Career structures in N'America

1
Career structures in N.America

• Academic careers in
• Universities and colleges
• Medical schools and hospital research
• Private research Institutes
• Career structure, compensation and support varies
  considerably

2
Standard tenure-stream position

• In University Department
• Involves research and undergraduate teaching
• Usually hard salary support but may only be for
  academic year
• Start as Assistant Professor
• Reviewed for Tenure and Promotion somewhere
  between 5-9 years
• Promotion to Associate Professor may occur before
  tenure

3
Requirements for tenure

• Vary in intensity from place to place!
• Always requires evidence of strong research
  program
• High impact publications (quality more than
  quantity)
• External grant support
• Teaching ability with good student evaluations
• Contributions to university activities
• Strong letters of support from international
  experts

4
What is tenure?

• Once tenure decision is made, position is secure
  until retirement, unless gross misconduct can be
  proven
• Requires ongoing research, teaching and
  administrative commitment
• Usually provides ongoing salary support
• Does not guarantee ongoing research support, lab
  space, etc- will depend on grant support

5
Why tenure?

• Originally to protect academic freedom
• Justification now is job security and freedom to
  explore new areas
• Does provide a secure source of university
  teachers and administrators
• Can protect non-productive researchers and block
  availability of new positions

6
Non-tenured positions

• Usually in research institutes of various sorts
• Focus on research, some teaching
• Not always hard money support for salaries, but
  usually excellent facilities for research
• First appointment usually for 5-6 years followed
  by full external review for ongoing appointment,
  which is reviewed every 5 years
• Continued appointment depends on high research
  productivity and impact, success in external
  grant support and recognition and support by peers

7
Future of tenure in N.America?

• Strong lobby from faculty associations to keep
  tenure
• Not clear why university professors deserve more
  job security than others in current economic
  environment
• Success of independent research institutes shows
  that tenure is not necessary when excellence is
  the criterion for success
• Tenure can promote mediocrity

8
Lessons for Europe

• Tenure per se is not the answer but ongoing
  career structure is key
• Smooth, gradual transition through ranks keeps
  people active in research at all stages
• New opportunities in new places still ensures
  that people move around and new ideas flourish