Welcome back, everyone! This month’s blog will focus a little more on academia. It’s a direct consequence of recent musings. I hope you enjoy and perhaps find some of it useful.
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog was partially inspired by a single, and bop, by Bri Steves.
ACADEMIC BREAKDOWN – PROS & CONS
Three weeks ago, my committee set my expected completion date to spring 2020. That means job hunting season is just around the corner. As a result, I’ve been weighing career options. Here’s the current breakdown of my career interests: 50% academia, 30% public sector, 20% private sector. Yup, I’m back on the academic Kool-Aid. Academia is a broad term that includes community colleges, universities, research institutes, and national laboratories. Now, academia catches a lot of flak and there’s several reasons for that. As someone who attends an R1 research institution (universities can be classified as either R1, R2, or R3 based on the level of research activity with R1 being the highest), I’ve been heavily biased by the emphasis on research (and funding) and the de-emphasis of teaching and mentorship. I’m not big on research. I find meaning in teaching, mentorship, and (as I’m now discovering) leadership. However, it’s important to remember that there are other types of academic units that have different priorities. So, I’ve started to compile a mental list of pros and cons. Here’s a glimpse of that:
PRO: Independence / Flexibility – Traditionally in academia you are responsible for securing a portion of your funding to pursue your research interests. This results in more independence in the workplace and flexibility in terms of projects. Having spent 5 years in grad school, I’ve learned that I value my independence tremendously. A micromanaging boss reduces my morale, productivity, and creativity. An incompetent boss would be unbearable. Although you do have superiors, when you’re a professor you’re essentially your own boss because – in theory – you’re an expert in your specialty. That mutual respect helps lessen hierarchal effects, which seem more common in the public and private sectors.
CON: Soft(er) money – Worrying about money is one of my least favorite feelings. It’s something I’ve done for the last decade of my life. Plus, I’ve watched my parents do it. And it’s no fun. It stresses you out and prevents you from focusing energy on other priorities. Although most institutions will guarantee some percentage or portion of your salary, you’re responsible for the remainder. That means writing grants & proposals, usually for research. I ain’t feelin dat. Personally, I’d prefer if research was around ≤ 25% of my job description. That stiff requirement basically limits me to R3 institutions or community colleges.
PRO: (Quality / Family) Time – If you’re in academia at a university, your life can be divided into semesters or quarters. There’s also a suite of holidays. This provides an opportunity to spend time with one’s family, friends, etc. In other words, none of that 2 weeks paid vacation bull shit. At the smaller scale, your schedule can vary during the week depending on your course load and other responsibilities. This means that working 8 to 5, 5 days a week isn’t always an expectation.
CON: (Lack of) Time – On the flip side, contrary to what I typed in the preceding paragraph, that has not been the typical experience for faculty at the R1 research institution I attend. Most of the faculty are overcommitted and overworked. And the hours, days, and weeks they work can cut into personal and family time. This has concerned many grad students. Some worry they won’t thrive in that work environment. Others have chosen to prioritize their families, so working long hours isn’t optimal. Either way, working >50 hours a week isn’t ideal.
PRO: Mentoring / Teaching / Outreach – Depending on which, if any, of these you prefer, academia on a university campus offers the opportunity to delve into one or all of these. Even at my school, faculty are required to teach at least one or two courses per year. Of course, you can mentor, teach, or interact with the public in other professions. However, a university campus offers a convenient opportunity to access these activities.
CON: Lack of Available Positions – There are more graduates than positions available in academia. Ergo, the chances of landing the position you want at the institution you want the moment you leave graduate school is very slim. However, having a strong network and an impressive CV means that finding a job shouldn’t be too difficult. The experiences and opportunities you gain there could eventually propel you toward the position you want. I’m okay with not landing the exact gig I want initially. On the other hand, I am concerned about taking a position in a city, state, or region that I’d prefer not to live in. If positions are scarce, however, I might have to take what I can get.
Advice: I encourage you not to write off any options too soon. I know a few people who hated the idea of academia when they left graduate school only to return to it after a couple of years. I also know people who thought they wanted to work in academia but opted for the private sector only to discover how much they enjoy it. You have every right to choose the path that works for you but try not to limit that path too much based on some negative experiences. That’s tough. But there’s a big world out there.
NEGATIVE PEOPLE – ACADEMIC EDITION
We all have days when we’re down in the dumps or cycle through counterproductive thoughts. Sometimes we put ourselves, or others, down because we’re having a bad day, week, or month. That’s common. But when the circumstances change, we dig ourselves out of that hole. Then, there are those people who –independent of any current external circumstance – are negative. At the heart of the matter, these people are victims too. Their negativity likely stems from deep-rooted anger or malign towards an individual or individuals in their past who have wronged them. OK. I also fault others in contact with these negative individuals who have failed to provide them with constructive feedback on their mindset. However, at some point, a level of self-awareness is necessary.
In the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking about the influence of negative people on the academic environment. Usually, these thoughts drift toward faculty and the enormous impact they have on graduate and undergraduate students whether as advisors or committee members. Recently, I’ve started to focus on the grad students themselves. If we’re going to change science and academia, it’ll start from within via the next generation. Lately, I’ve paid more attention to the thoughts and ideas of my fellow grad students. I’m disheartened by the amount of negativity, especially that associated with other sub-disciplines and topics of study. This has been particularly noticeable in more junior students. Lines such as “I don’t care about anything.”, “I don’t care about that.”, or “I don’t care about studying [insert topic here].” It sounds asinine, but it can profoundly shape the mood of departments and communities. You’re a scientist with a thirsting curiosity accumulating a variety of marketable skills. If you limit yourself (pigeon holing, as some would say), you’re hurting your own prospects. Voicing such statements doesn’t make you sound cool, hip, or edgy. Instead, you run the risk of sounding either ignorant (forgivable and solvable), immature (forgivable and solvable), or idiotic (unforgivable and insolvable). If we truly want a more inclusive, healthier work environment in academia, then it’s up to all of us to promote it. And it starts when we’re young scientists.
Advice: If you’re insecure about your place in STEM, resist the urge to put down others’ work and disciplines to lift yourself up. If you’re ignorant, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Reach out to other people and learn more about their discipline. If you’re envious or immature, invest in self-introspection or seek advice from a professional. If you want to be a better person and put more positive energy in the world, you have a multitude of opportunities.
2020 MIDTERMS ELECTIONS
Vote. Volunteer. As we’ve seen this week with the attempt to turn America into Gilead (see The Handmaid’s Tale), this year’s midterm election is a national referendum against authoritarianism, anti-science, and hate. If you believe in better healthcare; better wages; equity for women, LGBT+, minorities; a fairer economy; environmental protection and conservation; representative democracy; etc., then exercise your civic duty in ~2 weeks.
Advice: VOTE! Then, tell you friends to vote.
CURRENT SHOWS
Recently finished: Harlots (s2); Insecure (s3)
Currently watching: Disenchanted; Terrace House: Boys and Girls in the City (s2); The Man in the High Castle (s3)
Thank you for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, November 22nd AKA Thanksgiving. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 