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ARG©2001
Winning That Academic Job
Winning That Academic Job
Andrew AlleyneRalph and Catherine Fisher Professor of
EngineeringUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
alleyne@uiuc.edu
Special Session IV: Wednesday, June 30, 6:00pm-7:30pm Special Session IV: Wednesday, June 30, 6:00pm-7:30pm
OutlineOutline
What is the life as an assistant professor?Some ‘big picture’ perspectives.
The interviewA few key points
Life as an Assistant ProfessorLife as an Assistant Professor
You’ll be asked to take on many different roles.Most of which you haven’t done before.
Prioritizing your time will be extremely important.Choosing and mentoring graduate students
was my highest priority.Coursework and teaching was secondThen committee work
• Internal and then external.
Life as an Assistant ProfessorLife as an Assistant Professor
What does my institution want from me?
Institutional “currency” is a qualitative thing called prestige.Separates Princeton from Pepperdine.
Prestige is primarily generated by external research visibility.Case in point: was Albert Einstein a good
teacher? A diligent committee member? A good mentor?
Life as an Assistant ProfessorLife as an Assistant Professor
Your institution wishes you to generate prestige that will reflect well on them.This usually leads to a common path.…but not always.
Proposals Funding Research Papers Conference and Journal dissemination Recognition Prestige.
$$ are a means to an end, not an end.
Life as an Assistant ProfessorLife as an Assistant Professor
You’re running a marathon, not a series of sprints.
Marion Jones Joe LeMay
Life as an Assistant ProfessorLife as an Assistant Professor
Pick a pace that you can sustain for a long time.Try to keep your life in balance while doing so.
Tenure becomes a “6 mile-marker” that you pass along the way.
You’re in this for the 25-30+ mile journey and beyond.
Want to avoid a post-tenure ‘crash.’
The InterviewThe Interview
One of the most thoughtful and pragmatic documents written on this can be found at: http://quattro.me.uiuc.edu/~jon/ACAJOB/index.htmlAuthored by Jon Dantzig at UIUC.
It can also be found with a web search “Landing an Academic Job.”
A must read for those interviewing!Note: last updated late 1990’s so a bit
outdated on some things but still very valuable.
The Schedule/ItineraryThe Schedule/Itinerary
Your schedule will be very full. 30 minute slots back to back to back.
Prepare by knowing the individuals’ technical backgrounds “Soooo, tell me what you do” is not very productive
use of time.
Identify those whose technical areas don’t overlap. Ask them programmatic or institutional questions Can also use them for bathroom breaks, etc.
Remember…you’re always being evaluated. Even after hours.
Interactions with FacultyInteractions with Faculty
Have prepared questions that you ask to several different people. Particularly those out of your technical area. Direction of unit; recent hires; historical challenges;
tenure rates; satisfaction level of faculty.
Look for consistency in responses. Particularly for administrators (dean & dept heads) Inconsistency should raise a flag
You’re selling yourself but you’re also shopping for an institution too!
Interactions with FacultyInteractions with Faculty
Technical peersDemonstrate technical depth and skills.
Faculty outside your technical area. Demonstrate ‘go getter’ personality and
collegiality.Vision or plan for what your research and
teaching will entail.
AdministrativeDemonstrate how your area fits in to the
national research picture.What impact will your area have
SeminarSeminar
Most important single thing you’ll do. Try to make sure everyone in attendance comes away
with something.
Key issues you must get across: What problem have I worked on? Why would anyone work on this problem? What is significant about what I have
done? How has my work made progress on the
problem?
SeminarSeminar
SUGGESTED STRUCTURE FOR THE INTERVIEW SEMINAR
Content Time (min)
Target Audience
Detail Level / Purpose
Background 15 Everyone present Your parents would understand it
Your approach
10 People in related fields
Show you know the field
Your results 10 People who work in your field
Show that you are the world expert on something
Summary 10 Everyone in the room
Relate your results to the big picture
Show good time management skills; more may actually be less here.
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