From the Editor: Jesse Pittsley

The PhD Job Search:  More Than Elbow Grease

Introduction
After ten years of post-secondary education, I am nearing the completion of my PhD in exercise physiology.  And despite several of my relatives and close friends stating this is a notable accomplishment, my emotions at this time are amazingly bland.  To this date, I have not planned any commemorative parties, exotic vacations, triumphant mass e-mails, or wild nights on the town.  In fact, as my dissertation defense nears, I find myself feelingly increasingly under-prepared and rather incompetent.  Hopefully this is a bit of a phase and the former will pass and the latter will convert to a warm ebbing desire to learn.  If not, maybe I’ll meet a new PhD in psychology at a nearby bar stool who will teach me to cope with my new status of “over-qualified and under-experienced.”
 
The PhD Experience
Over my young career, I’ve achieved many of the typical accomplishments of those in similar situations.  I’ve accumulated few data sets worthy of publication, a substantial amount of debt, and an impressive string of years with an annual income below 8,000 dollars.  In fact, from the perspective of the PUBMED search engine and the Internal Revenue Service, I’m not even on the map.  But, it’s not all negative.  I’ve learned to buy the cheapest foods, complete most errands without driving, and perform tasks on Microsoft Excel I never thought possible. 

As one may see from the tone of the first two paragraphs, I’m not overwhelmed with sensations of exultance and victory as I near the end of this phase of academia. Consequently, in the past few months I searched for the origin of my somber state.  Maybe I had too much bad luck during my dissertation?  Or, how about just being malnourished?  Maybe the general PhD process just wore me down!  For a while I wasn’t sure of the culprit.  Then, one Friday morning, I sat down to read my e-mail and the answer came over me like early symptoms of the flu. 

The Chronicle Moment
Each week, the Chronicle of Higher Education e-mails to subscribers interested in positions posted in the field of Kinesiology.  Many of the positions are in Physical Education with a pedagogical emphasis, while a few others are positions in developed research environments.  The former usually requires elementary and/or high school teaching experience while the latter implies curriculum vitas so large they are bound at Kinko’s prior to applying.  One area involves a lot of teaching with rare laboratory opportunities, while the other implies the need to have the NIH on speed dial. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t fit into either of these categories. I enjoy teaching and research, but I didn’t want to give my life to either for an extended period of time. Therefore, each week, I was being sent a list of jobs that I didn’t even want. Soon I began to see that it was not the rigors of the PhD process or the doldrums of the penny-pinching lifestyle that was bringing me down.  In fact, this solemn state had nothing to do with past or present, it was actually the future. 

I once thought the most significant challenge in searching for jobs in exercise physiology was having a resume strong enough to be considered for the positions.  I was unaware that the first challenge was finding positions I actually wanted to apply for, "Hello - wake up Jesse!"  I originally thought it was about the struggle, the fight, and dealing with the anxiety of not knowing if a department would find me worth hiring. Then, after all the mental anguish and sending off enough cover letters to go through a couple ink cartridges, the clouds would clear and I would be employed. Within a couple months I’d be teaching three classes a semester and brainstorming research ideas with my new colleagues. 

Academic Exercise Physiology!
Something was wrong and my vision began to look increasingly utopian.  Why was I examining a majority of the posted positions and not finding jobs that I wanted? Was my perception of the academic sector of Exercise Physiology incorrect? Had I evolved into an academic that was dreaming of a world that was either non-existent or too rare to be considered?  The answers to these questions explain a lot about exercise physiology. 

Doctorate prepared individuals in fields like nursing, physical therapy, and education teach in academic positions that develop students into their respective professions.  For example, nurses acquire academic positions in departments that develop nurses.  Doctorate prepared educators develop teachers.  As a result, much of what the individual learns in his or her doctorate is used to mentor future members of the profession. 

Unfortunately, there is a saddening disparity between these examples and exercise physiology.  It is rare for a doctorate prepared exercise physiologist to teach in a department that specifically produces exercise physiologists.  Often, these individuals are hired to teach the content courses of exercise physiology to other majors.  For example, one may teach courses like Anatomy and Physiology, or Physiology of Sport to physical education or physical therapy students. Thus, these individuals are not living as exercise physiologists, but are college professors teaching exercise physiology courses. 

My perception of the academic sector of exercise physiology was incorrect. Or, more appropriately, had I allowed myself to exist in state of denial.  Most programs in this field are not designed to create a complete and refined product like programs of other professions. The current approach is to throw some classes together and hope the students eventually take tests and become some sort of “fitness professional.” 

There are varying levels of quality in the programs attempting this approach.  Some are poor, with the departments offering few classes directly relating to exercise physiology.  Others are admittedly well assembled, but they lack finishing touches.   Regardless of quality, most programs miss the point.  They are a combination of several fields feeding into the format of an academic discipline, while programs of other professions create complete products. 

The PhD Reality
Unfortunately, teaching just the content of exercise physiology without working with colleagues to develop the profession does not fill my needs of being in higher academia.  And, aside from those who primarily concentrate on research, or those are just looking for weekends and summers off, who would find more satisfaction with that approach?  Yes, I enjoy teaching the topics of physiology, but there is something much more complete about developing professionals.  Furthermore, I sincerely believe in exercise and its potential to improve ones quality of life and our overall society.  Therefore, I enjoy being an exercise physiologist. It would then be logical to conclude that I would find it very fulfilling to engage in developing exercise physiologists. 
 
Imagine a department where the professors teach between two and three classes a semester, manage and correspond with students in internships, and also mentor others through research projects.  Also, imagine this program offering a curriculum that requires two semesters of exercise physiology, ECG analysis, functional anatomy, biomechanics, cardiac rehabilitation, and research methods. Furthermore, this curriculum would lead to a single title and certification. I would find this type of department to be far more rewarding to teach in.  The instructors would share a common cause and a sense of teamwork.  Unlike most programs, the students would also have a better understanding of the department’s goals.  It would be the model educational experience and not a hodgepodge of courses assembled to keep its faculty employed. 

Final Thoughts
Exercise physiology programs of high quality do exist in the United States.  Several of those programs have completed the accreditation process offered by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists [1].  Unfortunately, these programs are few in number at the present time.  During my examination of the job openings of the past several months, I have found few that currently share the same vision of exercise physiology as I have.  I see this field as a unified profession, and I would like work in a department that focuses on developing a complete and viable product in each graduate. Furthermore, I would like that product to be exercise physiologists. 

Many of the other programs seem decades behind in this philosophy.  They offer degrees in exercise science (and a myriad of other names) but the curriculums do not match the standards of a comprehensive college degree [2].  As a result, I find myself searching through positions that will require a substantial about of negotiating, administrative maneuvering, and time to match with the vision that I share with the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP).  I’m sure (perhaps, more correctly stated, hopeful) that many programs are currently in transition to match up to the ASEP criteria for accreditation. 

What I do know is that as the baby boomers retire, new exercise physiologists will push the field into a new stage of its evolution. This will involve viewing exercise physiology as healthcare profession.   If I’m fortunate to become employed, maybe it is best that I enter a situation where I’m the one who will help a program evolve.  If not, or until then, I’ll keep the bar stool open (and bring the coupons, please).