Notes: Getting a Job at a Research University
1 How to get a Job at a Research University (R1)
Original Creation Date Unknown, but around the time of Getting a Job at a State School
2 Opinions of the panelists: When did you decide?
- more familiar with big university rather than small liberal arts college
- default option (theoretical physics)
- likes teaching more than research
- missed working with graduate students
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focused more on research (media)
academic books count as research in humanities, not so in engineering/tech
3 Carnegie Mellon University Classification (R1, R2, …)
4 When invited …
- ask about condition of the talk (who attends? how many? audience background?)
- ask about expectations of delivery
- ask about culture of department
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overview of research agenda -or- focus on a particular project
(these can cycle thru and back) - use new stuff, stranger and more exciting, not stuff already published
- do a practice talk (field questions from smart audience)
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in physics: colloquium (broad overview), seminar (focused and jargon ok)
be comfortable with other topics (again the smart audience)
5 Publication Record
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Humanities:
- first pub important, place it well
- pub record is its own narrative
- time better spent on quality not quantity
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Physics:
- high impact paper is better
- have around 10 or so, with you as first author
6 Post-Doc?
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Humanities:
- wish they had a job instead
- requires interfacing
- treated as ‘summer-fling’
- teaching might hinder progress
- lack of performance is risky (ex: job instead)
-
Physics:
- gives opportunity to be independent
- essential, freedom
- build pub record, establish reputation
- teaching experience irrelevant
- but do have to give a good talk
7 Adjunct
- serves at whim of the university
- might lose class to low enrollment
- low pay, no benefits
- stagnates your career
- Rather get a full but non-tenure track position
8 Application
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Humanities:
- always send dissertation abstract (2-3pgs)
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letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy
(don’t wait for them to ask) - address committee with Dr. or Prof. (not ‘committee’)
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Physics:
- research statement and letters of rec most important (for physics)
- personalize cover letter to the job position
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Info:
- get job info via databases, list-serves
- Academic Jobs wiki
- Physics Rumor Mill
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Timing:
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In academia, don’t bother applying unless there is a posting
vs. Industry, apply whenever (and repeatedly)
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In academia, don’t bother applying unless there is a posting
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Fit:
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Harvard notorious that they don’t tenure assoc./assistant prof.
prestige can hurt (overconfidence in interview) - spin what you do to what the dept. needs
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Harvard notorious that they don’t tenure assoc./assistant prof.
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Other:
- chronicle of Higher Ed
- Public Records of faculty salaries