tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post1338153988424938856..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Bad Economics 101Female Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51223156443456376952009-08-27T23:58:46.281-05:002009-08-27T23:58:46.281-05:00Its more than likely that Administrators don't...Its more than likely that Administrators don't know grant funding rules, either specifically or in broad terms.<br /><br />I've observed in a five year stint in Administration as an officer, rather than an academic role, that teaching labour expands to fill funding. This is not as true of research funding, which seems to be based around discipline culture / grant funding structure.<br /><br />Finally, I suspect that the lack of hiring / raises has to do with the industrial system in the US for academics. Other systems which have had national industrial bargaining, and social expectations of COLA adjustments for all workers tend to have raises even in slack years. I suspect this is due to central government funding of tertiary teaching and the capacity for central governments to absorb debt in superior ways to institutional actors / local governments. The downside of this for academics appears to be wage flattening, level flattening and changes in the structure of competitive grants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8695840162458515962009-02-03T12:35:00.000-06:002009-02-03T12:35:00.000-06:00Management is about process not product. Managers...Management is about process not product. Managers make decisions, workers make mistakes. To find a bottleneck, first look toward the top of the bottle.<BR/><BR/>If your grant funding supports fungus growth in HeLa cell cultures and you therein discover a generic cure for cancer, you must reapply with a revised grant or risk prosecution for embezzlement of laboratory funding (felonious negligent discovery).<BR/><BR/>Defer to vermin defining truth and morality by convenience of the moment. Freedom is compliance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-63441315016538984662009-02-03T08:24:00.000-06:002009-02-03T08:24:00.000-06:00Thomas Joseph: we do that kind of thing already. B...<I>Thomas Joseph: we do that kind of thing already. But, you can't do that with an exam for a 300 person intro class.</I><BR/><BR/>Indeed, that's a given and I have no qualms with that whatsoever. What I'd like to see, and what I stress here at work myself is ... you make the adjustments <B>where you can</B>. If you're not doing that (and you guys definitely are), you're just plain lazy.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14211618861743447072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-78851023146315181602009-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:002009-02-03T06:00:00.000-06:00Creative solution==Give postdoc Pcard to buy non-a...Creative solution==Give postdoc Pcard to buy non-alcoholic foodstuffs for the next 6 months? Buy Postdoc sub-property-tag-limit hardware? Travel funds used for "research" in costa rica?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-14851442098220099052009-02-02T23:01:00.000-06:002009-02-02T23:01:00.000-06:00It makes me angry when school accountants (like at...It makes me angry when school accountants (like at LargeU, argh!) fail to grasp that salaries for post-docs come from grants AND the grants are used for overhead for the school. Sigh.<BR/><BR/>With the current job climate, I'm feeling *very* lucky that I got to avoid the job market this year.Unbalanced Reactionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13407339711183651108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-24816107517176654502009-02-02T22:45:00.000-06:002009-02-02T22:45:00.000-06:00I'm a new professor dealing with the crazy rules -...I'm a new professor dealing with the crazy rules - which are even harder when all of your funds are start up and totally under the rule of the crazies (yes they are 'unrestricted' but with hiring freezes and such it gets murky whether I can hire a staff person I need. or make large equipment purchases).<BR/><BR/>On the bright side, at least faculty jobs have some (?) security - I feel for the staff who are going to bear the brunt of this and all of us will be doing more with no raises.. sighAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-24315677256642345242009-02-02T20:03:00.000-06:002009-02-02T20:03:00.000-06:00Thomas Joseph: we do that kind of thing already. ...Thomas Joseph: we do that kind of thing already. But, you can't do that with an exam for a 300 person intro class. I suppose you could do online exams, but I would never; the cheating would be impossible to control.<BR/><BR/>Narya: that fits with what I know about grants. Of course the university is the one that fills out the accounting paperwork, so God knows what would actually happen (ie: maybe they could find a way to keep it?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-16333601917414739862009-02-02T19:57:00.000-06:002009-02-02T19:57:00.000-06:00Your blog is great! Have been following for awhile...Your blog is great! Have been following for awhile but never posted. Anyway, I'll be starting my postdoc in a few months and I was wondering if you or any of your readers have any advice regarding "positioning" myself for the academic job market in a few years. I hate to say it that way because it sounds so calculating, but I want to be realistic about the number of qualified PhDs/MDs vs. the (dwindling?) number of faculty positions. Besides the ability to do good science, what are other skills that cash-strapped universities might find appealing? Teaching experience? And should I tailor my postdoc research in a certain way? For example, by using a cheaper model organism or opting for simpler technology. Thanks in advance for any ideas...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-46035848787184739402009-02-02T16:49:00.000-06:002009-02-02T16:49:00.000-06:00If grants in your world work the way they do in mi...If grants in your world work the way they do in mine, then not spending the money = LOSING the money. You'd best have a plan for "unobligated funds," not to mention a conversation with your project officer about the acceptability of same, or you will have to give the money back.Naryahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05369280617520806983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-67008004988208757212009-02-02T11:22:00.000-06:002009-02-02T11:22:00.000-06:00We have many of the same issues in Canada with one...We have many of the same issues in Canada with one exception -- applications to our grad program by US students is up from (typically) none to twelve (all came in late) this year. Part of our 'stimulus package' was increased funding for grad students. However, with cuts to the bug three granting councils this is pretty much a wash for faculty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-77706150047991046342009-02-02T11:13:00.000-06:002009-02-02T11:13:00.000-06:00we got a two weeks furlough. we cannot take ti dur...we got a two weeks furlough. we cannot take ti during the summer, neither on days we teach or have service activities. On furlough days we won't be able to check email, enter the building, etc.<BR/>The cut is across the board, and will sum up to about 10% of the salary. There are serious fears that this will become a norm (ie paycut). <BR/>Everything was handled top down, no discussion; faculty were very passive too. Proposals of sliding scale to spare the lowest paid staff were unanswered. <BR/>Meanwhile, the U is going ahead with at least two high profile hires (center type, bringing many staff people). Technically the money comes from a different pot, yet it's a bit like the automotive execs flying on separate corporate jets to DC.<BR/>Plus, once the big shots are here, they will be on state payroll like everybody else...<BR/><BR/>here too it was initially decided to cut salaries to people on soft money, but I think that after a good chat with federal agencies, this idea has disappeared... Basically the admin thought that it was unfair to not cut everybody, again showing no understanding of how grants work....chemcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00098595895344578873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-18768960276557712622009-02-02T10:41:00.000-06:002009-02-02T10:41:00.000-06:00Have no idea what my university plans to do re: cu...Have no idea what my university plans to do re: cutting budgets - we're under a hiring freeze (although at least one other public university in my state has advertised for open positions this year), and we've been told to put in all requests for new supplies ASAP (you can't cut money that's already been spent, I guess).<BR/><BR/>Re: grants - your comments about grant offices not realizing how grants work resonating here... one of my first proposals had a pretty large subcontract for some colleagues. My grants office told me to make sure to state which university that subcontract would go to explicitly in the proposal, as otherwise our state attorney general could choose to put the subcontract up for bid and have someone else do the work cheaper (if the grant was funded - it wasn't).<BR/><BR/>I was trying to get my routing forms signed, so I didn't end up trying to explain how bidding out the subcontract would be a seriously bad idea. I just hope there is someone in the administration that realizes this...<BR/><BR/>Sigh - we're getting the "impact of the cuts in the budget" meetings this week... I can't attend them, so have to hope all ends up ok...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146828889199488355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-35296662132934039322009-02-02T09:55:00.000-06:002009-02-02T09:55:00.000-06:00I've just heard that all faculty and staff at my g...I've just heard that all faculty and staff at my graduate alma mater are being forced to go to 4-day work weeks, regardless of whether they are paid from grant or state funds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-55243197565638692532009-02-02T09:47:00.001-06:002009-02-02T09:47:00.001-06:00How about no money for faculty to make copies.My w...<I>How about no money for faculty to make copies.</I><BR/><BR/>My wife went back to school for another degree. She wanted to change her career path. Both she and I are amazed at the total waste of paper that occurs there. They have a system, called "Blackboard", which is an online interactive system for posting syllabi, homework, online quizzes, and any other information a teacher would need to communicate to a class.<BR/><BR/>However, it remains an under utilized resource. Why the university doesn't mandate it's use is beyond me.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14211618861743447072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-50976796436355007202009-02-02T09:47:00.000-06:002009-02-02T09:47:00.000-06:00Your post is right on the money. You could probab...Your post is right on the money. You could probably also collect a number of stories about the contradictions with proposed "stimulus" projects. A new building is now scheduled to break ground in May next to mine, which our building is opposing in a NIMBY way, which is ironic logic all around.<BR/><BR/>One factor we faculty don't give sufficient credit is that flexibility is also expensive. If the bureaucrats are going to bend the rules, as in allowing the raise that is fair to the postdoc, it takes extra effort to be sure more trouble is not generated than relieved. Many faculty assume their overhead is more omnipotent than it really is.John Vidalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09871768524749705799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-39279099122176565402009-02-02T08:53:00.000-06:002009-02-02T08:53:00.000-06:00My university is doing the same thing, with both e...My university is doing the same thing, with both external grants and start-up funds. They are trying to hold on to every penny they can so that they can pay off some big bills that come due at the end of the fiscal year. The ability to attract and hire good people -- or any people -- seems to be the least of their concerns right now. And with so many universities in the same boat these days, who's to say that any one university's reputations will suffer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-48963781071993185012009-02-02T08:31:00.000-06:002009-02-02T08:31:00.000-06:00Maybe everyone is in Crisis Mode and not thinking ...<I>Maybe everyone is in Crisis Mode and not thinking clearly ...</I><BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, this is the EXACT time when we need cool and level heads. It's a shame that common sense often seems to be the first thing thrown out the window when times get rough. Then again, maybe there never was common sense there in the first place, and it only took the crisis to reveal that fact.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14211618861743447072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51318339471578878872009-02-02T07:50:00.000-06:002009-02-02T07:50:00.000-06:00I think that the thing the school doesn't understa...I think that the thing the school doesn't understand about grants is that they are NOT the University's, they are just holding them in trust. that grant money would not be in their accounts without that PI.<BR/><BR/>How about no money for faculty to make copies. Even for exams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-79490909683246322892009-02-02T00:43:00.000-06:002009-02-02T00:43:00.000-06:00Your posts keep resonating with me, between last w...Your posts keep resonating with me, between last week's post on student questions and emails and this one on university spending. Suffice it to say that there's talk of defaulting on start-up packages.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure that this will do wonders for our reputation and our ability to hire good people in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com