University of Montana Career Roundtable Daniel Jacob Harvard

University of Montana Career Roundtable Daniel Jacob Harvard Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group

1. Can you provide a brief description of your career path? How did you get into your current position? • Prep for Grandes Ecoles, France (1975 -1977) - Found that I was bad in math, good in chemistry and French • BS, Chemical Engineering, Ecole Superieure de Physique et Chimie (1980) - Found that I didn’t like classes but loved research • Ph. D, Environmental Engineering, Caltech (1985) – atmospheric chemistry - Found that I was bad in the lab and field but good at modeling and communicating • Postdoc, Harvard (1985 -1987) - Found strong interest in fundamentals, that academic career would be good • Professor, Harvard (1987 -) - Tried to leave several times but the freedom is too good to give up I was lucky to have a privileged upbringing and excellent Ph. D/postdoc advisors

2. What advice would you give graduate students for preparing for an academic career? • Publish. If you don’t enjoy publishing then an academic career is not for you. • Don’t compromise your knowledge of fundamentals. You need to thoroughly understand your field. • Present your work, engage with others, ask questions. Be visible. • Have great Ph. D and postdoc advisers. They can inspire you with research problems, coach you, help you with career expectations, and be in your corner. • Keep your focus on research. Teaching and service can be valuable and satisfying but don’t let them distract you too much.

3. In what ways do you find purpose and value in the work you are doing? • This is so important – what you do should have purpose for you and be valued by your peers. • We all have our own sense of purpose - I feel purposeful when advancing knowledge, training students to do the same, sharing that knowledge, and serving the atmospheric chemistry community. • I say NO (and always have) to work that doesn’t fit my sense of purpose. That has included over the years: - Routine projects - Serving on committees I don’t really care about - Teaching classes outside my field of interest - Taking administrative positions.

4. If you were just starting your career during these times, would you still try to pursue academia? YES. Covid has really hit the job market, Longer postdocs may become the norm. But a career in academia is still awfully good: • The freedom that you enjoy as a professor is unbelievable, and the money is good enough • Getting a job and tenure require hard work – but if it’s what you enjoy doing it doesn’t feel like work • Funding opportunities are pretty good – better than when I started. National politics don’t make much difference • Working with smart young people is very stimulating, and seeing them mature and succeed (not necessarily in academia!) is a source of considerable satisfaction.

5. What expectations should a graduate student (or a postdoc) have for this early stage in their career? Any advice for success in graduate school and beyond? • You must find enjoyment, purpose, and satisfaction in your work (it does not get better later in your career) • You must have a supporting and inspiring adviser. If not, change adviser. • Find out what you’re good at and have it guide your career choices. - Hate writing papers, proposals, giving talks? Steer away from academic research - Enjoy teaching more than research? Consider undergraduate institutions - Enjoy research as part of a team? Consider government labs - Research too narrow? Work for government, industry, consulting, NGO - Don’t want work to play major role in your life? Get a non-research career

6. What aspect of your job were you not expecting and how would you advise graduate students to prepare for that? • I thought it would be harder. If you enjoyed what you’re doing as a student/postdoc you can just continue with the same mindset. • The independence. As a junior faculty member you are already on your own. Very important to be steeped in fundamentals and to learn to interact with colleagues, creating opportunities for collaborations.

Find more professional advice presentations on my education website: (search for “Daniel Jacob education”) • How to write a scientific paper. . . and how to deal with the review process • Preparing for a research career • Managing your time and expectations • Beyond the Ph. D. • Building your career in atmospheric chemistry: be all you can be • The scientific literature and you • Balancing work and play • How to write a successful proposal • Advising and mentoring • Life after the Ph. D. • How to give an effective presentation