numbers of job seekers, this book fills readers in on the pivotal questions they need to ask to ace the interview. With chapters organized around major themes, such as "the company," "the job," and "the community," 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview not only supplies readers with the right questions for virtually every context but also coaches them on the right ways to ask them.

Marcus, Leonard, Barry Dorn, Eric McNulty. Renegotiating Health Care: Resolving Conflict to Build Collaboration.
This thoroughly revised and updated edition of Renegotiating Health Care offers a practical guide to negotiation and conflict resolution in the health care field. It explores why unresolved conflict can hamper any organization's ability to make timely, cost-effective decisions and implement new strategies. The book focuses on the complex interactions between those who deliver, receive, administer, and oversee health care. It defines negotiation techniques and conflict resolution approaches that can improve efficiency, quality of care, and patient safety. Renegotiating Health Care outlines strategies and methods to resolve the myriad thorny issues encompassing the health care enterprise. It should be required reading for students and professionals in health services management, clinicians, leaders, policy makers, and conflict resolution experts working in the health care field.

Medley, Anthony. Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed.
This guide has been written by a business professional who has conducted thousands of job interviews and made actual hiring decisions. In this edition, new tips, tactics, and strategies are given, geared for the information age. You'll discover some surprising new findings about making eye contact, sending thank-you notes, and other aspects of interviewing for a job. You'll also learn how to: assess the personality of the interviewer, determine what he or she is really thinking, and use that knowledge to your advantage, determine when and how to take control of the interview, know which interview questions are illegal, and be able to handle any that are asked, negotiate the best possible salary and benefits package.

Mnookin, Robert H. Beyond Winning: Negotiating to Create Value in Deals and Disputes.
Conflict is inevitable, in both deals and disputes. Yet when clients call in the lawyers to haggle over who gets how much of the pie, traditional hard-bargaining tactics can lead to ruin. Too often, deals blow up, cases don't settle, relationships fall apart, justice is delayed. Beyond Winning charts a way out of our current crisis of confidence in the legal system. It offers a fresh look at negotiation, aimed at helping lawyers turn disputes into deals, and deals into better deals, through practical, tough-minded problem-solving techniques.
In this step-by-step guide to conflict resolution, the authors describe the many obstacles that can derail a legal negotiation, both behind the bargaining table with one's own client and across the table with the other side. They offer clear, candid advice about ways lawyers can search for beneficial trades, enlarge the scope of interests, improve communication, minimize transaction costs, and leave both sides better off than before. But lawyers cannot do the job alone. People who hire lawyers must help change the game from conflict to collaboration. The entrepreneur structuring a joint venture, the plaintiff embroiled in a civil suit, the CEO negotiating an employment contract, the real estate developer concerned with environmental hazards, the parent considering a custody battle--clients who understand the pressures and incentives a lawyer faces can work more effectively within the legal system to promote their own best interests. Attorneys exhausted by the trench warfare of cases that drag on for years will find here a positive, proven approach to revitalizing their profession.

 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.  Breaking Through: The Next Generation of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Researchers (2018)

Since the end of the Second World War, the United States has developed the world’s preeminent system for biomedical research, one that has given rise to revolutionary medical advances as well as a dynamic and innovative business sector generating high-quality jobs and powering economic output and exports for the U.S. economy. However, there is a growing concern that the biomedical research enterprise is beset by several core challenges that undercut its vitality, promise, and productivity and that could diminish its critical role in the nation’s health and innovation in the biomedical industry.

Among the most salient of these challenges is the gulf between the burgeoning number of scientists qualified to participate in this system as academic researchers and the elusive opportunities to establish long-term research careers in academia. The patchwork of measures to address the challenges facing young scientists that has emerged over the years has allowed the U.S. biomedical enterprise to continue to make significant scientific and medical advances. These measures, however, have not resolved the structural vulnerabilities in the system, and in some cases come at a great opportunity cost for young scientists. These unresolved issues could diminish the nation’s ability to recruit the best minds from all sectors of the U.S. population to careers in biomedical research and raise concerns about a system that may favor increasingly conservative research proposals over high-risk, innovative ideas.

The Next Generation of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Researchers: Breaking Through evaluates the factors that influence transitions into independent research careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and offers recommendations to improve those transitions. These recommendations chart a path to a biomedical research enterprise


Shahnasarian, Michael. Decision Time: A Guide to Career Enhancement.
It’s The Best Way to Find Work. Question: What is the worst way to find career direction? Answer: The classifieds. How did you get started in your present career? You probably answered a "Help Wanted" ad or secured a job by happenstance, then settled for the position you were offered. And even though it wasn t quite what you were hoping for, hey it paid the bills, right? WRONG, according to one of America s leading career development experts, former USA Today columnist, and global business consultant-turned-author Dr. Michael Shahnasarian. His book, DECISION TIME: A Guide to Career Enhancement argues that "settling" is the last thing you should do.

Stone, Douglas, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen. Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most.
We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a spouse, or negotiating with a client. From the Harvard Negotiation Project, the organization that brought you Getting to Yes, Difficult Conversations provides a step-by-step approach to having those tough conversations with less stress and more success. you'll learn how to: 
• Decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation 
• Start a conversation without defensiveness 
• Listen for the meaning of what is not said 
• Stay balanced in the face of attacks and accusations 
• Move from emotion to productive problem solving

Ury, William. Getting Past NO.
We all want to get to yes, but what happens when the other person keeps saying no? How can you negotiate successfully with a stubborn boss, an irate customer, or a deceitful coworker?
In Getting Past No, William Ury of Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation offers a proven breakthrough strategy for turning adversaries into negotiating partners. You’ll learn how to:
• Stay in control under pressure
• Defuse anger and hostility
• Find out what the other side really wants
• Counter dirty tricks
• Use power to bring the other side back to the table
• Reach agreements that satisfies both sides' needs
Getting Past No is the state-of-the-art book on negotiation for the twenty-first century. It will help you deal with tough times, tough people, and tough negotiations. You don’t have to get mad or get even. Instead, you can get what you want!

Ury, William. The Power of a Positive No.
No is perhaps the most important and certainly the most powerful word in the language. Every day we find ourselves in situations where we need to say No–to people at work, at home, and in our communities–because No is the word we must use to protect ourselves and to stand up for everything and everyone that matters to us. 
But as we all know, the wrong No can also destroy what we most value by alienating and angering people. That’s why saying No the right way is crucial. The secret to saying No without destroying relationships lies in the art of the Positive No, a proven technique that anyone can learn. 
This indispensable book gives you a simple three-step method for saying a Positive No. It will show you how to assert and defend your key interests; how to make your No firm and strong; how to resist the other side’s aggression and manipulation; and how to do all this while still getting to Yes. In the end, the Positive No will help you get not just to any Yes but to the right Yes, the one that truly serves your interests. 

Yate, Martin. Knock ‘em Dead 2008: The Ultimate Job Search Guide.
For more than twenty years, Martin Yate has advised, inspired and reassured job searchers of every kind-helping them turn job interviews into job offers. Whether you're trying to land your first entry-level job, climb the corporate ladder, or return to the workforce after a significant absence, Martin Yate gives you the latest and most comprehensive information to get ahead.
The keystone book in this bestselling series, Knock 'Em Dead, 2007 is the best resource available to help you implement a successful job search. You'll gain the know-how to integrate Martin Yate's proven advice into survival strategies for a lifetime in the professional world of work.
Knock 'em Dead, 2007 arms you with the latest and most effective job search techniques to land interviews and then turn them into job offers.
With the latest on effective job search and interviewing tactics, invaluable instruction on selecting a job search coach, networking, conducting online research, and staying motivated during the often grueling job-search process, Knock 'em Dead, 2007 keeps you one step ahead of the competition-and first in line for the best jobs out there

Back to top

CV/RESUME/COVER LETTER

Amos, Julia-Ann. Write a Winning CV: Essential CV Writing Skills That Will Get You the Job You Want.
A concise, practical book that aims to guide you through the essentials of writing a CV that should work for you. Discover how to present your experience, emphasize your strengths and highlight your skills.

Bennett, Scott. The Elements of Resume Style: Essential Rules and Eye-Opening Advice for Writing Resumes and Cover Letters that Work.
It's amazing the myths one can find in some Resume books. Scott Bennett has hired hundreds of people in a variety of industries, and he knows firsthand what kinds of Resumes spark the interest of employers. In The Elements of Resume Style, Bennett explains why some of the most popular "tricks" backfire more often than they work, and offers clear, smart strategies for creating Resumes and cover letters that get people jobs. From entry-level to executive, users of this invaluable guide will: See their Resume from the employer's perspective - Avoid the errors most candidates make - Handle job-hopping, employment gaps, and other touchy subjects honestly and effectively - Write cover letters that stand out--and learn the untapped power of the inquiry letter.

Hansen, Katharine and Randall Hansen. Dynamic Cover Letters Revised.
In this expanded and updated third edition, career experts Katharine Hansen and Randall Hansen zoom in on cutting-edge issues -- such as job-hunting on the Internet -- plus deliver those rock-solid basics that readers have come to depend on. Simple, step-by-step instructions and tons of real-life cover letters will show you how to create a dynamic cover letter for any position. Write a cover letter that can: make your resume stand out amidst hundreds of equally -- or better -- qualified competitors; increase your rate of employer response by a factor of 85 -- or more; help you uncover hidden job opportunities; turn a lack of experience or education, or other "minuses," into "plusses"; get the salary you deserve.
New features include techniques for tailoring cover letters for fax and email transmission, sneaky delivery stunts, scooping the competition, a first-ever cover letter quiz, and a wealth of key resources for job-hunting on the Internet. In addition, this book features new sample letters to accompany those well-tested over the years -- every one of them a winner -- sure to inspire a wide range of readers from recent college grads to midlife career changers. Other tools include grammar and style dos and don'ts, a "cover letter hall of shame" that highlights things you absolutely must not do, line-by-line critiques of sample letters, and worksheets to help you create that essential dynamic cover letter for yourself.

Howard, SimonCreating a Successful CV (Essential Managers).
Intended for those in - or aspiring to - a position of responsibility, this book provides practical techniques for creating your CV. The charts and flow diagrams explore different options for action and provide useful examples. Within each volume there are exercises and questionnaires which encourage self-assessment and analysis to improve management skills. Checklists and points to remember offer practical guidelines for achieving the best results.

Jackson, Acy and Kathleen Geckeis. How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae.
How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae provides an in-depth explanation of the components of the curriculum vitae as well as step-by-step instructions for condensing your career history into a concise biographical sketch that underscores your assets. You'll learn to assess your educational and noneducational skills, inventory your accomplishments, and present the information in a format that follows the latest document guidelines. In addition, this newly revised edition includes: Tips on producing a scannable CV; A new chapter on international CVs; Sample CVs for a wide range of academic majors and professions; Sample correspondence that gives you content and format guidance.
With its targeted advice and easy-to-follow plan, How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae offers everything you need to know to create a CV that will produce results and advance your academic or professional career.

McGee, Paul. How to Write a CV That Works.
What makes a CV stand out from the rest? This book aims to answer that question and show the reader how to develop different versions of their CV for every situation. To get the job you want you need a CV that really does the job. This book shows you how to present your skills, identify your achievements, and communicate successfully. It teaches how to focus on your strengths and find out which skills to highlight for which kind of job. It also offers advice on what to do once you've got an interview.

Thompson, Mary Anne. The Global Resume and CV Guide.
Commerce has gone global, and so have careers. If you want to capitalize on rapidly expanding opportunities outside your native land, this unique, comprehensive guide gives you the knowledge you need to make your very best impression anywhere in the world. Experts from more than forty countries—from Argentina and the Baltics to Saudi Arabia,Thailand, the UK, and the US—share cultural do’s and don’ts, business practices, and job-hunting tips and help you create a winning resume tailored to the specific requirements of your target nation.
Did you know that in Japan, the job application or rirekisho is a handwritten two-page form that is purchased from the local stationery store? That in the US, attaching a photo to your resume/cv is a faux pas that tells the employer you do not know the rules? That in Sweden, your resume/cv should be signed by someone who can attest that what you wrote is true? That in Korea, it is important to state on your resume/cv if you are the eldest child in the family?
How to Get the Job You Want in Any Country: Country-by-country overviews of 40 countries in North and South America, Asia, Europe, the Baltics, and more; How to match your resume/cv to the country; Cover letters; Job sources; Internet sites; Work permits and visas; Interview tips; Cultural advice.

Usher, Harman and Sally Parker. The Definitive CV/Resume & Essential Employment Letter Guide.
A full (what the employer wants) step by step guide for the compilation of an effective curriculum vitae/resume with multiple examples including, profiles, speculative and advertised response letters.

Back to top

LAB MANAGEMENT

Barker, KathyAt the Bench: A Laboratory Navigator.
A research laboratory filled with competent, busy people entirely familiar with its arcane customs and practices is a daunting place for newcomers. Kathy Barker knows this world. She was a technician, an undergraduate, then a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, and as a postdoctoral fellow and assistant professor at Rockefeller University, she was a mentor to grad students, physicians in training, technicians, and research nurses. From this rich experience, she has written At the Bench, a unique handbook for living and working in the laboratory. Much more than a simple primer or lab manual, this book is an essential aid to understanding: how research groups work at a human level—and how to fit in, what equipment is essential, and how to use it properly, how to get started and get organized, how to set up an experiment, how to handle and use data and reference sources, and how to present yourself and your results—in print and in person
Wise, light-hearted, but thoroughly practical, Dr. Barker offers advice, moral support, social etiquette, and professional reassurance along with assume-nothing, step-by-step instructions for those basic but vital laboratory procedures that experienced investigators know—but may not realize novices don’t. If you are a graduate student, a physician with research intentions, or a laboratory technician, this book is indispensable. If you have to manage or mentor such people, giving a copy to each of them will greatly improve your life, and theirs.       

Barker, KathyAt The Helm: A Laboratory Navigator.
Newly appointed principal research investigators have to recruit, motivate, and lead a research team, manage personnel and institutional responsibilities, and compete for funding, while maintaining the outstanding scientific record that got them their position in the first place. Small wonder, then, that many principal investigators feel ill-prepared. In this book, a successor to her best-selling manual for new recruits to experimental science, At The Bench, Kathy Barker provides a guide for newly appointed leaders of research teams, and those who aspire to that role. With extensive use of interviews and a text enlivened with quotes and real-life examples, Dr. Barker discusses a wide range of management challenges and the skills that promote success. Her book is a unique and much-needed contribution to the literature of science.

Cohen, Carl and Suzanne CohenLab Dynamics: Management Skills for Scientists.
Scientists are trained in scholarship and technical skills but not, typically, in how to deal with their peers, supervisors, or staff who report to them. Yet even a first rate research project can fail or flounder if the people concerned can't get along. Lab Dynamics is a book about the challenges of doing science and dealing with the individuals involved, including oneself. The authors, a scientist and a psychotherapist, draw on principles of group and behavioral psychology but speak to scientists in their own language. They offer in depth, practical advice, real life examples, and exercises tailored to scientific and technical workplaces on topics as diverse as conflict resolution, negotiation, dealing with supervision, working with competing peers, and making transitions between academia and industry. This book addresses a subject of direct importance to lab heads, postdocs, students, and managers concerned about improving the effectiveness of academic and industrial research.

Glass, David J. Experimental Design for Biologists.
The effective design of scientific experiments is critical to success; yet graduate students receive very little formal training in how to do it. Based on a well-received course taught by the author, Experimental Design for Biologists fills this gap. Experimental Design for Biologists explains how to establish the framework for an experimental project, how to set up a system, design experiments within that system, and how to determine and use the correct set of controls. Separate chapters are devoted to negative controls, positive controls, and other categories of controls that are perhaps less recognized, such as "assumption controls," and "experimentalist controls." Furthermore, there are sections on establishing the experimental system, which include performing critical "system controls." Should all experimental plans be hypothesis-driven? Is a question/answer approach more appropriate? What was the hypothesis behind the Human Genome Project? What color is the sky? How does one get to Carnegie Hall? The answers to these kinds of questions can be found in Experimental Design for Biologists. Written in an engaging manner, the book provides compelling lessons in framing an experimental question, establishing a validated system to answer the question, and deriving verifiable models from experimental data. Experimental Design for Biologists is an essential source of theory and practical guidance in designing a research plan.

Harris, Richard Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions
American taxpayers spend $30 billion annually funding biomedical research. By some estimates, half of the results from these studies can't be replicated elsewhere—the science is simply wrong. Often, research institutes and academia emphasize publishing results over getting the right answers, incentivizing poor experimental design, improper methods, and sloppy statistics. Bad science doesn't just hold back medical progress, it can sign the equivalent of a death sentence. How are those with breast cancer helped when the cell on which 900 papers are based turns out not to be a breast cancer cell at all? How effective could a new treatment for ALS be when it failed to cure even the mice it was initially tested on? In Rigor Mortis, award-winning science journalist Richard F. Harris reveals these urgent issues with vivid anecdotes, personal stories, and interviews with the nation's top biomedical researchers. We need to fix our dysfunctional biomedical system—now.
Richard Harris is one of the nation's most-celebrated science journalists, covering science, medicine, and the environment for twenty-nine years for NPR, and the three-time winner of the AAAS Science Journalism Award.

Portny, StanLab Management for Dummies.
 Successful businesses and organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources. As a result, businesses are increasingly driven to find individuals who can excel in this project-oriented environment. And that's where this guide comes into play.
By reading this guide, you'll gain insight into beginning a project, supporting it throughout its life, and bringing it to a successful closure. You'll discover how to manage the uncertainties surrounding a project, and uncover the definitions to the most common project management terms. And you'll figure out how to handle some of the more common project management situations you'll encounter, from dealing with the people involved to organizing the mountains of paperwork.
While most businesses are looking for ways to get a better handle on their projects, what no one is saying is that the majority of people who become project managers aren't doing so by choice. Instead, project management is often an unexpected but required progression in their chosen career paths. Think of this guide as a friend or comfortable resource that has more to share each time you crack it open as you experience new situations in which you can apply the knowledge.

Sapienza, AliceManaging Scientists: Leadership Strategies in Scientific Research.
This updated edition provides managers with a practical guide focused on the particular management needs for research and development in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. It offers a way to improve the quality of interactions and creativity output in R&D, with real life case studies to illustrate key points.

The National Academies. On Being a Scientist.
On Being a Scientist was designed to supplement the informal lessons in ethics provided by research supervisors and mentors. The book describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter in their work. It applies to all forms of research--whether in academic, industrial, or governmental settings-and to all scientific disciplines. 
This third edition of On Being a Scientist reflects developments since the publication of the original edition in 1989 and a second edition in 1995. A continuing feature of this edition is the inclusion of a number of hypothetical scenarios offering guidance in thinking about and discussing these scenarios.
On Being a Scientist is aimed primarily at graduate students and beginning researchers, but its lessons apply to all scientists at all stages of their scientific careers.

Back to top

GRANT WRITING & MANUSCRIPT WRITING

Barber, DanielFinding Funding: The Comprehensive Guide to Grant Writing (2002 edition).
The essential "How-To" resource for Finding Funding from government, foundations, and corporations is now bigger and better. This new edition builds on the basics that have helped thousands of individuals, community based and nonprofit organizations, schools and government prepare winning grant proposals. This book includes a full glossary of terms and a computer diskette with hundreds of funding sources, sample letters, budgets and templates for every element of a grant proposal.

Blackburn, Thomas R.  Getting Science Grants: Effective Strategies for Funding Success
Getting Science Grants is your hands-on guide to writing compelling proposals that will attract funding. Written by Thomas Blackburn— a scientist, experienced grantmaker, and consultant— this book provides a step-by-step process for writing grants to support your research projects. Getting Science Grants offers you an insider's look at the motivations and inner workings of the scientific grantmaking community. No matter what your scientific discipline, Getting Science Grants will help you develop the skills you need to write dynamic proposals

Brown, Larissa Golden and Martin John BrownDemystifying Grant Seeking: What You REALLY Need to Do to Get Grants.
In Demystifying Grant Seeking, authors Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown offer down-to-earth advice on implementing an effective grant- seeking process based on the art of fearless grant seeking. Written for nonprofit professionals and fundraisers— no matter what their level of expertise— this hands-on resource outlines a five-step program that will help to dispel myths, overcome fears, and lead to grant-seeking success. Using the suggestions outlined in Demystifying Grant Seeking fundraisers will: Learn about their organizations, communities, and funders; Match requests to funders; Invite funders to invest in their organizations; Follow Up both internally and with funders; Evaluate results, methods, and opportunities.

Carr, Cynthia E. The Nuts and Bolts of Grant Writing.
In this practical, accessible guide for students, faculty, and other university personnel, author Cynthia E. Carr shares her best practices for planning, writing, and winning research grants based on her own experience submitting more than 300 grant proposals and securing millions of dollars in awards. Insightful, innovative, and informative, the book goes beyond coverage of standard grant writing to specifically address the issues faced by the higher education community, including the university bureaucracy and how to navigate it. The Nuts and Bolts of Grant Writing covers everything from budgets to submissions and federal to foundation competitions, giving novices the opportunity to leapfrog over some of the hard lessons that most college and university grant seekers must learn from trial and error and allowing those with more experience to sharpen their skills. 

Friedland, AndrewWriting Successful Science Proposals.
This book will be of value both to scientists and to undergraduate and graduate students who want to write successful grant or research proposals. For scientists, today's environment of limited funding from Congress and private foundations means that grant proposals must be effective, competitive, and readable. The book is designed to provide a guide to writing proposals and improving their overall quality. For graduate students in the natural sciences, courses on proposal development and writing are increasingly part of the curriculum--this book is, in fact, derived from a course taught by the authors at Dartmouth. Increasingly, research design is a part of the curriculum for undergraduates in science. This book will provide guidance during the conceptualization and formulation of a research plan as well as give specific information for effectively organizing and presenting material in a format widely used for proposal submissions.

Gerin, William. Writing the NIH Grant Proposal: A Step-by-Step Guide.
This primer on the writing of the NIH proposal and the mechanics of applying for NIH grants offers hands-on advice that simplifies, demystifies, and takes the fear out of writing a federal grant application. The graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or junior research faculty member applying for a prestigious NIH grant - anything from a training grant to a full-blown research award - faces many complex issues. Although several grant writing guides already exist, they are overly general and do not focus on the NIH process. Also, although several NIH institutes provide information regarding grant submissions, this information tends to be voluminous and insufficient to guide one through the process. This book provides specific and detailed step-by-step guidance in completing an NIH application through a number of unique features. 
Written by an author with proven success in obtaining NIH grants and in developing grant application workshops for university and convention settings, this book features actual forms from NIH grant applications - including the brand new SF 424 forms - which have been annotated so as to guide readers step-by-step, highlighting unexpected nuances that can make all the difference between winning and losing a grant. This unique book extensively covers SBIR and STTR grants as well.

Hall, MaryGetting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals.
In the existing climate of increased competition for reduced funding dollars, writing a winning grant proposal is essential.  Get the answers to your most troublesome questions. Drawing on over 60 years of experience in the field, authors Dr. Mary Hall, and Susan Howlett take you step by step, through this complex and sometimes frustrating process. Everything is covered, from current trends in funding to all the nuts and bolts necessary for writing a successful proposal.
By illustrating points with clear examples, incorporating checklists, a teaching guide for instructors, and other useful tools to keep you on track, the 4th Edition of Getting Funded continues to be the definitive reference on writing grant proposals available today. You will learn how to: Test the appeal of your idea; Measure your organization's capability to carry out what it proposes; Research and develop your idea; Select the most promising funding sources; Construct your proposal from abstract to budget, using proven management planning procedures; Present and negotiate your proposal; and prepare for a subsequent round of funding.

Hollenbach, Andrew D. A Practical Guide to Writing a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Grant.
A Practical Guide to Writing a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Grant provides F-Series grant applicants and mentors with insider knowledge on the process by which these grants are reviewed, the biases that contribute to the reviews, the extent of information required in an NRSA training grant, a deeper understanding of the exact purpose of each section of the application, and key suggestions and recommendations on how to best construct each and every section of the application.
A Practical Guide to Writing a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Grant is a solid resource for trainees and their mentors to use as a guide when constructing F30, F31, and F32 grant applications. 
-Covers F30, F31, and F32 grant applications
-Detailed overview of the review process
-Key suggestions on how to best construct each section of the application
-Includes a checklist of required items

Katz, Michael Jay. From Research to Manuscript: A Guide to Scientific Writing.
Written in simple, straightforward language, From Research to Manuscript, explains how to understand and summarize a research project. It is a writing guide that goes beyond grammar and style by demonstrating how to pull together the information needed for each section of a polished scientific paper. This book is a systematic guide, leading you from the data on your desk through the drafts and rewrites that are needed to build a complete and tightly-written science article.  From Research to Manuscript: includes tools and techniques for structuring the sentences, paragraphs, and sections of a research paper. gives wide-ranging examples from well-written research articles. offers advice to speakers of other languages. explains the effective use of tables, graphs, statistics, and figures. shows you how to organize your data to clearly present your results. guides you through the process of manuscript submission and editorial review. The updated second edition includes more examples, advice on publishing in online journals, software suggestions, and updated references. Overall, From Research to Manuscript argues that scientists should be working on their paper during their active research. Writing will keep the research project organized, thorough, and thoughtful. From Research to Manuscript provides a format for integrating writing and research, so that you can strengthen your science, compose a better paper, and get the paper published.

Li, Ping and Karen Marrongelle. Having Success with NSF: A Practical Guide.
This book is designed to help researchers achieve success in funding their National Science Foundation (NSF) research proposals. The book discusses aspects of the proposal submission and review process that are not typically communicated to the research community.  Written by authors with successful track records in grant writing and years of experience as NSF Program Directors, this book provides an insider’s view of successful grantsmanship.  Written in a practical approach, this book offers tips that will not be found in official paperwork and provides answers to questions frequently asked of NSF Program Directors.  The purpose of the book is to improve your NSF grant-writing skills and improve your chances of funding.

Luna, Rafael. The Art of Scientific Storytelling: Transform Your Research Manuscript with a Step-By-Step Formula.
We all want our research to have an impact and to be cited by others. There are thousands of research articles published in our respective fields. How do we get someone to read our publications? This book shows you how to put your Title and Abstract into a story, along with the rest of your manuscript. Your research will stand out in a sea of peer-review publications, since it will be forged into a Scientific Story.

Ogden, ThomasResearch Proposals: A Guide to Success, Third Edition.
This third edition of the classic "how-to" guide incorporates recent changes in policies and procedures of the NIH, with particular emphasis on the role of the Internet in the research proposal process. Completely revised and updated, it reveals the secrets of success used by seasoned investigators, and directs the reader through the maze of NIH bureaucracies. In addition to providing a detailed overview of the entire review process, the book also includes hundreds of tips on how to enhance proposals, excerpts from real proposals, and extensive Internet references. This book is essential to all scientists involved in the grant writing process.

Reif-Lehrer, LianeGrant Application Writers Handbook, Fourth Edition.
Drawing on her significant experience with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Reif-Lehrer focuses on the practical side of grant- writing. She guides readers through getting started, including clearly defining the purposes of the application, gathering relevant information, understanding the roles of the funding agency and the applicant, and getting the application in order. She describes the review process of the NIH, writing the application's administrative and financial information and the research plan, preparing and writing the research plan, submitting and tracking the application, and allowing for summary statements, rebuttals and revisions. Appendices include strategies for good written and oral presentation, information on the NIH, and advice on applying to the National Science Foundation and other funding agencies. Reif-Lehrer updates information on procedures and online applications for this edition.

Roldan, Leslie Ann and Pardue, Mary-LouWriting in Biology: A Brief Guide
At once sophisticated and practical, Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide advises students on composing research articles, literature reviews, oral presentations, and other key biology genres. The book gives careful attention to both the governing priciples of audience, purpose, and argument, and the ground rules for style, visual design, and sourcing. Writing in Biology: A Brief Guide is a part of a series of brief, discipline-specific writing guides from Oxford University Press designed for today's writing-intensive college courses. The series is edited by Thomas Deans (University of Connecticut) and Mya Poe (Northeastern University).

Russell, Stephen W. and David C. Morrison. The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook.
In our opinion, more good ideas submitted to NIH are lost due to poor packaging and presentation – poor grantsmanship – than for any other reason. The NIH version of our Workbook is designed to avoid that trap.
The current edition is fully updated to include changes in title length, resubmission policy and major changes in how the Biographical Sketch should be prepared. The current edition also provides recommendations regarding how to cope with those changes. It has also been updated to reflect how revisions in text should be referred to in resubmitted applications.

Scheier, Lawrence M. and William L. Dewey. The Complete Writing Guide to NIH Behavioral Science Grants.
A veritable cookbook for individuals or corporations seeking funding from the federal government, The Complete Writing Guide to NIH Behavioral Science Grants contains the latest in technical information on NIH grants, including the new electronic submission process. Some of the most successful grant writers in history have contributed to this volume, offering key strategies as well as tips and suggestions in areas that are normally hard to find in grant writing guides, such as budgeting, human subjects, and power analysis. A "who's who" among grant reviewers, this guidebook provides "inside" information as to why some grants are scored well while others flounder during review. A must-read for both entry level grant writers making headway in the complex NIH grant system for the first time as well as more seasoned investigators who can't seem to break the barrier to funded research grants, Drs. Scheier and Dewey's comprehensive volume provides simple and clear explanations into the reasons why some grants get funded, and a step-by-step guide to writing those grants.

Schimel, Joshua. Writing Science: How to write papers that get cited and proposals that get funded.
As a scientist, you are a professional writer: your career is built on successful proposals and papers. Success isn't defined by getting papers into print, but by getting them into the reader's consciousness. Writing Science is built upon the idea that successful science writing tells a story. It uses that insight to discuss how to write more effectively. Integrating lessons from other genres of writing with those from the author's years of experience as author, reviewer, and editor, the book shows scientists and students how to present their research in a way that is clear and that will maximize reader comprehension.
The book takes an integrated approach, using the principles of story structure to discuss every aspect of successful science writing, from the overall structure of a paper or proposal to individual sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words. It begins by building core arguments, analyzing why some stories are engaging and memorable while others are quickly forgotten, and proceeds to the elements of story structure, showing how the structures scientists and researchers use in papers and proposals fit into classical models. The book targets the internal structure of a paper, explaining how to write clear and professional sections, paragraphs, and sentences in a way that is clear and compelling. The ideas within a paper should flow seamlessly, drawing readers along. The final section of the book deals with special challenges, such as how to discuss research limitations and how to write for the public. 
Writing Science is a much-needed guide to succeeding in modern science. Its insights and strategies will equip science students, scientists, and professionals across a wide range of scientific and technical fields with the tools needed to communicate effectively.

Schwartz, Samuel M. and Mischa E. Friedman. A Guide to NIH Grant Programs.
Each year thousands of biomedical and behavioral researchers submit grant applications to the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) for support of their research or research training activities. The majority of these applications are submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). By describing the inner workings of the NIH extramural programs and providing practical information about grant programs and processes, this authoritative work is designed to help investigators gain a more favorable edge in obtaining support for their research proposals. It offers practical insights into a broad spectrum of the basic and clinical research interests of the 21 NIH research granting components, and identifies the various mechanisms of support. Descriptions, guidance, and advice are also provided on specific areas including: how to prepare a grant application, the peer review system, the procedures leading to award decisions, the responsibilities of the NIH staff in managing the review and referral of applications, and managing grant programs. Other extramural policies and procedures are covered such as the appeals system, animal welfare, the privacy act, and research involving human subjects. Legislation, funding, and the NIH budget are also discussed. Written by two former senior-level managers at the National Institutes of Health and current consultants to several USPHS agencies, A Guide to NIH Grant Programs is a valuable reference source for members of the biomedical and behavioral research community.

Silvia, Paul J. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing.
All students and professors need to write, and many struggle to finish their stalled dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, or grant proposals. Writing is hard work and can be difficult to wedge into a frenetic academic schedule.
In this practical, light-hearted, and encouraging book, Paul J. Silvia explains that writing productively does not require innate skills or special traits but specific tactics and actions. Drawing examples from his own field of psychology, he shows readers how to overcome motivational roadblocks and become prolific without sacrificing evenings, weekends, and vacations. After describing strategies for writing productively, the author gives detailed advice from the trenches on how to write, submit, revise, and resubmit articles; how to improve writing quality; and how to write and publish academic work.

Ward, Deborah.  Writing Grant Proposals That Win.
Writing Grant Proposals That Win, Third Edition gives you step-by-step instructions and clear examples of how to write winning grant proposals. From expressing the need for the project to describing objectives and activities, from outlining your evaluation plan to creating a workable project budget, from how reviewers function to what they are looking for in proposal sections, you'll find the help you need to maximize every aspect of your proposal.
The tips to help you create winning sections include how to: assess a program announcement and ensure that you address each requirement, condense your entire proposal into a brief but compelling abstract, determine what appendices to include (and in what form) for maximum impact, adequately describe project dissemination and continuation plans, use technology - including desktop publishing, graphics, color, and spreadsheets for budget development - to enhance your proposals, and structure your proposal to increase your chance of winning.

Yang, OttoGuide to Effective Grant Writing: How to Write a Successful NIH Grant Application.
Guide to Effective Grant Writing: How to Write a Successful NIH Grant is written to help the 100,000+ post-graduate students and professionals who need to write effective proposals for grants. There is little or no formal teaching about the process of writing grants for NIH, and many grant applications are rejected due to poor writing and weak formulation of ideas. Procuring grant funding is the central key to survival for any academic researcher in the biological sciences; thus, being able to write a proposal that effectively illustrates one's ideas is essential. Covering all aspects of the proposal process, from the most basic questions about form and style to the task of seeking funding, this volume offers clear advice backed up with excellent examples. Included are a number of specimen proposals to help shed light on the important issues surrounding the writing of proposals. The Guide is a clear, straight-forward, and reader-friendly tool. Guide to Effective Grant Writing: How to Write a Successful NIH Grant Application is based on Dr. Yang's extensive experience serving on NIH grant review panels; it covers the common mistakes and problems he routinely witnesses while reviewing grants.

Zeiger, Mimi.  Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers.
Now revised and updated, this straightforward guide to biomedical writing helps authors understand both what a well-written scientific research paper is and how to create such a work. Essentials of Writing Biomedical Research Papers, Second Edition, provides writers with specific, clear guidelines on word choice, sentence structure, and paragraph structure. In addition, it explains how to construct each section of a research paper, so that, ultimately, the paper as a whole tells a clear story and sends a clear message. New to This Edition! New examples from the current literature, including many involving molecular biology; Expanded exercises at the end of the book; Revised explanations on linking key terms, transitions clauses, uses of subheads, and emphases. The specific principles of effective biomedical writing are presented and explained, and then summarized in handy chapter checklists. Each section of the prototypical biomedical research paper is then systematically analyzed in terms of its function, content, organization, detail, and length. This section-by-section analysis covers the following: the introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, figures and tables, references, abstract, and title.

Back to top

COMMUNICATING YOUR SCIENCE

Alley, Michael.  The Craft of Scientific Presentations: Critical Steps to Succeed and Critical Errors to Avoid.
The Craft of Presentations provides a score of examples from contemporary and historical scientific presentations to show clearly what makes an oral presentation effective. It considers presentations made to persuade an audience to adopt some course of action (such as funding a proposal) as well as presentations made to communicate information, and it considers these from four perspectives: speech, structure, visual aids, and delivery. In keeping with technological innovations, it discusses computer-based projections and slide shows as well as overhead projections. In particular, it discusses ways of organizing graphics and text in projected images and of using layout and design to present the information efficiently and effectively. Unlike other books that discuss technical presentations, this book anchors its advice in the experiences of scientists and engineers, including such successful presenters as Robert Oppenheimer, Richard Feynman, Niels Bohr, and Rita Levi-Montalcini, as well as currently active laboratory directors, scientists, and engineers. In addition to examining successful presentations, Alley also discusses the errors that cause many scientific presentations to flounder, providing a list of ten critical errors to avoid. The insights and tools in this book will guide readers to deliver outstanding presentations.

Anholt, RobertDazzle 'Em With Style : The Art of Oral Scientific Presentation. Mastering the art of communicating scientific information is more critical than ever for a successful career in science and technology. Scientists today must be able to effectively convey sophisticated information to a broad audience that may include students, colleagues around the world, regulatory bodies, granting agencies, legislators, and the lay public. In this engaging and lively book, the author provides a step-by-step guide to the complete process of making a scientific presentation from preparation to delivery. It offers numerous examples highlighting what to follow and what to avoid. This revised edition covers the effective use of PowerPoint and other computer-based presentation programs. It also includes a handy checklist, new illustrations, and tips on handling an audience in a foreign country.

Booth, Vernon. Communicating in Science: Writing a Scientific Paper and Speaking at Scientific Meetings.
Writing scientific papers and giving talks at meetings and conferences are essential parts of research scientists’ work, and this short, straightforwardly written book will help workers in all scientific disciplines to present their results effectively. The first chapter is about writing a scientific paper and is a revision of a prize-winning essay. Later chapters discuss the preparation of typescripts, speaking at meetings and writing theses. There are also chapters addressed particularly to those scientists to whom English is a foreign language and to those in North America. The last chapter gives information about dictionaries, style books and other literature. The book draws on the author’s wealth of experience in presenting his own work and in editing the work of others, and he draws his examples from a range of subjects.

Frankel, Felice. Envisioning Science: The Design and Craft of the Science Image. Science and engineering research must be communicated within the research community and to the general public, and a crucial element of that communication is visual. In Envisioning Science, science photographer Felice Frankel provides a guide to creating dynamic and compelling photographs for journal submissions and scientific presentations to funding agencies, investors, and the general public. The book is organized from the large to small -- from photographing laboratory equipment to capturing new material and biological structures at the microscopic level. Full-color illustrations including many side-by-side comparisons provide an extensive gallery of fine science photography. The book begins with a brief historical overview in a foreword by science educator Phylis Morrison. Frankel discusses technical issues and, just as important, her personal approach to creating images that are both scientifically informational and accessible. This is a handbook that should become a standard tool in all research laboratories.

Frankel, Felice C. and Angela H. DePace. Visual Strategies: A practical guide to graphics for scientists and engineers.
Any scientist or engineer who communicates research results will immediately recognize this practical handbook as an indispensable tool. The guide sets out clear strategies and offers abundant examples to assist researchers—even those with no previous design training—with creating effective visual graphics for use in multiple contexts, including journal submissions, grant proposals, conference posters, or presentations.
Visual communicator Felice Frankel and systems biologist Angela DePace, along with experts in various fields, demonstrate how small changes can vastly improve the success of a graphic image. They dissect individual graphics, show why some work while others don't, and suggest specific improvements. The book includes analyses of graphics that have appeared in such journals as Science, Nature, Annual Reviews, Cell, PNAS, and the New England Journal of Medicine, as well as an insightful personal conversation with designer Stefan Sagmeister and narratives by prominent researchers and animators.

Kuchner, Marc J. Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times.
It's a tough time to be a scientist: universities are shuttering science departments, federal funding agencies are facing flat budgets, and many newspapers have dropped their science sections altogether. But according to Marc Kuchner, this antiscience climate doesn't have to equal a career death knell-it just means scientists have to be savvier about promoting their work and themselves. In Marketing for Scientists, he provides clear, detailed advice about how to land a good job, win funding, and shape the public debate.
As an astrophysicist at NASA, Kuchner knows that "marketing" can seem like a superficial distraction, whether your daily work is searching for new planets or seeking a cure for cancer. In fact, he argues, it's a critical component of the modern scientific endeavor, not only advancing personal careers but also society's knowledge. 

Morgan, ScottSpeaking about Science: A Manual for Creating Clear Presentations.
Presenting in public is an important career skill for anyone in the sciences, and this practical manual is essential reading for researchers and clinicians who are preparing talks for meetings and academic conferences. The book features step-by-step instruction for creating clear and compelling presentations – from structuring a talk and developing effective PowerPoint slides through delivery before an audience. Color examples of slides and posters from actual presentations are included. The authors also provide tips on answering questions and strategies for handling media inquiries and job interviews.
Scott Morgan and Barrett Whitener are professional public speakers and write from their extensive experience designing courses and teaching presentation skills to scientists and medical researchers at the National Institutes of Health and in the private sector. The seven-step process they have developed will help readers become better speakers and ensure success behind the podium.

Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health insurance.

Tufte, Edward. Envisioning Information.
This book celebrates escapes from the flatlands of both paper and computer screen, showing superb displays of high-dimensional complex data. The most design-oriented of Edward Tufte's books, Envisioning Information shows maps, charts, scientific presentations, diagrams, computer interfaces, statistical graphics and tables, stereo photographs, guidebooks, courtroom exhibits, timetables, use of color, a pop-up, and many other wonderful displays of information. The book provides practical advice about how to explain complex material by visual means, with extraordinary examples to illustrate the fundamental principles of information displays. Topics include escaping flatland, color and information, micro/macro designs, layering and separation, small multiples, and narratives. Winner of 17 awards for design and content. 400 illustrations with exquisite 6- to 12-color printing throughout. Highest quality design and production.

Tufte, Edward. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information.
The classic book on statistical graphics, charts, tables. Theory and practice in the design of data graphics, 250 illustrations of the best (and a few of the worst) statistical graphics, with detailed analysis of how to display data for precise, effective, quick analysis. Design of the high-resolution displays, small multiples. Editing and improving graphics. The data-ink ratio. Time-series, relational graphics, data maps, multivariate designs. Detection of graphical deception: design variation vs. data variation. Sources of deception. Aesthetics and data graphical displays. This is the second edition of The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Recently published, this new edition provides excellent color reproductions of the many graphics of William Playfair, adds color to other images, and includes all the changes and corrections accumulated during 17 printings of the first edition.

Walters, Eric and Gale C. Walters. Scientists Must Speak: Bringing Presentations to Life.
Having the ability to speak confidently; engage the audience; make a clear, well-argued case; and handle any tricky situations, is rarely a natural talent, but it can be learned through application and practice. Scientists Must Speak: Bringing Presentations to Life helps readers do just that. At some point in their careers, the majority of scientists have to stand up in front of an inquisitive audience or board and present information. This can be a stressful experience for many. For scientists, the experience may be further complicated by the specialist nature of the data and the fact that most self-help books are aimed at business or social situations. Scientists Must Speak includes sections on: * targeting your talk - knowing your audience and how to pitch to them * organizing your presentation - aligning your points logically around a central key theme * using visual aids effectively - how to avoid a random slide show *'practice, practice, practice' - it's a rare orator that does not need to practice * taking control - preparing the room, using eye contact, and checking the audience is with you * voice and language - developing a good speaking style, and help for those for whom English is a second language * body language - the messages your posture, mannerisms and facial expressions convey to the audience * handling question and answer sessions - taking the fear out of these * expecting the unexpected - how to cope with unforeseen mishaps * adapting material for different situations - how to avoid reinventing the wheel * organizing a session with several speakers - how to organize or chair sessions Written by authors with many years' experience of teaching presentation techniques, this engaging text will help readers make the best of their presentations and remove some of the fear that makes them a daunting prospect.

Back to top