- First NKI Postdoc retreat
Dear participants,
After reading the article "postdocs need more respect" in the September 3rd issue of Science, one might become pessimistic about the future and consider oneself a victim of poor career development by the research hierarchy. However, at this moment extraordinary leaps in life science and biotechnology are taking shape and we have the unique opportunity to be part of it. In addition to your current contributions to medical research, your future scientific and career development should remain an important consideration. This first Netherlands Cancer Institute "Postdoc Retreat" in this beautiful neo-Gothic building provides an opportunity to put your daily business aside and to consider your future.
The intention of this retreat is to increase awareness of the factors that contribute to being a successful scientist and to influence our workplace in a constructive way. This retreat is not meant to give you easy answers, tips, or instructions. Rather it offers insights that can make a difference, that allow for better choices, for greater confidence. Rarely do we as scientists examine how we make our choices, determine our actions and set goals. If you are willing to become millennium proof, this retreat provides access to excitement in science through direct interaction and communication. Get to know each other’Äôs science through the poster sessions. Obtain insights into the progress of scientific work from the speakers. Become informed of the possibilities of career moves within or outside our institute and of the possibilities of external funding or how to start your own company. Express yourself at the forum discussions, enjoy the live music and do not forget the late night bar.
On behalf of the postdoc committee (Frank van Leeuwen, Jos Jonkers, Leo Price, Quido Valent and Willem Voncken) I invite you to actively participate at this retreat and reflect on how to build your career. Move into a future outlined by what is possible, not just by what has been. Obtain a new sense of enthusiasm that minimizes the struggle of daily postdoc life. Achieve clarity about your priorities and about your ability to take action that shapes the course of your career.
We anticipate that this retreat will give us all a renewed spirit and eagerness, a real appreciation of and respect for you and others. We encourage you to use this retreat to help you take responsibility for your own future! There are many opportunities out there!
Peter Peters
December 1999
- Speakers
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Michael Brenner (Harvard Medical School, Boston) | Lymphocyte homing to the epithelial mucosa mediated by integrins and cadherins.
Isabelle Mansuy (Institute of Cell Biology, ETHZ, Zˆºrich) | A genetic approach to the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, learning and memory.
Niek Roosdorp (Biorogen BV) | Academic Research as the Basis for Value Development and Research Program Expansion.
New findings are in essence the ultimate source of new developments, products, and business renewal. Academic settings are the most productive sources of new findings. In order to develop these into programs that find broad application, both in research, development and in our society, it is often necessary to obtain additional funding. This funding is generally available if one can make it likely that the finding will lead to significant [commercial] benefits.
Renˆ© Bernards (NKI, Amsterdam) | Biotech companies at NKI: Why and how
Many academic institutions interact in a mutually beneficial way with biotech companies. Examples will be given how findings in basic research can lead to drug discovery programs at biotech companies and I will discuss how these interactions can be stimulated. Special emphasis will be given to the potential benefits of these interactions for NKI post docs.
T. Logtenberg (U-BiSys BV) | Science and Commerce: a merging of interests?
Science and commerce have since long had a prickly relationship with seemingly opposing interests. Science often views itself as objective, value-free and collaborative, pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself, whereas companies attempt to create value by commercialising patented knowledge. Using U-Bisys a an example, the thesis will be defended that the increasing interaction between science and commerce will not lead to the creeping commercialisation of academic science as an activity but only to better approaches
to commercialising its findings.
Piet Borst (NKI, Amsterdam) | Sensitive issues
I am convinced that the future for biomedical research and biotechnology in general is bright. The job bottleneck is temporary. I also think that postdocs educated in the NKI/AvL on average have better job prospects than senior academics in many other branches of biomedical science (neurobiology, for instance) or academic professions in general (law, psychology, art history). The sensitive issue is that the NKI/AvL postdoc system educates for academia and that most postdocs do not want to continue in basic research, or are not optimally qualified for basic research. I shall try to focus on this issue.
Angeliek van Hout (LPP) | There is no career perspective for researchers
The Landelijk postdoc platform (LPP, National Postdoc Platform) was founded by a group of postdoc's on February 1999. Our main goal is to improve the career perspectives for young, recently-graduated researchers. Bad career prospects result in many highly talented people not considering a career in science, to go abroad or to finally leave academia after two or three postdoc appointments. A permanent job is presently the only prospect for a career in science. However, the number of available positions are too few considering the large number of qualified candidates produced by the system. Landing a job is just a matter of luck, not of experience and qualities. In contrast to what administrators think, this system does not select the best candidates. Instead, the best often (have to) leave academia. It's not 'up or out', but 'in or out'.
Anton Berns (NKI, Amsterdam) | How to create a stimulating environment for experienced postdocs?
An intellectual stimulating environment is of key importance for promoting first rate research. Talented senior postdocs are the motor for creating such environment. In the current system at the NKI the position of these postdocs is not very different from that of fresh postdocs. We think we might overcome this lack of appreciation by creating a new temporary position of e.g. "junior investigator" with more independence within the research line of the principal investigator. This position can fill the gap between the regular postdoc and AvL fellow and provides the postdoc, that qualifies for this position, the opportunity to develop his/her own research line.
Menno Horning (Ministry of Economical Affairs) | Entrepreneurship in life sciences
Life Sciences is already and will be in the future a dynamic area for fundamental scientific and applied research. Society in general will certainly benefit from these developments in terms of substantial innovations in healthcare, nutrition and 'green' industrial processing. Of course these developments will be by industry, including the private service companies. Like in the ICT business, most of the Life Sciences innovations will be initiated by young start up companies. This is a challenging opportunity for scientists with an entrepreneurial spirit. The minister of Economic Affairs sees Life Sciences in The Netherlands, with its strong science base in Life Sciences as a area with high potential for the creation of high-tech start up companies.
Genus Iepema (EEC funding) | EEC-funding: opportunities in the Fifth Framework Programme
For those aiming at career advancements in international academia, the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5, 1999-2002) offers large funding-possibilities. Possibilities like large research-proposals, networking activities or fellowships for Postdoc's.
Edvard Beem (deputy director NWO; Council for Medical Research) | The (modest?) role of the National Research Council NWO in the career planning of postdocs
Statement: Organisations involved in research should clarify their role in the career planning of researchers interested in a scientific career. This is also valid for the National Research Council NWO.
Frederique Cohen | How to write grant proposals
