Christine Hustmyer

PhD, Biochemistry

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Butler University

she/her

Christine Hustmyer, PhD – Speaker Bio

Current position: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Butler University

Previous positions: Lecturer 1, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Biocore Program; Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Beloit College

Current position description: After discovering the joy of mentoring and teaching students in the research lab and the classroom as a PhD student at University of Wisconsin–Madison, I decided that pursuing an academic career at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) would be the best fit for me because it would afford me the chance to help others through mentoring but also still give me the freedom to pursue independent research questions. In my first year in a tenure-track position at a PUI, my job responsibilities primarily include teaching undergraduate students, but I also run an independent research lab (comprised only of undergraduates!), write grants for external funding, and volunteer for service opportunities within my institution. The best part of my job is getting to work 1-on-1 with students in small classrooms and observing their joy in the research lab. Every technique and result is new for these students, and it is a pleasure to watch them get excited about different techniques and results and watch their confidence grow as they pursue independent research questions without the extreme pressure of research one might typically find in graduate school. One challenging part of my job is juggling a high teaching load (i.e. lots of contact hours with students) with research productivity and the ever so coveted pursuit of “work-life balance”.

Advice for trainees: Find a hobby outside of your academic work that can bring you joy when times are tough.

Explore every possible career – you never know what might make you happy! LSCD can be an excellent opportunity for this.

If you think you might want to teach, go seek opportunities to actually teach independently in graduate school (not just GA/TA). Find times when you can be the sole contact in the classroom, such as guest lecturing or even becoming the instructor of record for a course. Teaching can be very challenging so finding opportunities to practice can help you know if this is the right career for you. Participate in some of the great teaching programs UW–Madison has to offer, such as the DELTA certificate or WISCIENCE fellowship.

There are many, many, many, flavors of Primarily Undergraduate Institutions, including teaching-only, 60/20/20 teaching/research/service (where I am), and even more intensive research institutes where one must receive external funding for tenure. Reflect on what brings you joy NOW in grad school/as a postdoc to help you decide what type of PUI might be the best fit for you.