Staying Sane

on the Tenure Track

Shane HendersonCornell UniversityPh.D. Colloquium,

2008 WSC

Initial Thoughts• Why listen to me? Perhaps you

shouldn’t!• Impostor Syndrome

– “You’re no good, and they’re going to find out…”

• Richard Felder: Useful workshop!• To come: research, service, teaching,

tenure, time management, personal life

Research• Reality is a great source of problems,

just be careful• Attend an NSF (or other) review panel• Don’t paint a topic as something it isn’t• Publish in the right place• Don’t get defensive when presenting• Don’t submit abstracts before you’ve

done the work• Or at least be vague in the abstract …

Service• Focus on external service here• Volunteering really is fun, but

avoid the biggies until later• Refereeing:

– Do reports “immediately” or not at all– Be constructive– Worthwhile? New? True?– Pointing out all typos is not refereeing

• When you get tenure your service load will double

Teaching Part I• Read panel papers from recent WSCs• If all else fails, be organized• Say no to week-long workshops• Assign a TA to handle all hw queries• Allow regrading, but regrade the lot

– Discourages “one-point wonders”• Be careful in wording hw and exams

Teaching Part II• Exam makeups will be a major pain• Prevent post-exam editing• Use a grading scheme that allows

for improvement over the semester• Don’t take it personally• Make classroom safe for questions• Avoid email

Tenure• Yes, it’s a good deal!• Don’t make it your over-riding goal• Don’t be in a hurry to get there• A postdoc or visiting position helps• Keep the stress under control

– You can be valued elsewhere– Tenure is an unexpected bonus

Tenure II• Be who you want to be• Keep the flywheel turning• Be visible (some external service)• Maximize marketability

Time ManagementOHIOLearn to say

NoThat sounds important, but

I cannot devote sufficient time to do the job well right now

I’m sorry, but my portfolio of commitments is full at this time

Get lost!

Time Management II• Keep a calendar and a to-do list• Don’t use your email inbox as a to-do

list• Accept that sometimes progress will

be limited, especially in the first year• Find the work mode that fits you best• Don’t discount in time

Personal Life• Get a hobby where you cannot think of

work• Don’t work 14 hours a day, assuming

life gets calmer after tenure• Find a sympathetic soul• Take pity on your spouse and friends• Keep your ego under control

Special Thanks to…