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TOMORROW’S PROFESSOR

Jiesi ChengMatthew Pickard12/03/2008

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OUTLINE Setting the Stage Preparing for an Academic Career Finding and Getting the Best Possible

Academic Position Looking Ahead to Your First Years on

the Job – Advice from the Field Conclusion

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SETTING THE STAGE

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THE ACADEMIC ENTERPRISE The academic institution is different than

other business institutions There are many different types of

academic institutions– the important thing is to know what kind of institution you are dealing with

Academia is currently going through a period of transition

Challenges Facing AcademiaBudget cutsDemands for increased productivity Implications of University-Industry collaboration

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NEW CHALLENGES TO THE PROFESSORIATE

Forces for change in teaching and research

Use of communications tools Use of computational tools Focus on interdisciplinary

programs Government funding Costs of doing research Changing role of industry in

academic research Implications for Faculty

Scholarship ---- Balance

COOPER

ATIONCOMPETITIONBASIC RESEARC

H APPLIED

RESEARCHHIGH

RISK LOW RISK

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CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION2%2% 2%

15%

17%

41%

18%

1%

RU/VH: Research Universities (very high research activity)

RU/H: Research Universities (high research activity)

DRU: Doctoral/Research Universities

Master's L: Master's Colleges and Universities (larger pro-grams)

Baccalaureate Colleges

Associate's

Special Focus Institutions

Others (Not classified)

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TENURE VS NON-TENURE TRACK

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THE TENURE TRACK'S PANDORA'S BOX

Remember that whiners are boring.

Get to know your colleagues by asking for advice.

Get to know your colleagues by getting to know their work.

Do invite people out to lunch

Don't make enemies with important people.

Mom was right: if you can't say something nice don't say it at all.

Be a good listener. Give positive feedback

publicly. Seek out mentors. Find a likeable side of

everyone. Leave your door open. Don't talk too much at

meetings. Make friends. Don't get angry: get

tenure. Finally, realize that no

one can follow all these rules!

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PREPARING FOR AN ACADEMIC CAREER

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A CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION

Follow your passion

Understand what you are getting into

Make an informed and thoughtful decision

Prepare

Rewards of a Faculty Career

Joys of teaching/Rewards of working with students Freedom/Flexibility

Work environment Rewards of research Variety of work Financial rewards Lifelong learning Job security

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Breadth-on-Top-of-DepthPlace your expertise in a

broad context

Next-StageThink ahead, look ahead,

act ahead

Multiple-OptionConcurrently prepare for

academic, government and industry careers

THREE-PART PREPARATION STRATEGY

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RESEARCH AS A GRADUATE STUDENT

Choosing a Research TopicChoosing an Advisor

Writing Research ProposalsCarrying out your research

PublishingReviewing

Attending conferencesGiving talks on your researchSupervising other researchers

Networking

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KEY POINTS Get involved in research EARLY Choose research topics that are “narrowly

focused and carefully defined, but are important parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem” Who cares? Can you do it? How much mileage will you be able to get out of it?

Be involved in as many “next-stage” activities as possible Writing research proposals Reviewing Attending conferences Supervising other researchers

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TEACHING EXPERIENCES PRIOR TO BECOMING A PROFESSOR

Why is it important to teach as a Graduate Student?Confirm teaching is what one wants to do.Help prepare for one’s first teaching

assignment as a professor.Makes one more marketable.

What can I do NOW? Stay aware of teaching opportunities

around youStart compiling your teaching portfolio nowMake it a habit to file samples of your work

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FINDING AND GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE ACADEMIC POSITION

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IDENTIFYING THE POSSIBILITIES

Decide what you want Type of Institution Type of Appointment Location / Setting

Research what is out there:• Chronicle of Higher Education• Find an Academic Job: Online Resources for Locating Academic Positions• http://chronicle.com/jobs/

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APPLYING FOR NEW POSITIONS

Rifle Approach Target one or two schools and do

an “in-depth,” customized application

Shotgun Approach Target several schools and do a

semi-deep application Splatter Approach

Sweep all schools with the same application

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ADVICE FOR ACADEMIC JOB TALK

Make your research fit into the broader context

What do you want people to be thinking about when they leave your talk?

Go beyond your dissertation – don’t prepare the talk at the last minute

Make it interesting – good examples, relevant anecdotes, and significant details

Be prepared – allow yourself to be spontaneous

…

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NEGOTIATING

Need to shift from seeking to received Key Question: What resources do I

need to be successful? Make it a win-win situation.

Other tips: Make sure you have an offer Make requests in an informational

manner Clearly communicate what you want to

the right people Negotiate hard on “out of bounds” things,

more gently on “in bounds” things

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LOOKING AHEAD TO YOUR FIRST YEARS ON THE JOB – ADVICE FROM THE FIELD

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TIME MANAGEMENT

You don’t cancel your class time, so don’t cancel your research time.

Establish your absence

(right from the start)

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TEACHING & RESEARCH

Teaching Research

Structured Discovery

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SOURCES OF FUNDING

Free gift or grant-in-aid Grant Cooperative agreement Contract Fellowship Scholarship

Where to find funding: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/iris/

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WRITING PROPOSALS

“It doesn’t take a genius to realize

that the well-organized and

thoughtful proposals will have a

competitive edge.” (pg. 293)

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PUBLICIZE YOUR WORK EARLY ON

1. Think of job interviews as ways to publicize yourself.

2. When you finish a paper, send a preprint to people in your area.

3. Take journal paper reviewing very seriously.

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TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TENURE SUCCESS

1. Publish, publish, publish!2. View tenure as a political process.3. Find out the tenure norms.4. Document everything.5. Rely on your record, not on

promises of protection.6. Reinforce research with teaching

and service.7. Do not run your department until

after tenure.8. Be a good department citizen.9. Manage your own professional

image.10. Develop a marketable record.

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GOOD LUCK!