In this Careers in Neuroscience profile, hear from Curtis Neveu, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at McGovern Medical School, a part of UTHealth Houston. A dedicated teacher and researcher, Neveu shares how what tangible and intangible skills helped him in his professional journey and offers advice to those looking into a similar career path.
What initially drew you to neuroscience?
When I discovered my passion for research, studying the brain and nervous system immediately came to mind because it is the last frontier of biomedical research. At the time, I viewed neuroscience as a field of vastly uncharted territory. The more I studied neuroscience, the more I realized how much we already know and how much I underestimated the extent to which there is still left to discover.
What resources, experiences, or conversations helped you clarify your direction?
I can’t think of any specific conversations that specifically motivated me towards neuroscience. I think I was driven, in part, by primary and secondary school educators expressing the idea that the brain is still contains vast mysteries.
Describe your current role. What are the most common skills you use on a weekly basis? Is your role "typical" to the industry?
My current position is a research non-tenure track assistant professor. Currently, my most common skills are writing, speaking, and mentoring. I spend most of my time leveraging my research experience to mentor graduate and postdoctoral fellows to help them obtain their research goals. I also spend a great deal of time editing and writing manuscripts. I balance these tasks with time spent conducting experiments. I also spend some time on speaking engagements, neuroscience outreach events, and participation in nonprofit organizations. So, time management is a vital skill I use and continue to work on improving.
What educational background and training are required for your role? What other types of experiences are helpful to have?
My position requires a PhD and postdoctoral training. Technical experience in conducting experiments is also essential.
What factors should someone consider when deciding between a research-intensive vs. teaching-focused academic career?
One should think about whether they enjoy teaching and all of the administrative tasks associated with that career path or whether they enjoy research and writing research articles. They should also get unbiased feedback on whether they are talented in teaching and/or research. Also, they should consider that teaching currently is undergoing a dramatic change with AI technology. Is AI something that they welcome and enjoy, or is it something that will make that career path prohibitively stressful for them?
How did you approach mentors for career advice? What strategies helped you build a professional network?
I selected mentors based on their research experience and their level of achievements. Building a professional network is an art form that requires trial and error and determination. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb and advocate for yourself, and don't be afraid to put yourself in potentially awkward positions by inserting yourself into conversations.
What strategies have helped you in job searching? Where did you look for roles? What platforms, organizations, or communities were most helpful?
I used Google and cold-call emails as well as attending conferences and approaching speakers after their presentations.
If you were a hiring manager, what experiences or skills would stand out to you on a resume for a role in your field?
I look for experience in the field, and typical performance indexes, such as the number of publications. During the interview, I look for the ability to describe their current projects with an impressive depth of understanding and enthusiasm.
What advice would you give to students or early-career professionals interested in this path? Are there opportunities for people to find jobs in your industry with a variety of degrees (bachelor's, master's, PhD)?
Determine the level of control you want to have over your project. For example, would you be happy doing the experiments without having to decide what kind of experiments you should do? If so, being a research technician with a bachelor's of science would bring you the greatest job satisfaction. Do you want to decide the experiments but not the project? Then, a research scientist with a PhD would be the best choice. Do you want to decide on the projects and apply for funding? Then the professor is the best choice.
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