Part of the negotiation process along the lines of getting an offer besides salary is asking for a start up package. And what that basically means is you get your computer equipment and any other research equipment that you need, but along those lines a lot of people ask for subject reimbursement money or start up money for running and setting up the research lab the way they need and able to be functioning. And a lot of times they were going to be doing research with human subjects, with people out in the community. You need subject reimbursement money. So it's about getting and asking for that money from the beginning and that start up package that is going to help you succeed.

Then from that, you collect your pilot data, then you can apply for more of the federal grants like the seed money from the National Institute of Health, NIH or the Centers for Disease Control. But definitely when you interview you negotiate that start up package, that it should include stuff for your lab, from subject reimbursement to computers to apparatus or whatever measurement that will help you start your research as soon as possible.

I think you're interviewing the program as much as they're interviewing you. And part of it is business. It's about negotiating, what do they need and what do you need. And if they're really interested in bringing you on, and it's a big investment, well their goal should be to help you succeed as much as possible and that involves and you're going to need certain things. Sure. But I think some faculty or because they're finishing their graduate career might not be as assertive or shy away from asking, but you need to set yourself up in the position to succeed as much as possible.