{"691124":{"#nid":"691124","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Beyond the Postdoc: Ida\u2019s Journey from Georgia Tech Postdoc to UCLA Faculty  ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen we first sat down with Ida, we asked her to highlight her reasons for staying in academia. \u201cWhat motivated me to pursue a faculty position is the freedom to pursue scientific questions and address clinical problems that I\u2019m excited about,\u201d reflects Ida. \u201cI don\u2019t think that same level of freedom is always available in industry.\u201d Second, Ida genuinely enjoys mentoring students. \u0026nbsp;\u201cI love seeing students grow from not even knowing how to hold a pipette to eventually being able to run entire experiments and complete experiments independently. That process feels very fulfilling to me.\u201d \u0026nbsp;Ida also wanted to stay in academia for the opportunities to attend conferences, exchange ideas with colleagues, and contribute to scientific discovery. Ultimately, her goal is to advance research that improves treatments for diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENavigating the Faculty Application Process\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe were then curious about how Ida prepared for the academic job search, which she described as a multi-stage journey requiring significant preparation and persistence.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe process typically begins with assembling an application package that includes a research statement and a teaching statement. Of these materials, Ida considers the research statement to be the most critical component because it communicates a candidate\u2019s long-term research vision and future program of study.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the application review process, selected candidates are invited to participate in screening interviews, often conducted via Zoom, before advancing to on-site interviews. These campus visits generally include giving a research seminar, meeting with faculty members, and engaging with students and institutional leadership.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the process can be demanding, Ida emphasizes that persistence is essential.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring her fifth year as a postdoctoral scholar at Georgia Tech, she applied to five faculty positions primarily to gain experience and better understand the application process. Despite not receiving any interviews during that cycle, the experience helped her refine her research vision and strengthen her application materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe following year, she applied to 26 institutions. With a stronger research statement, additional data, and a more clearly defined research program, Ida secured nine virtual interviews, advanced to five on-site interviews, and ultimately received offers from each institution she visited.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking back, she believes the growth and refinement of her research statement played a significant role in her success.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EIda also credits her friends and colleagues, including Professor Leslie Chan in Georgia Tech\u2019s Department of Biomedical Engineering, who provided valuable feedback on her application materials and helped her prepare for interviews. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimilarities and Differences Between a Postdoc and Faculty Position\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter arriving at UCLA, Ida had to quickly adapt and noticed both similarities and differences to her role as a postdoctoral scholar.\u0026nbsp; Ida mentions that research remains at the center.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn terms of similarities, I would say that research is still the biggest one,\u201d recalls Ida.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EForming research ideas, interrogating the process, designing and conducting experiments, and training students are all responsibilities that carried over from her postdoctoral experience at Tech.\u0026nbsp; One major difference has been teaching. \u201cAs a postdoc,\u201d says Ida, \u201cI didn\u2019t need to focus much on teaching, but now teaching is a major part of my role \u2013 even at UCLA, a research-intensive university.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIda notes that teaching takes about 40-50 percent of her time as an assistant professor; preparing course materials takes significant time and effort that she did not have to allocate before.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Day in the Life\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a faculty member, Ida juggles more than just researching and teaching.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEvery day actually looks different because the responsibilities of an assistant professor include a wide range of tasks,\u201d reflects Ida.\u0026nbsp; At any given time, you might find her setting up the physical lab space, conducting experiments with students, attending collaborative meetings, teaching in the classroom, meeting with potential postdocs and graduate students, and completing other administrative tasks like grant\u2013writing. The variety of work keeps each day interesting and reflects the many hats faculty members wear as researchers, mentors, educators, and administrators.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow Her Postdoctoral Experience Prepared Her for Faculty Life\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIda credits much of her success to the opportunities she received during her postdoctoral training at Georgia Tech. She worked closely with her postdoctoral advisor on grant writing, proposal development, mentoring students, and generating new research ideas\u2014experiences that closely mirrored many of the responsibilities she now manages as a faculty member.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy postdoc advisor gave me opportunities to experience almost all aspects of being a faculty member,\u201d she says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe also gained valuable insight into how a research lab grows and evolves. Because her advisor was still relatively early in his faculty career when she joined the lab, Ida was able to observe firsthand how to build research infrastructure, manage budgets, recruit students, and plan for future growth. Those lessons have proven invaluable as she establishes her own laboratory at UCLA.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrioritizing Well-Being During a Major Transition\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile beginning a faculty position has been exciting, Ida acknowledges that the transition has also been challenging. Relocating to a new city, building a support network, learning institutional systems, and balancing numerous responsibilities created a steep learning curve during her first several months.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo support her well-being, Ida prioritizes regular exercise by taking Orangetheory fitness classes, seeks advice from trusted colleagues and mentors, and remains actively involved in her faith community. \u201cEven though there is always more to do, things feel much more manageable now than they did during those first few months,\u201d she reflects.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvice for Current Postdoctoral Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor postdocs considering their next career move, Ida encourages thoughtful reflection and intentional exploration. She recommends speaking with professionals working in both academia and industry to gain a realistic understanding of what daily life looks like in each career path.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThink about whether that is the life you want for decades,\u201d she advises.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough academia offers intellectual freedom, it also comes with its own unique challenges and demands. Understanding the realities of each path can help postdoctoral scholars make informed decisions and find careers that align with their values, interests, and long-term goals. As Ida continues building her research program and mentoring the next generation of scientists, she remains energized by the opportunities ahead and confident that pursuing a faculty career was the right decision.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn November 2025, former Georgia Tech postdoctoral scholar Ida Su transitioned to a tenure-track faculty role as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Ida recently spoke with the Office of Postdoctoral Services to share how she is embracing the opportunities and challenges that come with building a research program, mentoring students, teaching courses, and shaping the next chapter of her academic career. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Former Georgia Tech Postdoc Ida Su details her journey to becoming an assistant professor at UCLA and provides advice for current postdocs seeking faculty positions."}],"uid":"36363","created_gmt":"2026-07-15 15:35:40","changed_gmt":"2026-07-16 15:28:14","author":"Brittani Hill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680609":{"id":"680609","type":"image","title":"Beyond the Postdoc Ida Su","body":null,"created":"1784131176","gmt_created":"2026-07-15 15:59:36","changed":"1784139485","gmt_changed":"2026-07-15 18:18:05","alt":"Ida Su","file":{"fid":"264893","name":"Ida-Su-Assistant-Professor--Department-of-Chemical-and-Biomolecular-Engineering--UCLA--1-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/Ida-Su-Assistant-Professor--Department-of-Chemical-and-Biomolecular-Engineering--UCLA--1-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/Ida-Su-Assistant-Professor--Department-of-Chemical-and-Biomolecular-Engineering--UCLA--1-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2665279,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/Ida-Su-Assistant-Professor--Department-of-Chemical-and-Biomolecular-Engineering--UCLA--1-.png?itok=DxIpM2WP"}}},"media_ids":["680609"],"groups":[{"id":"249231","name":"Postdoctoral Services"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194954","name":"postdoc spotlight"},{"id":"190936","name":"Graduate and Postdoctoral Education"},{"id":"74421","name":"Office of Postdoctoral Services"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrittani Hill | Associate Director, Marketing \u0026amp; Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffice of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brittani.hill@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}