How to Get a Teaching Job at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution
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Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
How to Get a Teaching Job at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution
By A. Malcolm Campbell, Biology Department, Davidson College; Omar A. Quintero,
Department of Biology, University of Richmond; and Jennifer Frederick, The Center for
Scientific Teaching, Yale University
First Edition Published by: The American Society for Cell Biology, 1996 (AMC).
Second Edition published by: The American Society for Cell Biology, 2012.
Introduction teaching to be their primary role as a faculty
In the fall of 1994, I (AMC) began my member, I have updated my 1996
tenure-track faculty position in the biology publication to provide more current advice.
department of an undergraduate institution. To help me in the revision process, I invited
For the second year of my Pew Teacher- two others to offer their insights as well. Dr.
Scholar Postdoctoral Fellowship, I visited Quintero recently secured a tenure-track
eight colleges in search of a host institution. position and Dr. Frederick held tenure-track
During these interviews, I had the rare positions at two teaching-intensive
opportunity to interview for a job while not institutions before moving to her current
being considered for a tenure-track position. position in science education where she
Through these campus visits, I was able to specializes in professional development
get a feel for the interview process and programs for graduate students, postdocs,
insights into the special qualities sought by and faculty.
undergraduate institutions without all the
pressures of a real job interview. Over the A Wide Range of Teaching-Related Job
last 18 years, I have been involved with Opportunities
eight tenure-track search committees in It should be noted that tenure-track
biology and many more visiting faculty professor positions at PUIs are not the only
searches. Having been on both sides of the employment opportunities available to those
search process, I want to offer some with a strong interest in teaching. There are
perspective on effectively preparing for a tenure-track and non-tenure track teaching-
job where your primary responsibility is focused positions available at institutions
teaching undergraduates. including community colleges, PUIs, and
To share what I learned during my time larger research-focused institutions. These
on these campuses, I published an article in positions are often (but not always)
the Council on Undergraduate Research advertised in the same locations as tenure-
(CUR) Newsletter.1 Several others have track PUI positions. However, job titles can
described the job search process at research vary from the expected. Some larger PUIs
institutions2-4 and others have focused on and high-enrollment institutions might hire
primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs).5 staff specifically to develop and manage
Although there is more acceptance of a laboratory courses. Some research-focused
teaching career now than in the 1990s, many departments have permanent, Ph.D.-level
Ph.D. candidates and postdocs are still positions where the entire responsibility of
chastised for any interest they have in that position is teaching courses and/or
teaching. These budding scientists get little advising undergraduate majors within the
support from research mentors for their department. Such positions may be titled
career choices. To assist those who want “Instructor,” “Lecturer,” or “Professor of the
1
Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
Practice”—the title is completely dependent implications of choosing a particular lab for
on the institutional culture. One should not your thesis work. If you choose a lab that
assume that a non-traditional title is does only one technique and your project
indicative of a lesser value being placed on requires you to work with live Ebola virus,
that position; it will depend on the specifics then you are not setting yourself up for a
of each institution. Such positions rarely teaching job. Most PUIs want a person who
have any research expectations associated is versatile and can conduct student-based
with them. If you find yourself very research.
much drawn to teaching and mentoring Proficiency with a
with less of an interest in research, single technique is
then such positions might fit your too limited a
goals nicely. Although these forms of repertoire, and
teaching positions might not require Ebola is not
postdoctoral experience, the conducive to
professional skills gained from a inexpensive and
postdoc (budgeting, experimental short-term research
skills, writing, organizational skills, projects with
and time-management skills) would likely inexperienced undergraduates. If you are
be seen as beneficial characteristics to look still keen to choose this project, then accept
for in an applicant, and it might be worth the necessity of a postdoctoral fellowship in
saying so in your application materials. order to add breadth to your training.
Although this document is written with The biggest question in the minds of
tenure-track PUI positions in mind, much of most graduate students who want to teach is,
the guidance is applicable to other teaching- “Do I have to do a postdoc?” The answer is
focused positions as well. yes and no. I have met a few recent hires
Those seeking jobs that emphasize who had no postdoctoral training, but nearly
teaching should know that in the United all tenure-track faculty in the sciences have
States, there are many options to consider. postdoctoral experience. Unlike postdocs
Some PUIs require no research and offer who want to be faculty at major research
summers with no required teaching. If you universities, those interested in teaching
want to conduct research with typically complete their postdocs in two to
undergraduates and are interested in three years. Postdoctoral training is
securing extramural funding, some PUIs beneficial for several reasons: 1) since so
expect this level of productivity in order for many applicants have postdoc experience,
an assistant professor to be granted tenure. those without are at a disadvantage; 2)
Postdocs and Ph.D. candidates should match additional training allows you to broaden
their training to meet the needs of their your knowledge and gain sufficient
target institutions. This How-To guide experience to teach at least one additional
focuses on institutions that want their faculty course; 3) postdocs should gain more
to conduct research with undergraduates. experience writing grants and publishing
Advice for all possible PUIs is beyond the peer-reviewed papers; and 4) you will
scope of this guide. develop a degree of maturity that comes
from having to adapt to a new area of
Position Yourself Appropriately research in a short amount of time.
If you know you want to work at a PUI, Success in your career will be determined
then you want to think about the by what you know and your ability to think
2Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
and communicate. A successful postdoctoral teaching as a career, it is better to find this
fellowship is usually determined by good out before you commit yourself to this lab.
mentoring and a stimulating environment. Do not subject yourself to a lab where the PI
Don’t focus on the “name brand” of your resents his or her “wasting time” on
postdoctoral PI. Choose a mentor who someone who will “just wind up teaching
supports your career goals and whose lab anyway.” There are plenty of PIs who view
does good science. With a few Nobel Prize teaching as an admirable career. If you find
winning exceptions, name recognition of your PI is less supportive, you can seek out
your postdoctoral mentor is insignificant informal mentoring from other faculty. Look
since most members of the search committee at the CVs of faculty in your program to see
only recognize the names within their field who got their undergraduate degree from a
and will not recognize your mentor’s name. PUI and talk to them as a starting place. Ask
However, you might find that the name of other graduate students which PIs are
the institution where you postdoc has a supportive of teaching and seek out their
greater impact. The quality of training may advice.
not be any better at a name brand institution, A lack of teaching experience is a
but some members of the search committee concern for many who have followed
might be impressed, which may, in some traditional graduate student and postdoctoral
small way, help you get an interview. A training. Most Ph.D. candidates have to
much more important consideration is teach for at least two semesters. Often, the
whether you will be able to take your sections are huge and allow little room for
postdoc research with you. Some PIs do not personal input and control of the course. If
let go of their projects for any postdocs, or you know that teaching at a PUI is your
maybe your research is too difficult to objective, try to teach more than the bare
conduct at a PUI with its limited resources. minimum. Offer to guest lecture for your
For example, if your research requires a mentor (very few mentors object to this).
Level 4 biohazard lab, you will never get a You might be able to teach a course for
teaching job where you are expected to someone on sabbatical at a local college
maintain a research program. The ideal (either a 2-year or 4-year institution). As you
project for a PUI is one that is cheap, easy to gain more teaching experience, ask yourself
learn, safe, and not subject to intense again if you enjoyed the process. Is this
competition. If you want to teach molecular what you want to do for the next 30 years?
biology and use it in your research, most However, keep in mind your research should
schools will have standard equipment, but be your top priority in graduate school and
you could help yourself by using an as a postdoc. Learning to balance teaching
inexpensive system like Chlamydomonas or and research duties is valuable preparation
Drosophila instead of more expensive ones for a faculty position, but without solid
like mammals or tissue culture. research training and a reasonable
Another common question is whether a publication record, you cannot get a job.
postdoc should tell his or her mentor that Some current PUI faculty taught for a year
teaching is their long-term interest. Yes, you between graduate school and postdoctoral
should be honest up front because, in the training. After a typical postdoc position,
end, you will want a letter of PUI faculty have taught for a year or two in
recommendation from the PI so he or she temporary positions until they could secure a
will find out eventually. If you are tenure-track position. As is often the case,
considering a lab where the PI is hostile to obtaining the position of your dreams does
3Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
not require you follow one formulaic more traditional locations such as Science
pathway, so use your judgment as you and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
balance training in research and teaching.
Some graduate schools offer preparing Things to Do before Applying
future faculty (PFF) programs to help those There are a number of things any
interested in pedagogy as well as research. candidate should do before applying for a
In recent years, a number of postdoctoral position.
opportunities with a partial focus on • Contact local colleges or your alma
teaching have arisen.6 These range from mater and offer to present a seminar of
internally funded positions at PUIs to your research, then make the time to do
federally funded postdoctoral programs at it. There is never a good time in your
R1 institutions with a dual focus on research schedule to do this, but the practice is
and pedagogy. Although these teaching invaluable and most colleges would be
postdoc positions can provide training and happy to have a free seminar speaker.
experience in teaching, just as with a more While there, show them your CV,
traditional postdoctoral position, it is teaching philosophy, and research
essential to establish a solid track record in interests (see below). Ask for
research. You will not be able to get a job constructive criticism and suggestions
where both research and teaching are for your job search.
expected without research publications. • Once you have seen an ad that is
Where are teaching jobs advertised? This tempting, do a little homework and soul
is the easiest part of the entire process; all searching. Ask yourself how far you
jobs are listed either in Science and/or in The really want to stretch yourself. For
Chronicle of Higher Education. In Science, example, if the ad is for a geneticist and
most jobs appear between late August and you are a biochemist who happens to use
early January, but some gems can be found Drosophila tissue, could you really teach
outside this peak time due to unexpected genetics? Even if you think you could
changes in faculty because of death, manage that “stretch,” do your
retirement, or relocation. The Chronicle application materials indicate that you
tends to list jobs later than those advertised could cover the teaching responsibilities
in Science. Also, The Chronicle ads tend to effectively?
emphasize teaching more and research less. • Consult Science Citation Index’s year-
There will be some overlap between listings end report, which has a state-by-state
found in Science and The Chronicle but you listing of that year’s publications from
should check both sources to be sure you see each department of every institution in
all of them. Other websites such as the country. Compare the school in
HigherEdJobs.com, question to others with which you are
Academicjobsonline.org, and familiar. This will give you an idea of
Academickeys.org also have job postings. the level of research at the school in
Specialized websites such as the question.
HERCjobs.org (Higher Education • Use the Council on Undergraduate
Recruitment Consortium), SENCER.org Research’s Directory of Biology
(Science Education for New Civic Departments. It is a very impressive list
Engagement and Responsibilities), and of most of the top PUIs in the country
professional society web pages also list and it gives a great deal of information
openings. Often these listings also appear in
4Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
about the available equipment and when you are writing your cover letter.
research interests of the faculty. This knowledge can also equip you to
• Use any college guide to learn about converse with administrators such as
their students in areas such as deans and provosts during interviews
geographic and ethnic diversity, average (who may not be scientists and will
SAT scores, etc. Peterson’s Guide appreciate a candidate’s ability to talk
(http://www.petersons.com/college- about broad institutional issues).
search/college-guide-four-year.aspx)
also lists the school’s endowment (under The Application Format
School Facilities), which will give you a You will need to submit four documents
sense of how deep the school’s pockets for any teaching position where there is an
may be when it comes time for interest in research-active faculty: 1) a cover
negotiations of salary and set-up money. letter; 2) your CV; 3) a statement of your
• Call the chair of the department, or the teaching philosophy; and 4) a description of
chair of the search committee, to ask your research interests. Even if the ad does
some general questions. The fact that not ask for all of them, you should send
you called will probably be recorded in them. If they really don’t want one of the
your file. You can try to get a better documents you send, they will not read it.
understanding of the job: how many However, some institutions will not list all
contact hours you would be expected to four required documents to save space (i.e.,
maintain; is there research space money) or as a quick way to eliminate those
available or in the planning stage; how “who don’t know better.” Some PUIs ask for
many students are in a typical course; transcripts, which you might want to have in
will there be any set-up money; how your files so you can send them copies
many majors the department has, etc. directly, if this is acceptable. Of the four
However, you should avoid asking standard documents, here is a list of their
questions that are easily answered by relative importance: 1) cover letter, 2) cover
doing some investigation on their web letter, 3) cover letter, 4) cover letter.
site.
• Find the college’s catalog online to learn Cover Letter
what courses are offered, who teaches Although your CV, teaching statement,
them, and how often. Find the and research interests/plan are important
department to which you are applying documents for a job that expects both
and pay attention to any aspects of the teaching and research, the first round of cuts
educational experience that are being will be heavily influenced by your cover
emphasized by that institution. Have letter. The cover letter is incredibly
they recently been funded to revamp a important for the following reasons. There is
component of the curriculum in a way no one in the department who does exactly
that you could contribute? You can also what you do (if they did, they wouldn’t want
get a feeling for the history of the to hire another one), so no one will
college, and any areas of special pride. understand fully your research or appreciate
Be sure to track down and read the who has written your letters of
school’s mission statement and strategic recommendation. You are writing to an
plan (if it has one). This background audience of administrators and a collection
information gives you a sense of the of biologists from every subdiscipline, so
school’s personality and comes in handy your cover letter should be general in nature
5Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
in order to appeal to everyone while document in a presentable format, have
sufficiently distinct and not generic. At several colleagues critically read your cover
some institutions, the older faculty may not letter in order to see how you look on paper.
conduct research at all, and may not be Ideally, you could ask the local college
familiar with the latest techniques. They where you gave a practice talk to look at
may have as many as 150 applications to your cover letter since they are in a better
read, so everyone is looking initially for position to evaluate it than a typical research
those that folders can be eliminated easily institution.
rather than trying to identify the best
applicant. With this in mind, the first Curriculum Vitae
document most faculty read is the cover Your CV should be written as if you
letter, so yours should not contain any were trolling for fish—put out as many
reasons to justify putting it in the stack of hooks as possible to snag as many fish along
excluded applications, though it is unwise to the way as possible. Of course, you need all
hide important information in hopes the the basic facts, but they should be presented
search committee won’t find out. Rather in the best possible light. For example, let’s
than burying obviously relevant information, say your Ph.D. thesis is on a molecule in the
it might be better to present the information right ear of the tsetse fly and you got your
and diffuse it up front. Once again, use degree with Dr. X at University Y. You
others as sounding boards if you think you could list yourself as:
might have a delicate situation to address. Ph.D., 1995, University Y.
Now that you know which document Or you could say:
needs to be perfect, what should it look like? Ph.D., 1995, University Y.
It should be about 1.5 pages long, explain Thesis title: “A big and novel
why you are interested in teaching as your molecule in the right ear of the tsetse fly”
primary focus, demonstrate you are familiar Thesis advisor: Dr. X.
with this particular school, and make it clear Comprehensive exams in
that you want to work with their Entomology and Neurobiology
undergraduates. (Be sure to use the term
“undergraduates” since some applicants By listing all this information, you have
send the same cover letter to research put out four hooks instead of one. You never
institutions and PUIs—a guaranteed way to know who is interested in some obscure
be excluded from the PUI search.) If you aspect of your training and, by providing the
determined from your phone call or the job details, you have allowed one more person
advertisement that there is an interest in to get hooked. Perhaps someone actually
hiring a research-active faculty member, you knows your former thesis advisor, likes
want to describe your intention to conduct insects, or likes the idea of hiring an insect
student-based research. The cover letter neurobiologist. The year of your Ph.D. may
should be well written, easy to read, and indicate your “scientific age” and the name
reveal enough of your personality that your of your university may also carry some
application stands out from the others. You implications. At the top of your CV, you
should address all of the specific position may want to put some biographical
requirements from the job ad, especially for information, but you may not. Your name
things your CV might not contain (e.g., will probably indicate your gender so that is
being prepared to teach large intro classes or not an issue. But do you want to give your
courses for non-majors). Once you have a birth date? your birthplace? marital status?
6Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
These are issues that should not be factored Mentoring undergraduate research could
into hiring decisions but frequently are (at include independent study projects or
least subconsciously) by some faculty. So if summer research projects. If your
you think it might help, add it; but when in undergraduates won research awards, it
doubt, leave it out. If you decide to include would be appropriate to mention this as
personal information, do not give names or evidence of your mentoring capacity. You
ages of family members. might include a very brief annotation of
You might want to include some of the each experience so your specific role and
following sections in your CV: responsibilities are clear (a TA can be a
grading automaton or a valued co-
Education instructor).
List your degrees (with as many hooks as
possible) beginning with the most recent. Professional Activities
Some people like to include postdoctoral List your memberships in professional
training under education. Also, non-degree societies (give dates of membership),
experiences could be added here (e.g., Cold editorial consulting for X journals or
Spring Harbor courses). funding agency when you reviewed a paper
or grant proposal for them, including those
Academic Appointments your mentor farmed out to you. Include
You can list any temporary teaching committee memberships at the university or
positions, postdocs, research associates, etc. professional society level, any invited talks
(e.g., your alma mater practice talk), and
Honors funded grants.
Cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa,
undergraduate scholarships, fellowships, Publications ( * denotes undergraduates as
awards (especially “TA of the year” or other co-authors)
teaching awards), etc. At this stage in your If you have any undergraduates as co-
career, you can let go of high school authors, set another hook by drawing
accomplishments. attention to this fact by placing an asterisk
(*) next to their names. If your name has
Teaching Experience changed, help the readers out by noting this
Beginning with the most recent, list all where appropriate.
your teaching experiences, even if you did
volunteer teaching for public school kids, a Articles
single guest lecture for undergrads or grad Begin with the most recent including
students, as well as all TA positions. The those in press. If you have both research and
key point is to establish a long-term interest review papers, you might want to list them
in teaching. Search committees are on the under separate headings to enhance your
lookout for a postdoc who could not find “a professional appearance. If you need to, you
real job” and has reluctantly decided to can add manuscripts in progress but this
settle for a teaching position. Likewise, you should probably be done if you have only
do not want to appear to be running from the two or fewer publications. Listing projects
demands of research in search of an “easy” as works in progress draws attention to a
teaching job. Include experiences where you weak publication record.
mentored students in research projects as
this will likely be part of the job as well. Abstracts
7Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
Begin with the most recent, and indicate mentored undergraduates in the lab and
where the abstract was published or where sought additional training in pedagogy, etc.
you presented the work. You may want to You want the collection of letters to support
distinguish between oral and poster the different aspects of your training as you
presentations, if you are keen to do so. It is have described them in your documents.
helpful to put your name in bold font if
multiple authors are listed. Presentations at Teaching Philosophy
“in-house” formats should not be included in Writing a teaching philosophy is like
this list. trying to photograph a dense fog. As with
your cover letter, the ideal length is about
1.5 pages. With 150 applications to read, no
one wants to read epic statements. Keep in
mind that you need to hook someone from
the beginning, so aim for an intriguing story
or example that draws the reader in and
demonstrates something about your teaching
ability. The most common misconception
about teaching statements is that they should
References be philosophical. Vague, abstract language
These are the people who will write your describing your perspective on good
letters of recommendation. You should teaching is not as helpful as concrete points
provide their title, name, mailing address, backed up by discipline-specific examples.
phone number, and email address. Choose a In this document you can explain more
panel of people who have different about the basis for your desire to teach; what
perspectives of you, especially if they can courses you could teach in addition to the
comment on your teaching ability and/or ones advertised (based on what you learned
your desire to teach. Your graduate and from reading the catalog, although this could
postdoctoral advisor are both expected to be be a touchy subject if someone on the search
on this list. If they are not, you will be committee feels threatened, so use the phone
raising red flags for the search committee call to help figure this one out); what
and you will need to explain their absence. teaching goals you might have; what
One of your undergraduate teachers might constitutes good teaching; what you might
be appropriate if you were close to this do in the lab sections that deserves special
person and have maintained contact. To mention. When possible, support your
facilitate the letter writing process for your statements with specific examples of what
references, notify them well in advance and you have done or what you intend to do. The
send them a list of addresses and brief definition of a good teaching philosophy is
descriptions of the positions. It is open to interpretation, so ask faculty at
appropriate to tell these references that you nearby colleges to critique your statement in
would appreciate their highlighting different exchange for a free seminar. I have found
aspects of your background. For example, that even faculty I had never met were
one might emphasize your teaching willing to help out a budding young teacher.
experience and desire to teach while a
different letter writer might emphasize the Research Statement
quality of your research. The third letter The research statement should also be
writer might highlight how you have about 1.5 pages and should be in balance
8Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
with your teaching philosophy; do not without any faculty present, perhaps over a
present a lopsided picture of yourself. You meal. Some schools automatically schedule
cannot go into too much detail since there is this but, if not, request this time with
not enough room and no one will fully students. Meeting biology majors is very
appreciate its significance since no one else important since they will be your research
publishes in your field. Make sure to cover colleagues and the people with whom you
three areas of particular importance: the will work the most. Many PUIs will ask you
nature of your research, undergraduate to present a lecture to a class or teach a
student involvement, and the potential of mock class in addition to your research
funding your research. If you want to brag a seminar. If this is not required, you may
bit, you can add appendices under the want to volunteer to give a lecture. A guest
appropriate area (e.g., reprints, examples of lecture might give you better insight into the
student work, etc.). Appendices allow you to caliber of students and enable the faculty to
set more hooks but the material is optional evaluate you more completely. It may also
reading. The 1.5 pages of your research be worthwhile to have an opportunity to see
statement should stand alone, but if the how members of the department interact
committee gets serious about you, they can with their students. You might want to ask
access more material in an appendix to make to visit a class, or sit in on a lab meeting. If
a more informed decision. If you have those situations are not scheduled or you do
submitted a grant or had one funded, you not feel comfortable requesting them, then
could include portions in another appendix pay attention when you are in situations
under the fundability section. Keep in mind involving both students and faculty.
that PUI search committees often include a Knowing something about the current
variety of scientists, and may include faculty student-faculty dynamic will be important
from outside the department who are non- since most of your time will be spent with
scientists. You should avoid jargon and students as well.
don’t assume that your readers know the
field as well as you do. Figures and Preparing for the Interview
diagrams are appropriate when they clearly From this point on, think of yourself not
represent the nature of your research so much as competing against two or three
inquiry, but keep the number to a minimum other candidates but as a prospective
(no more than two). employee looking for the best fit. At the
interview stage, the departmental search
The Phone Call committee is also looking for the best fit
If you get a call from a school requesting among a small number of qualified
an interview, find out who will be in the candidates. You want to find your niche in
audience, the preferred length of your talk, the broad spectrum of approaches to
and whether a completed story (your thesis) answering the question, “How do we teach
or ongoing and future work is preferred. In biology?” Some schools have created
addition to examining the fit of your “research colleges” where most of the
research approach for their institution, the faculty receive extramural funding and have
search committee is also using your seminar large research labs but do not stress
as a gauge for how you might present new curriculum innovations. Other departments
material to an audience of non-experts—just send their students away for summer
as you would in a classroom full of research experiences and put most of their
undergraduates. Ask to meet with students resources into the curriculum and intensive
9Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
student contact. These dichotomous models, equipment is the norm at schools you are
and all those in between, can be successful considering.
only with the right combination of faculty
members. The Interview
Now it is time to get more serious about The average interview has the following
your homework. Familiarize yourself with basic format. You’ll meet students, faculty,
the department members and the courses the dean (and maybe the provost or
offered. Look in the most recent March issue president), give a seminar, go out to eat (and
of a journal called Academe drink, but watch yourself), and generally be
(http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/acade kept very, very busy. This process can be
me/), which lists the average salaries for exhausting so don’t let down your guard;
assistant, associate, and full professor for mind what you say to everyone from the
nearly every school in the country. The time you arrive until after you have left,
salary listed for an assistant professor including those delegated to transport you to
includes those with 6 years of teaching and from the airport. Some places forget to
experience so your starting salary probably schedule bathroom breaks so you may have
will be lower than the average. At some to request them as needed.
institutions, however, science faculty are The interview provides your best chance
paid larger salaries than faculty in other to get answers to all your questions, so make
disciplines. The annual report from Academe the most of your visit. During your time on
will tell you what to expect as a reasonable campus, there are a few things you should
salary offer. You can use an online tool to try to do. Go to the department and the
compare the cost of living between where library after hours to see who and how many
you live now and where you might move. are working. While in the library, look for
An online comparison will help you see the the journals you will need and find out
relative buying power of the starting salary which journals are available online. Ask to
offer. Do a little digging into the benefits look at some housing options, and get a feel
provided to faculty. For example, a faculty for the quality and cost of living in the area
salary might be on the low end for a given (compare what you hear with what you
location but some institutions provide found out online). Make sure you get a good
assistance with housing (whether on campus tour of all the facilities and equipment in the
housing or mortgage programs for faculty). department, as well as the rest of the
Read all the papers published by department campus.
members during the last five years. Some Other points to keep in mind during your
people keep their online CV up to date, but stay:
others do not. Therefore, start with their • Note any differences between responses
online list of publications but you should of tenured and non-tenured faculty; try
search for more recent ones to be sure you to detect if this is an embattled
have found all of them. Prepare a five-year department (e.g., animal vs. plant,
research plan with an explanation of how it molecular/cell vs. organismal/field,
involves students. Also compile a list of research active vs. non-active).
equipment (with prices) that you will need • Make sure that you meet everyone in the
to teach and conduct research. Figure out department and there are no hidden
what is already included in common skeletons.
departmental facilities and whether sharing • Bring a small notebook and take notes
during your meetings with everyone—
10Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
faculty and administration—because by involved in these decisions, and what
the end, it will be hard to remember all percentage of faculty are denied tenure.
the details; this notebook is a good place Faculty handbooks typically describe the
to keep a list of all the questions you requirements for tenure as clearly as any
want to ask, because you are expected to document produced by your potential
have a lot of them. It might also be employer. Be prepared to be asked illegal
worthwhile to write down some questions concerning age, sexual preference,
information about each person that you marital status, and children. (Questions
are interviewing in the notebook prior to concerning religion are legal at church-
your visit (research field, educational related schools that advertised as such.) You
history, etc.), so that you can tailor each have three options in response to illegal
conversation to the specific person questions: 1) refuse to answer directly or by
interviewing you. changing the subject, 2) note the impropriety
• During your facilities tour, take note of (either overtly or subtly) of the questions but
what available equipment may be of use answer them anyway, 3) anticipate the
to you. Be aware that your tour guide questions by inquiring about schools,
might not be familiar with every piece of benefits plans, or job opportunities for
equipment in their department, so it may significant others. Interview meals are more
be worthwhile to take notes on informal and this is often the time when
manufacturer and model number so that personal questions come up. Being willing
you can be sure the equipment has the to talk a bit about yourself and your interests
capabilities that you think it has. You will help potential colleagues get to know
could take photos with a phone to save you.
time during the tour.
• If the occasion presents itself, casually The Dean
mention the other schools considering Some questions are best asked of the
you, because this makes you appear dean. Ask him or her about:
more attractive. • The salary range offered for this position
• Be on your best and most courteous (this may not be their final offer, but
behavior with everyone, including negotiations should wait until after you
administrative assistants who may have have been offered the job) and the
helped you arrange travel and benefits package including annuity,
scheduling. No matter what anyone says, health insurance, moving expenses,
you are always being evaluated, and the occasional free classes for family
interview is not over until you are out of members, tuition remission for your
sight. children. Sometimes these details are left
to someone in human resources so don’t
If no one in the department conducts be offended if you get such a response.
research, beware of the potential for • Set-up funds.
unrealistic expectations of your research • The standard for research productivity
from both the department and the for promotion and tenure. Ask this
administration. Ask about the possibility of question of everyone you can, since it
a reduced teaching load in exchange for can be a moving target and the earlier
student-based research or extramurally you begin to gauge this the better you
funded grants. Find out how reappointments will position yourself for advancement.
and tenure decisions are made, who is
11Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
• Perceptions of the department’s o attending national meetings (with or
strengths, weaknesses, and areas for without posters and/or students)
growth. o publications (is there any weight
given to one article in Nature vs.
Sometimes you will be asked open-ended three in obscure journals)
questions concerning set-up money. Dean: o publication of textbooks and lab
“How much were you thinking?” Candidate: manuals
“That depends on the institution’s o national society committee
commitment to research.” This is where participation
your ability to bargain will be useful. o grants applied for versus funded
Remind the dean that 1X funding gets 1X o research with students (with or
results and 10X funding gets 10X results. without resulting publications)
However, aggressive negotiation puts • What, if any, consideration is given to
reasonable expectations on you to perform. publications about teaching (such as
Ask the dean to define “scholarly activity” scholarship of teaching and learning)?
in regards to tenure. It is a good idea to • What does the chair see as the
present the dean with a list of equipment that department’s strengths and weaknesses?
should be prioritized as equipment needed Talk to the chair about teaching loads and
versus wanted, with potential funding course rotations (some departments pass
sources for the latter. Your equipment list around courses for non-majors). It is also
should include everything you can justify good to find out whether the department
since you can look very generous as you offers courses in the summer and how that
compromise during the negotiations. It may staffing is handled. Find out who in the
also be important to note instances where department has received grants lately and
the equipment you are requesting can from which agencies. Ask to see your
directly benefit other faculty on campus, potential office and research space in
especially if that equipment has a large price addition to the classrooms and teaching labs.
tag. Although the culture varies from Beware of vague responses and promises of
institution to institution, it is common for a newly renovated lab space that seems too
some equipment to be shared. It might be good to be true. If they discuss a space that
worth pointing out that time spent on is not currently available, ask about the
applications for funds to purchase essential budget for renovations, the blueprints, and a
equipment is time not spent on teaching or timeline for when the renovations will be
research. Again, the final negotiations will completed.
come later, after the job offer is made.
Questions for Every Faculty Member
The Chair It might prove informative to ask these
The chair has information and/or control questions of each member in the department.
over limited aspects of the department. Ask You might uncover some factions within the
the chair how long he or she has held this department that you might not notice
position and whether this is a rotating otherwise.
position or an open-ended one. Have • What percent time does he or she spend
“scholarly activity” defined in the chair’s on teaching, research, and service?
own words and compare this with the dean’s Compare their responses to what you
response. know about their publications and when
• Does the definition include: they were hired, since expectations at
12Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
most schools have changed in recent • Who pays for photocopying, phone calls,
years. interlibrary loans, faxes?
• What is the average size of classes, labs, • Does the administration support travel to
and overall workload? scientific meetings?
• How does each member see the new • Is there financial support for research
position? The new physiologist position, expenses or sabbaticals?
for example, is it for a plant • How are subscriptions to vital journals
physiologist, human requested?
physiologist/anatomist, or someone who • Do you have access to the nearest large
does patch clamping? Is everyone in university research library?
agreement, or are there opposing ideas • Is there a formal department seminar
being presented? series, and who is responsible for
• How are departmental decisions made inviting and hosting the speakers?
(e.g., course schedules, space allotment,
equipment purchases, classroom and lab Questions for Students
assignments, etc.)? Often, students will tell you the way they
see their school and department without
Questions for Any Faculty Member “politically correct” filters. Ask them:
Some general questions can be asked of • What courses do they like and hate?
any department member. • Do they read journal articles?
• What is the policy concerning • What are the strengths and weaknesses
sabbaticals for both tenured and pre- of the department and school?
tenured faculty? You might follow up • Do all the faculty get along?
with questions about the nature of • What do they have to do to get good
someone’s recent sabbatical project to grades?
get a sense of the scope of work • How do they view their relationships
expected. with the faculty?
• Does the department use TAs and work- • With hindsight, would they choose the
study students? If so, how are they same school again?
funded and how are they assigned? • Do they control any aspect of the
• Who is responsible for setting up department (speakers, clubs)?
equipment and washing glassware used • Have any alumni returned to talk with
for teaching labs? them about life after graduation?
• Does the college have a license to work • Do they have any future plans?
with radioactive isotopes?
• Are biology majors required to do If you feel your student interaction was
research? Do they have to submit a too controlled or monitored by a faculty
thesis? What does a thesis look like at member, considering inviting some students
this institution? for a more informal discussion over coffee
• Are there any curriculum changes in the or soda if there is time during the evening.
works?
• Are there any collaborations currently
underway within the department, with The Job Offer
other departments, or other schools? The job offer usually comes via a phone
• Are the sciences coordinated and call from the dean. If you have asked all
unified, or split and possibly hostile? these questions and they still want to hire
13Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
you, don’t jump at the offer right away, After you have the final offer, write
especially if you have additional questions down what you understand to be the
and are considering competing offers. Tell complete package (e.g., teaching load, set-
the caller you would like some time to up money, lab space, salary, moving
consider the offer. You could ask to come expenses, and benefits) and send it to the
visit again in order to finalize details and let dean and ask for his or her response. Explain
your significant other see the area, though to the dean that this unwieldy procedure is
you may have to pay for this trip yourself. designed to make sure everyone is in
You might want to call other places you are agreement on what the offer included.
considering and update them to see where Once all the legalities are out of the way,
they are in their selection process. Establish you want to think about the timing of your
a date by which you will be able to provide a move. When can you leave your current
definite answer (a couple of weeks is situation and when could you move into a
reasonable under most circumstances). new home? Set some reasonable goals for
wrapping up loose ends in your postdoc lab
or other current situation and avoid adding
things like one last paper, taking on a
rotation student, etc. PIs typically expect
that productivity will change due to an
impending move. There is a big difference
in your ability to make a smooth transition if
you move in June versus August. You
should try to move early enough that you
Once you have signed the contract, never can settle in and get organized for your first
again will you have the ability to directly classes. You will have one chance to make a
affect your salary. After you sign the good first impression on your new
contract, your annual wage increases will be colleagues as well as your students. Give
percentages of your starting salary. It is yourself enough time to get off to a good
worth reminding yourself that you have been start, and enjoy your new career.
selected with much pain and expense and
that the first offer may not be as high as they References
are willing to go. It’s like buying a car; some 1. A. Malcolm Campbell (1993). Job
places offer fixed prices while others like to Interviews at Undergraduate Institutions:
haggle. You will have to deduce this What Can You Do about Them? Council on
distinction on a case-by-case basis. One Undergraduate Research Newsletter 13 (4):
cautionary note: most PUIs are not 25-30.
accustomed to hardball negotiation tactics so 2. Edwin S. Gould (1990). Competing for an
be firm but not pushy. You do not want to Academic Position in Chemistry. Journal of
spend all of your political capital with the Chemical Education 67 (2): 123-126.
dean during the negotiations because the 3. Susan Goldhor, Mary Clutter, and
dean may extract his or her revenge by Virginia Walbot (1987). How to Get a
providing a smaller percentage salary Research Job in the 1990s. Published by the
increase for the second year in order to Steering Committee of the Women in Cell
recoup the PUI’s losses in your high starting Biology, American Society for Cell Biology.
salary.
14Campbell, Quintero and Frederick How to get a Teaching Job
4. Ian Phillips (1988). Interviewing for an advice applies more broadly. It can also
Academic Post. The Scientist. April 4, 1988, serve as a useful tool to help you to identify
p. 20. the differences if you are also applying to
5. Michelle N. Bushey, Deborah E. Lycan, positions with more of a research focus.
and Patricia E. Videtich (2001). How to Get http://www.youtube.com/user/DukePostdoc
a Tenure-Track Position at a Predominantly Services#p/u
Undergraduate Institution. Council on
Undergraduate Research. 55 pp. ISBN Acknowledgments
0941933237 9780941933230. AMC would like to thank The Council on
6. Andrea Widener (2011). HHMI Bulletin Undergraduate Research for allowing him to
August Vol. 24 No. 3. use portions of his newsletter article; The
http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/aug2011/pdf/t Pew Charitable Trusts and the Pew
eaching_postdoc.pdf (Accessed 3 January Midstates Mathematics and Science
2012). Consortium for their support; Drs. David
Kirk, Mary Lee Ledbetter, and Chris
Additional Resources Watters for their helpful comments on the
General resource for the academic job first edition; and the biology departments of
search: the consortium member colleges that kindly
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/careers/ hosted his visits. OAQ would like to thank
forms/Academic%20Job%20Search%20gui the SPIRE Program at UNC Chapel-Hill for
de.pdf its training and guidance as well as the
Sample resources for academic job search: Biology Departments at Wheaton College,
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/careers/ Dickinson College, and Franklin & Marshall
resources.html College for sharing their experiences. Dr.
A very good concise guide for writing an Quintero also thanks his graduate advisor
effective teaching statement: Dr. Jo Rae Wright for her unwavering
http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/fo support and example of how a dedicated
r-grad-students/teaching-statement/ scientist, scholar, and mentor can inspire
And another from Princeton on teaching in others. JF warmly thanks the many graduate
interviews: students and postdocs she has advised over
http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/fo the years for the insights they provided
r-grad-students/teaching-in-interviews/ about preparing and executing a successful
From Carnegie Mellon’s teaching center, a academic job search.
well-done guide to designing and teaching a
course:
http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/in
dex.html
Postdoctoral Services at Duke University
has a YouTube channel with a series of
videos covering a number of relevant topics
including advice on writing job applications,
the interview process, and running a
research group. These resources are directed
more toward applicants headed to more
research-focused positions, but some of the
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