Contract
- Input: career stage, target positions (postdoc / faculty / institute).
- Output: application package + timeline + negotiation notes.
- Side effects: none.
- Dependencies: none.
- Stop condition: package drafted; timeline saved.
- Risk: low.
- Boundary: prepares application materials; the human submits.
Physics Career — Postdocs, Faculty, Grants
Build a career application package for a physics researcher — postdoc, faculty, or early-career grant — with a research statement, teaching philosophy, and timeline.
When to use
- The user is applying to postdoc positions, faculty jobs, or early-career grants.
- A PI needs to write a NSF CAREER / DOE / ERC proposal.
- A researcher needs to coordinate letters of recommendation.
Process
1. Assess the position
For each target:
- Fit: what in the user's research matches the group's interests?
- Requirements: research statement length, teaching statement, diversity statement.
- Deadline: internal + external; submission system (MathJobs, Interfolio, portal).
- Market data: typical number of applicants, success rate (anonymised from mentors).
Completion criterion: targets ranked; fit statement per target.
2. Research statement
Structure (typically 2–4 pages):
- Problem: one central physics question (or two related ones).
- Progress: what the user has done; publications, preprints.
- Future: what the user will do in the next 3–5 years at this institution.
- Connection: how it fits the target group / department.
Be specific: name the physics, not just "study complex systems".
Completion criterion: statement drafted; per-target adaptation noted.
3. Teaching and diversity statements
- Teaching statement: philosophy (active learning, research-based, equity-minded); evidence (courses taught, mentoring, syllabus design).
- Diversity statement: experience with DEI; commitment; specific actions.
Both require concrete examples, not generic platitudes.
Completion criterion: both statements drafted with specific examples.
4. Letters of recommendation
Coordinate:
- Who: mentors who know the user's research; at least one from a different institution.
- What to give letter-writers: research summary, publications, specific strengths to highlight.
- Deadline: at least 3 weeks before submission.
Completion criterion: letter-writers contacted; materials sent.
5. Grant applications
For NSF CAREER, DOE, ERC, Simons:
- Read the programme manager's priorities (not just the solicitation).
- Budget: postdoc salary, travel, equipment; justified.
- Broader impacts / outreach — concrete, not boilerplate.
- Timeline — milestones per year.
Completion criterion: draft complete; programme manager contacted if possible.
6. Negotiation strategy
If an offer comes:
- Research startup, equipment, space.
- Teaching load (how many courses per year).
- Start date.
- Moving allowance.
Know the range before negotiating.
Completion criterion: negotiation notes saved; priorities ranked.
1---2name: physics-career-postdoc3description: Navigate physics career transitions — postdoc applications, faculty applications, letters of recommendation, research statements, teaching statements, grant applications (NSF CAREER, DOE, ERC, Simons), and negotiation.4---56## Contract78- **Input:** career stage, target positions (postdoc / faculty / institute).9- **Output:** application package + timeline + negotiation notes.10- **Side effects:** none.11- **Dependencies:** none.12- **Stop condition:** package drafted; timeline saved.13- **Risk:** low.14- **Boundary:** prepares application materials; the human submits.1516# Physics Career — Postdocs, Faculty, Grants1718Build a **career application package** for a physics researcher — postdoc, faculty, or early-career grant — with a research statement, teaching philosophy, and timeline.1920## When to use2122- The user is applying to postdoc positions, faculty jobs, or early-career grants.23- A PI needs to write a NSF CAREER / DOE / ERC proposal.24- A researcher needs to coordinate letters of recommendation.2526## Process2728### 1. Assess the position2930For each target:3132- **Fit:** what in the user's research matches the group's interests?33- **Requirements:** research statement length, teaching statement, diversity statement.34- **Deadline:** internal + external; submission system (MathJobs, Interfolio, portal).35- **Market data:** typical number of applicants, success rate (anonymised from mentors).3637**Completion criterion:** targets ranked; fit statement per target.3839### 2. Research statement4041Structure (typically 2–4 pages):4243- **Problem:** one central physics question (or two related ones).44- **Progress:** what the user has done; publications, preprints.45- **Future:** what the user will do in the next 3–5 years at this institution.46- **Connection:** how it fits the target group / department.4748Be specific: name the physics, not just "study complex systems".4950**Completion criterion:** statement drafted; per-target adaptation noted.5152### 3. Teaching and diversity statements5354- **Teaching statement:** philosophy (active learning, research-based, equity-minded); evidence (courses taught, mentoring, syllabus design).55- **Diversity statement:** experience with DEI; commitment; specific actions.5657Both require concrete examples, not generic platitudes.5859**Completion criterion:** both statements drafted with specific examples.6061### 4. Letters of recommendation6263Coordinate:6465- **Who:** mentors who know the user's research; at least one from a different institution.66- **What to give letter-writers:** research summary, publications, specific strengths to highlight.67- **Deadline:** at least 3 weeks before submission.6869**Completion criterion:** letter-writers contacted; materials sent.7071### 5. Grant applications7273For NSF CAREER, DOE, ERC, Simons:7475- **Read the programme manager's priorities** (not just the solicitation).76- **Budget:** postdoc salary, travel, equipment; justified.77- **Broader impacts / outreach** — concrete, not boilerplate.78- **Timeline** — milestones per year.7980**Completion criterion:** draft complete; programme manager contacted if possible.8182### 6. Negotiation strategy8384If an offer comes:8586- Research startup, equipment, space.87- Teaching load (how many courses per year).88- Start date.89- Moving allowance.9091Know the range before negotiating.9293**Completion criterion:** negotiation notes saved; priorities ranked.
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