The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 3 research/teaching positions and 1 teaching position.
Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.
On June 6, 2023, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 6 research/teaching positions.
Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This will serve as the first open thread.
Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread.
Will the chemical engineering one be happening this year too? I think it kinda fell off hard in January this past cycle.
ReplyDeleteThe Chemical Engineering List is independent of this blog. It is publicized here only. - CJ
DeleteHere we go again... and to think I was just recovering from the let-down that was the 2024 cycle...
ReplyDeleteWe got this!
DeleteRemember to check faculty salary expectations against the AAUP salary survey (https://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/AAUP_2023-24_FCS_preliminary_results_appendices_corrected.pdf)
ReplyDeleteI mean this sincerely: Thank you to whoever posted this!
DeleteMy industry job is fine, and I am happier than I've been in years!
Difficult to see how academia attracts the "best and the brightest" these days given the abysmal salary level, especially ones in HCOL areas. You pretty much need to come from a privileged background, have a wealthy spouse, or live poorly/not raise a family with dignity in order to justify the choice.
DeleteWhat, generally, have people heard about this upcoming cycle? I had heard there was a lot of general optimism about the cycles in Fall of 2022 and 2023 because COVID-era hiring freezes were ending. By comparison I haven't heard much of anything about this cycle.
ReplyDeleteCan you help me understand this list more? I can't seem to find a key for the headings in that PDF. The numbers you're posting here aren't all from the same column (e.g. St. Olaf and USC are from the "AI" column but Utah State is from the "LE" column) so I'm pretty confused where to look for myself.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: Utah State University $82.4k (Thank you, Anonymous June 27, 2024 at 1:38 PM!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous June 27, 2024 at 1:38 PM. It is a little confusing the first time around! The main AAUP research website is https://www.aaup.org/our-work/research/FCS [noted on page 1 of the appendices pdf ]. The narrative report [https://www.aaup.org/file/ARES_2023-24.pdf] has a full list of the abbreviations. Here are some of the main abbreviations, including ranks:
ReplyDeleteNAME = name of institution (listed alphabetically by state)
NOTES = found on pdf pages 38-40 and 51 of the appendices pdf
CAT. = AAUP institutional categories
CTRL = institutional control (public, private, religious, etc.)
Ranks:
PR = full professor
AO = associate professor
AI = assistant professor
IN = instructor
LE = lecturer
And the list is across all colleges?
ReplyDeleteI got an assistant professor position a couple of years ago. For my institution (R1), the listed salary numbers are in the ballpark but a little low (I started >$15k higher than what's listed).
ReplyDeleteI believe it is averaged across all fields and pay in STEM fields will tend to be higher, occasionally a lot higher, than pay for faculty in the arts or humanities at some institutions (including mine), which may skew the listed numbers lower than what you'd be paid as a chem prof.
ReplyDelete@AnonymousJuly 3, 2024 at 12:37 PM &
ReplyDelete@AnonymousJuly 3, 2024 at 5:31 PM &
@AnonymousJuly 3, 2024 at 7:22 PM
WHAT IS THE DATA COLLECTION METHOD FOR THE FACULTY COMPENSATION SURVEY?
Data for the Faculty Compensation Survey is collected directly from colleges and universities, usually from an administrative office. Data is reported in the aggregate for the institution, by faculty rank, and gender. Currently, the Faculty Compensation Survey does not collect individual-level salary data or data at the discipline level. Data includes full-time and part-time instructional and instructional/research/public service faculty, with the exception of clinical or basic science faculty, medical faculty in schools of medicine, and military faculty. Data is collected for the current academic year, as defined by your institution, with the exception of part-time faculty, for whom data is collected for the prior academic year. All data for full-time faculty is for a total annual academic year base salary unless otherwise noted.
(from https://research.aaup.org/faq)
Is anyone else having the problem that google docs says there is a problem with the spreadsheet and it cannot load? I have tried firefox and chrome, both on private browsing mode, and it wouldn't load in either.
ReplyDeleteYes, someone on BlueSky reported this as well. Can you describe the problem?
DeleteAlso, send me your email (chemjobber@gmail.com) and I can send you a downloaded attachment.
Just opened fine for me.
DeleteI have also been unable to open the google sheet for some time now. It gives an error message (copied below) that just keeps coming up if I try to reload. I have tried using firefox and safari and multiple computers (all macs, different IP addresses). I don't really need the attachment, I just like to follow the postings and don't know why google docs is all of a sudden not working for me with this file.
ReplyDeleteGoogle logo
Google Docs encountered an error. Please try reloading this page, or coming back to it in a few minutes.
To learn more about the Google Docs editors, please visit our help center.
We're sorry for the inconvenience.
- The Google Docs Team
When you see a post list "materials" as focus, should that generally be assumed to mean inorganic materials or are polymers/soft matter often under consideration too?
ReplyDeleteIf there is no explicit clarification in the full job posting, I think it would be reasonable to apply as someone working in polymers/soft materials. Looking at the Texas Tech post (for example), the position is listed as Materials/Energy, but it explicitly notes Inorganic Chemistry in their full listing.
DeleteIt's rumored that the Yale chemistry open search favors senior candidates.
ReplyDeleteAny idea what areas of chem will be given preference?
Deleteby "favors senior candidates", I assume this is code for they have a very specific senior hire that they wish to make?
DeleteSome places use this as code for you have to have external funding to be considered.
DeleteProbably pchem
DeleteCould be computchem, they just lost a big name
DeleteI haven't personally heard about senior candidates, but a faculty member here told me they are looking for a physical chemist (source: I'm a postdoc at Yale)
DeleteIt looks like Tori Barber updated the 2024 search status tracker document with a separate sheet for 2025. There's not much in the way of activity on it yet, though.
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zZf5I43l4jXVUWsIUZVo7UeA9vrIszitGdkYA9XUBgY/edit?usp=sharing
FWIW I'm pretty sure she isn't updating it anymore (If you look at it in google drive, I've never seen "last edited by [Tori's email]"), but yes it is up.
Deletelooks like people are using it since it is editable
DeleteNew Mexico State University are not recommended, departmental leadership has created an environment that is toxic beyond description.
ReplyDeleteI was told the department is quite conservative
DeleteStarting pay is also abysmal, even by (generally abysmal) assistant prof. standards
DeleteThere is ongoing litigation against the chair - according to the complaint the chair is on record saying she would rather be at an institution with less Hispanics. Oh my, a racist as dept chair!
DeleteJust saw Utah State had an inorganic position come up. I suppose it bears mentioning that they had a professor (Tianbiao Liu) who was there when I interviewed last fall for the physical posting. He has since been removed from the website and has pending litigation (https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/53650241/Liu_v_Utah_State_University_et_al) against the University
ReplyDeleteWhoa any idea what this is about? Always enjoyed his papers
DeleteApparently in Utah you can't access any court filings electronically without paying, and I'm stingy so I do not have any idea. From that link it looks like it involves the Dept Chari, Provost, and Title IX coordinator, and it falls under a Civil Rights Act lawsuit. Probably some juicy details.
DeleteDid Utah State hire anyone for the computational position last year?
DeleteNobody is on their faculty page. I got ghosted and have checked periodically to see when new hires popped up. They put up the organic guy about a month and a half ago maybe?
DeleteNow, I am very curious to know. I follow his papers regularly. Someone please find out!
DeleteWas able to find an archival posting of the court filing (https://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.utd.148465) so people can read for themselves and decide. Not sure if there is more from either side on this, doesn't look like a clear cut issue.
DeleteNow, I am very curious to know. I follow his papers regularly. Someone please find out!
ReplyDeleteAs a faculty member currently on a search committee, please submit all of the requested application materials. If the job ad requests a CL, CV, transcripts, teaching philosophy, research proposal, and DEI statement, then include them all. And, if the ad specifically mentions being able to teach organic, and your background is inorganic or analytical, don't be surprised if you don't get an interview.
ReplyDeleteSo true! If all the documents aren't submitted, we aren't even allowed to look at the application.
DeleteHow much does the committee care about page requirements? The usual 3 pages for 3 proposals with a 1 page summary seems to becoming less common. Will apps be thrown out if this is used over a requested 7 page or 5 page document? Engineering seems even more intense with some only requiring 3 pages.
DeleteNot on a committee, but honestly so few suggest anything close to 10 that my "base" was 5 pages + references. Then I have another 2 pager that I use for ones that want something shorter.
DeleteThe advise I've been given from multiple senior faculty at prestigeous schools (Caltech, Berkeley, MIT, et al.) is that your executive summary needs to be tip top shape as well as figures throughout the prop package. Chances are they won't read beyond that, regardless of what the page "requirement" is. Given them a fully cooked idea rather than a half-baked but shorter version.
DeleteIf the rec letters arrive a bit late, is the application also considered incomplete and not considered?
ReplyDeleteI had one recommender (actually their admin) not send in several letters by one deadline and I was never evaluated by those schools. It's often a hard cutoff.
DeleteThat's why I like schools that ask for them later once you pass the initial triage. You don't need letters to tell who is competitive or not, and it motivates recommenders to actually get them in on time if you're at the Zoom stage with clear interest from the school.
DeleteHow do you know you weren't evaluated by those schools?
DeleteAs a counterexample, our department treats the deadline as a soft deadline and will look at applications as long as they're submitted before we decide on zoom interview candidates. If there was someone we agreed on as a preferred candidate that was missing a letter, we'd likely let them know.
DeleteI know because I contacted the search committees and they said they hadn't received my app. It was still stuck in the application system because it was marked as incomplete. It will vary with the system each school uses. Some are more strict than others with regard to the committee being able to see all initiated vs. only completed apps.
DeleteIs it just me or does this cycle feel substantially lighter than last year in terms of R1 openings? I've checked the analytics, but it "feels" different to me. Maybe just my perseption?
ReplyDeleteMight just be your subfield? This is another brutal year for polymer-specific positions unfortunately.
Delete@1:13 pm. Sadly I am a polymer chemist T_T
DeleteSame bro, same. I've been applying to a decent number of organic openings too, unless they specify something decidedly not polymer-y (medicinal etc.)
DeleteIt does feel lighter I think; feels like a lot more PUIs this cycle. Would be curious to see the breakdown of R1 vs PUI/Masters over the years
DeleteThis isn't very scientific of me, but if I ctrl+F for "PhD" in each of the last several years' sheets I get: 2025: 196 hits/334 postings (59%), 2024: 291 hits/558 postings (52%), 2023: 316 hits out of 628(!!) postings (50%), 2022: 300 hits out of 594 postings (51%), skipping 2021 because COVID weirdness, 2020: 315/557 (57%)
DeleteAlso worth noting that, over the years, I've kept a better eye out for R1 biochemistry positions at medical schools than, say, the 2016-2018 time period. - CJ
Delete@127 pm. Interesting. How many of those PhD programs qualify as R1 vs. R2, I wonder? Maybe this might just be a projection of specific subfields onto the whole cycle?
Delete@247 pm -- I've also been applying to ChemE and MatSE as polymers *could* fit into either of those camps. Granted, I think like a chemist, not an engineer.
ReplyDeleteSame, I'm stuck in a painful kind of hell where my research is very applied so, historically, a lot of chem departments have been turned off by that, but my degree is in chemistry which I understand probably gets me filtered out from a lot of ChemE/MSE searches. Here's to better luck this year!
Delete@409 pm - I'll cheers to that. It's all a black box anyway, with too many candidates, too few positions. Shrug. I guess we do the best we can do, and let the rest sort itself out.
DeleteJust as an FYI (chair at R1 institution) - we get so many excellent applicants for our openings that when triaging, we look for reasons to discount an application, whether this is totally fair or not is an issue for another time. So if it is missing components or does not follow the instructions precisely then you're out of luck. Don't assume that because your application is strong in other ways that you will be considered if it is incomplete or doesn't meet the job description. While exceptions exist for sure, don't assume it will be you. We can get more than 150-200 applications per opening, to expect some to read and fully evaluate all of these applications if some are incomplete is unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteCJ, any reason you haven't put in the Southern Miss positions? While it's a "polymer engineering" program, some of the best polymer chemists in America hail from that program in one way or another, such as Brent Sumerlin (who is a legit organic chemist of polymers). More broadly, I find it confusing that you're willing to put in (bio)chemistry positions, even from medical schools and biochemistry departments, but not polymer-focused materials/chemical engineering job postings. Similar last year with the UMass Polymer Engineering position. There are very legit chemists on that faculty (Todd Emrick, Todd Russell, Greg Tew) as well.
ReplyDeleteFor what it is worth, that position did make it onto the ChemE list. As a polymer chemist myself, I think we broadly fit into Chemistry, ChemE, and MSE. Therefore, we should check all three lists. I for one really appreciate all the hard work that CJ puts into maintaining the list. Let's please cut them some slack -- they are under no obligation to continue doing the community this massive service.
DeleteDear Professor:
DeleteFirst, the reason that I hadn't added the positions is that I was thinking about them, and that I was returning from a trip to Europe while working at my day job over the weekend on some work that is due tomorrow.
Second, your substantive comment is fundamentally why I draw a hard boundary for engineering department positions - I have no ability to judge (as you do) which engineering department have "very legit chemists" and which do not. Therefore, the rule (in my opinion) is that I either add all of them, or that I add none of them. Regrettably for you, I have chosen (and will continue to choose) the latter.
Third, my commitment to the job seekers of this list are: accuracy, speed and a high signal-to-noise ratio. There are many, many temptations adding institutions and departments, but I fundamentally feel that adding additional kinds of departments are a dilution of that signal-to-noise ratio.
Finally, I remind you: you are literally being paid to write me to request me to help you with your search. I remind you: I am *not* being paid to respond, and I do not take any money for running the Faculty Jobs List. I am doing this on my own time, adding over 500 positions a year, taking somewhere around 30 seconds (4.2 hours a year) to 3 minutes (a lot longer) to do so. I do not have unlimited time to curate this list, and this is where I have drawn the line. I hope you understand.
Respectfully, Chemjobber
Appreciate the thoughts! I was just curious, did not mean for that to come across combative (and I am not from that department fwiw, just an observer).
DeleteYou think we are going to see more R1 openings or large majority of them have already been posted already? Seems fewer than last year...
ReplyDeleteGiven that we are in mid october, my non-scientifically based guess is that most of them that will post have already posted. There probably will be some stragglers, but I agree that this feels like a slower year than last year or the year before. I'd love to get CJ's opinion given their experience curating the list for so long.
DeleteDon't know for PhD-institution openings, but it looks like to me we're running about 10% behind the moving average for October 16 (358 positions overall as of today, 381 is the moving average). The list usually ends up in the 550 range, so I would say that we still have a ways to go before we say this is entirely an off year. Still, I would be shocked at a catch-up rate.
Delete@CJ Thanks for your insight, as always! Bummer, but not much anyone of us applicants can really do about the worse market this cycle vs. last cycle. As you (jokingly) state on this blog, it's always bad.
DeleteIt does seem this is an off year… any insight?
DeleteThe advise I got from my postdoc advisor was "dont go out on an election year." Does that seem to track, @CJ?
DeleteNever heard that advice, but I dunno. Which election? | I mean, we only have three solid data points: 2016 (I presume they mean fall 2016), 2020 and 2024. Surely you throw out the fall 2020 numbers (COVID) and now you're down to two. I dunno.
DeleteFaculty member here; considering how far in advance (a year, two years, sometimes longer) we have to work to get approval for a new hire (excepting opportunity hires), I just don't see how an election cycle could impact this. Could be wrong and maybe others do it differently....
DeleteR1 faculty here... I don't see any merit to a significant correlation between Presidential election years and number of tenure-track Chemistry faculty openings
DeleteIs there an updated Future PI Slack spreadsheet?
ReplyDeleteThere is. You should reach out to the admins to get the link as it's not supposed to be shared publicly.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteHas anyone heard from the Mount Sinai DPS chem bio/med chem search?
ReplyDeleteHave not heard
DeleteI am 5th year assistant professor at R1 and supposed to submit my tenure package next year. It is very much already granted in department and college level. I have a huge independent grant (~$1m). Can I be able to apply some positions and negotiate for the tenured associate professor position elsewhere? What will be the chance?
ReplyDeleteI remember meeting a well-known professor who came to give a seminar at my department when I was in grad school, and this topic came up during the meet-the-speaker reception with the grad students. He shared that he had started his career at a department known for frequently denying tenure, so he job-hunted when his tenure review was coming up. He ended up accepting a position elsewhere even though his tenure was granted because the offer was so good.
DeleteOkay, so starting as an assistant professor again?
DeleteI have definitely seen close-to-tenure professors moving to a new institution as an associate professor. Some of them are super stars and moved to very prestigious universities.
DeleteYea, but those moves often come at the expense of not hiring an assisstant prof. The system is really crudy if you have to eat up an offer just to get a raise/negotiate terms.
DeleteI did my undergrad, PhD and a first postdoc in the US and I am spending 18 months in europe on a prestigious fellowship at the moment -- I am interviewing for US faculty jobs at the moment and was wondering if hiring committees are less likely to schedule interviews or on-site interviews if I am currently overseas? any insight from applicants and faculty is immensely appreciated
ReplyDeleteI'm a faculty member at a small liberal arts college. That is not something we would worry about. We've had candidates from abroad apply and the expense of bringing them to campus was never part of the conversation. Good luck!
DeleteA data point from R1: my department interviewed and hired someone from UK several years ago.
DeleteIs it just me or does "everything" feel a lot slower this year? Not just the total number of positions (which seems down, see comments above), but also the time from priority to first response.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hard to say really. We're within a month(ish) of most deadlines so not seeing a lot of movement isn't so surprising. If, as you say, there are fewer positions (and my rudimentary analysis a few weeks ago suggests a similar % of PhD granting schools hiring, while CJ notes a 10ish% lag in posting numbers) then unless you expect fewer job seekers, there will be more applicants to review by institutions that are running searches. That could drag out timeliness.
DeleteMaybe I'm naive but I bet things heat up a lot the next 2-3 weeks because I'd imagine schools will want to at least have zoom screener done before Thanksgiving, or at least scheduled.
It's not just you @946pm. I agree with @928am's reply though. It's a bit too early to call it, but at some point, soon becomes late and late becomes very late. Hang in there!
DeleteI was in the last cycle. This cycle is slower in terms of the number of R1 openings and response time, at least compared to the last cycle. I’m curious why, though.
DeleteI don't think is slow. Just smaller openings due to low student enrollment.
DeleteI was also in the last cycle, and I agree that it seems the process is a bit slower this year. but surprisingly, there were 87 responses last year compared to 96 responses this year as of 10/31. I think it is a matter of R1 university.
DeleteI agree; R1 schools are slower this year. By the end of October last year, I had quite a few Zoom interviews from R1 chemistry programs, but so far, I haven't had any from chemistry programs this year. Several schools have only updated me on references and other documents. I am applying broadly to both chemistry and biology programs, though.
DeleteIf one school is running multiple searches and goes directly to on-site, should one expect all of that school's searches to follow suit (e.g. FL State has 3 searches and one skipped zoom and went straight to onsite)
ReplyDeleteAnyone heard back from Penn State?
ReplyDeleteThey're too focused on their Top-5 matchup this week
DeleteIt’s taking so long because they have to check all the applications for ChatGPT
ReplyDeleteIs this for real? I use it to polish my writing.
DeleteDo those AI trackers even work? I recall some email sent by a professor admonishing his class for widespread AI cheating and he said he used an AI detector and then a student ran his email through the AI detector and it said it had been written by AI....
DeleteI think polishing writing is perfectly acceptable, responsible usage of ChatGPT. Full-sale ideation with it, probably isn't. I think the community needs to accept that AI is here to stay -- might as well learn how to use it responsibly than to idiotically shun it.
DeleteUpdates on Yale or MIT?
ReplyDeleteI was born at Yale's medical center but moved away when I was 6 months old. Would be fun to be back...
DeleteI once drove through New Haven
DeleteNo updates as of 10/31. Be patient.
DeleteI like this thread.
DeleteI appied to both for graduate school... rejected from both.
DeleteNot sure of the best way to get this out to people, but for those of you with on-site interviews at Utah State, be aware that they use their research proposal talk as a test of your teaching abilities. The department as a whole values teaching more than most R1 schools in my experience (likely owing to size/recent R1 status change). They had grad students and I think even a couple of undergrads present for my research talk and when I asked for feedback after not getting an offer they said that a key piece was that my research talk flew too far above the heads of the students in the audience and they wanted my research talk to teach them all the background to understand my plan.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I could have done a little better on the background (although I got no other feedback quite like that in my other interviews), but figured those interviewing could use the heads-up.
They had graduate and undergraduate students present for the proposal presentation? That is weird...
DeleteI'm not 100% sure if some were undergrads or not, their undergrads are older than average
DeleteI think research talks (public seminars, or whatever they may be called) typically invite graduate students and sometimes undergraduates. In the case of proposal talks (chalk talks), student presence is rare and can be weird... Also, for state schools, it is not surprising they prioritize teaching performance.
DeleteThe proposals - in particular - are supposed to be kept confidential. The only people who should be present at the proposal talk are those who have a vote in the hiring decision. This is a very strange arrangement.
DeleteOn a related note, I've also wondered this -- what "stops" faculty from just stealing ideas from candidates that they reject?
DeleteIn a word: nothing. Similar discussions have occurred on the FuturePI spreadsheet, and one commenter said it was much less often stolen by a search committee than it was stolen by the applicant's PI, who likely has equipment and infrastructure in place to move on it much more quickly.
DeleteThat's sad, yet unsurprising. When we all work for egotists, shouldn't be surprised when they throw their progeny under the bus for the name of "glory"
DeleteDoes anyone know if any of the R1 universities started calling people for the initial screenings? If so, which ones?
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zZf5I43l4jXVUWsIUZVo7UeA9vrIszitGdkYA9XUBgY/edit?gid=1306318780#gid=1306318780
Deletethank you!!
DeleteJust looked: nobody is reporting any notices by a lot of R1s (Yale, MIT, Northwestern, Cornell) after 5-6 weeks of the priority submission. Strange — last year it was fast
DeleteMy guess is that they are just not reporting them. The whole engagement on Chemjobber is lower this year, too. In the past, we'd be on the fourth open thread by now :)
DeleteI think everyone is still USING the lists, but I think just aren't posting like they used to.
Well fuck
DeleteI wonder how many searches are going to end up being cancelled due to the uncertainty of funding for the next 4 years?
DeleteI think the use of these threads is down just because a lot of the information that used to be conveyed on them (e.g. "Any updates from Florida State?") are now communicated via the sheet.
DeleteAs far as the sheet goes, it has as many lines entered on 11/13 (currently 133) as last year did (131). I don't see why people who used to post on the sheet wouldn't now...
I think for real conversations and advice, this forum is a much better option than posting in different font colors in spreadsheet cells. Please keep it going CJ!
Delete100% agreed, I just think the spreadsheet eats up a lot of the fluff of previous CJ open threads.
DeleteAny rumors about the priority areas for open calls at Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, etc.?
ReplyDeleteStanford and UChicago are hungry for organic methods
DeleteThat seems to be the case everywhere
DeleteCheck the furthest right column in the spreadsheet linked above, but for zoom invites so far...
ReplyDeleteStanford: Physical, inorganic, inorganic/chem bio, organic
Chicago: Polymer, Inorganic materials, inorganic/chem bio, inorganic/small molecule, organic methods
*sigh* I'm so bad at getting my comment to show up as a reply and not a new top-level comment
DeleteAre top schools looking for people who will use AI for their research?
ReplyDeleteyou can see AI specifically highlighted in some postings e.g UCSF
DeleteHaving spoken with a search committee member at one of the top schools about this exact topic, I doubt it. Applicants this season seem all too eager to include AI in their research (regardless of field) somehow, but if one cannot demonstrate expertise in neural networks, AI, etc, search committees are likely to doubt the success of such endeavor.
ReplyDeletehas anyone heard from the TEACH only positions?
ReplyDeleteI have been applying to exclusively teaching-track positions and have had some success- four Zoom interviews and three on-sites scheduled so far. Haven't heard from some other places. I've been updating the interview tracker with the specific schools that have contacted me.
Deleteoh... I guess I'll be unemployed after graduation then...
DeleteA lot of adjunct (or other temporary/short-term) teaching positions tend to be posted later in the cycle, which you may be more competitive for if you are ABD/have not done a postdoc/have limited teaching experience.
DeleteTEACH position - We had Zoom interviews in October and just completed our on-campus interviews. We'll have an offer out by the end of the week.
DeleteUniversity of Colorado is interviewing finalists for their teaching position now
DeleteAt what point is it worth messaging search committees to ask the status of the search? 6 weeks from priority date? 8 weeks?
ReplyDeleteWhen you have to make a decision on another offer, I would guess.
DeleteI agree with above. Especially if you've had a Zoom interview at one place and an on-site at another and want to know your chances of going on-site with the Zoom school. If you've heard nothing after 6-8 weeks, it's most likely a no but still worth reaching out.
DeleteDo schools usually send out invites for zoom interviews all at once? Is there still a chance if you aren't in that first round?
ReplyDeleteWhen I applied they did all the Zooms together. I'm faculty now and our committees almost always send just one bunch of Zoom invites. If we have many decline the Zooms or are really unhappy with those we talk to, we may send more out but that's uncommon.
DeleteThe only other exception to this I've seen is open applications, where there may be relying on different people to review/interview folks from different subfields (even this may vary by institution)
DeleteCertainly, open searches, especially those without a priority date, can be the Wild West of recruiting. I've known committees send one interview invite and hire that person because they were too good to delay on.
DeleteSaw an interesting remark on the tracker about a top school and how people are leaving the department. Curious what the reason might be. A few bad apples? Bad upper management? Or both? How important is climate as a faculty member? Is it possible to just mind your own business and keep doing good work?
ReplyDeleteYour contributions will be across research/teaching/service in some distribution depending on your role and the type of department you are in. Having an unsupportive/toxic department and an unsupportive institution more broadly can make all of those things more difficult for you to do and/or more time consuming. Everywhere there will be some small frustrations, but at some point it tips over to the point of not being worth it. I don't know the specifics of the department noted on the sheet (but had guessed it would be about a different one before checking).
DeleteThis is about Texas A&M? Give us the juicy gossip pls
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteSorry, that last statement was too juicy. I don't care to know the details and I don't care how public that bit of information was, but you've hit my limit of "this aspect of a non-public figure's life does not belong on a blog with my name on it."
DeleteBest wishes, Chemjobber
Google "TAMU journalism hire 2023" and you'll get an idea of the environment at that school these days. Big scandal led to president getting fired and pending litigation (all available in article, that's not privileged information)
DeleteReminds me of when Lisa Jones turned down a chem position at UNC over the university's handling of a similar situation.
DeleteHas anyone not heard ANYTHING yet? First time applying and getting nothing but silence... Any advice on how to cope? T_T
ReplyDeleteFirst, remember that the results of the job search are highly stochastic in nature. Timing, "fit", etc. all factor into things. The fact that you are on the job market for an acadmic position is a *huge* achievement; I know it likely doesn't feel that way to you now, but you are a talented scientist and chemist regardless of how things turn out. Hang in there, inhale and try your best to celebrate yourself!
DeleteMy first year applications resulted in exactly zero interviews. Second year got one in-person and no job offer and third time two in-person and two offers. Hang in there it may take time but things can work out if you persevere because academic job landing is like rolling a die
DeleteSame boat, applied to about 50 positions already, complete silence.
DeleteFor the person mentioning getting a job in the second and third year, how would that work for international people (like myself) on a visa, and who can't get non-chemistry jobs?
I cannot agree with the first reply enough. The things you learn quickly from the process (especially if you get interviews), are 1) how much fit matters, 2) how wildly search foci change from year to year, and 3) how many variables are beyond your control, especially behind the scenes that you might not be aware of.
DeleteI should also note that I initially went for quantity of apps (>40) but was most successful with a much smaller number (~20). This is probably due to fit - there's only a significant increase in your chances if you're a reasonable candidate for the position. Past a certain point, you're applying for jobs that aren't good fits.
DeleteFirst response here: another thing to keep in mind is that you are constantly learning. If things don't pan out this year, try again next year. I 100% bet you will have an improved package. This was my case. It's still a let down, but there are so many variables that you have 0 control over (see 736pm response). Lots of politics behind the scenes that have 0 to do with you. Hang in there! Maybe reach out to faculty you know to get as much feedback as you can.
DeleteI'm 139PM, thank you so so much for such warm replies! It's hard not to be critical to myself (whole process feels like a dating scene: rejection -> am I not attractive enough?) but what's the point. All of your comments helping me to think more about what I can actually do.
DeleteI'm 3:16pm and 12:39pm; hang in their, buddy! We are all in a similar situation and you are spot on about it being very difficult for those of us who are self critical. Do remind yourself that you are worth more than the outcome. Regardless of what pans out, you have a lot to offer this world and those who inhabit it.
DeleteI'm currently on the search committee at a PUI. Why is no one in this year's search sending thank you emails? We've done both Zoom and campus interviews and received one thank you email and that was after the Zoom call. Do you not realize how little things like thank you emails and how you treat the administrative assistant/support staff can be factored into a final decision? We were split 50-50 on who to make the offer to. It came down to the little things!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. If someone is a clear first choice for reasons related to research, teaching, service, etc. the little things won't change that. Or push someone else above you. BUT. Departments are often fighting at the end to figure out which candidate gets the offer. Then those "little things" can become important. We always ask our support staff about their interactions. (I would argue being an asshole to support staff isn't little, but someone being a little more friendly or easy to talk with is).
DeleteI disagree on this point actually. When I've gotten a thank you email, they haven't ever really felt genuine, and I just read it as one of their advisors told them it is customary to send thank you emails.
DeleteI'm first reply. That's true. I don't care about the email, specifically. But the other small things I do agree with.
DeleteI didn't send thank you emails after Zoom but did after in-person interviews, including to the admins. Basically everyone I had contact with got something, and it wasn't the same for all. I tried to include a sentence or two specific to our interactions/conversations to show it wasn't just a copy and paste situation. I got the job, so maybe it helped?
DeleteHow many first author JACS papers do you need for an interview?
ReplyDeleteThe question you're really asking is related to your research record being comparable to other applicants that are getting interviews or have gotten academic positions in your field. This will vary dramatically depending on the type of position you're applying for and will also vary by subfield. I would find recent hires at the caliber of institution you are interested in your field and see what their records look like pre-faculty position (number of papers, impact of publications, where they completed their training, etc.) to see if you might be competitive.
DeleteOther components of your application are certainly important and may be what are making or breaking your application, not just the "number of first author JACS papers," which is not a meaningful metric.
I had none and got a job. I'm also a biochemist where other journals can look better than JACS. So, there's no good answer.
DeleteBy other journals do you mean CNS/CNS sister?
Deletethe problem with this line of thinking is that it implies one thinks that work published in a "premier journal" is "better" than other journals. Let us not forget that the Nature and Science have the largest retraction rates. As such, number of papers isn't that useful as a metric without knowing the context of field, group, content, etc. It is easily gamed (see organic methods... change the substrate == +1 paper count).
DeleteI know several people in biochem who got jobs with their main publication in eLife or PNAS flanked by others in ACS chembio, JBC, etc. A lot of search committees use prior publications to gauge trajectory, and showing that you consistently publish and in increasingly "better" journals is a positive sign. I personally wouldn't want to be somewhere that only cared about having a CNS paper.
DeleteThink it is reasonable to assume that lion share of zooms will fall after thanksgiving break. Giving committee some time to sort out applications. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part :)
ReplyDeleteWas this the case last cycle?
DeleteNo -- I think may places had wrapped up zooms by thanksgiving. This being said, this cycle has been slower and later than last year, so I suspect there will still be plenty of zooms in Dec.
DeleteWe can only hope
DeleteHow are on-site interview invitations typically sent? Do search committees send them to their top candidates first and then to others, or are all invitations sent out to interviewees at the same time?
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on the place, but I suspect most places do them all at once.
DeleteSome large departments run their open search by divisions and may reach out their candidates on separate dates; while those searches in specific area tend to contact people at the same time.
DeleteAnyone word on Zooms for University of Pennsylvania-Biological Chemistry? or UC Santa Barbara? University of Rochester? New York University?
ReplyDeletenothing yet
DeleteRochester was updated on the tracker today, 8 weeks after the priority date. UCSB, NYU and Penn are all in that 3-5 week window where it would be more surprising than not if they had already extended on-site or Zoom interview invites. After 8 weeks I think it is more fair to be wondering what is going on (MIT and Yale, looking at you).
DeleteHow long after the zoom interview should I ask for updates if I haven't heard back?
ReplyDeleteMy recommendation here would be to ask during your zoom interview what their timeline looks like for inviting people and scheduling on campus interviews so you know what to expect. If you weren't selected for an on campus interview, they may not be able to tell you if you ask directly, depending on HR rules.
DeleteIf you have another offer that is time sensitive, at that point it may be worth reaching out to see if it is worth waiting, but if it has been a few weeks, good news is unlikely.
Thank you!
DeleteI heard back within ~1 week of all my Zooms.
DeleteIt can really vary. I was also interviewing last cycle, and one school took several weeks to get back to me, and another took several months. I had honestly written them off mentally and was surprised to get the invite. In that instance they were trying to do multiple hires simultaneously and the position I was up for was towards the end of the interview cycle. This year I felt like I accidentally goofed on one of my Zoom interviews after I hadn't heard back from them for few weeks, only to later get asked to complete some internal processes that should lead to an on-site visit. I have had another two other Zoom interviews earlier this month that haven't gotten back to me yet, but I won't be worried about having not converted those into on-site visits until I still haven't heard back sometime in December.
DeleteJust a note that you shouldn't blame the individual people in the department too much if they ghost you. At my university, the HR department is strict that all Yes/No decisions have to come from them, and they don't send the official No emails until the end of the hiring cycle. Dept heads are explicitly told to not send emails saying "We are no longer considering you" on their own. This is obviously rude and unkind, so we try to at least say No to the zoomed-but-not-invited people in a phone call, but that's below the radar of HR.
DeleteSame for us. No email until a hire has been made or the search considered a failure, though some search committees may tell you if directly contacted. The fear is that a committee may prematurely say no to someone, and you can't undo that.
DeleteWith zoom invited being sent out for University of Rochester I have officially not been contacted by any school I have applied to. Wish me luck for next time… if there is one
ReplyDeletehong in there. a) this year cycle is slow and you may get an invite or two after thanksgiving break b) It takes 2-3 hiring cycles to land the job... we are all in the same boat
DeleteHello Folks, could you please provide some general suggestions on the campus interview at an R2 public institution?
ReplyDeleteI have heard the great general advice that you will want to appear like the person who (metaphorically) starts the coffee machine in the morning for the department, but does not complain if others forgot to start it for you
DeleteBe kind to everyone. Once you're at the in-person stage, they're less thinking about your scientific qualifications (though still important) and more about whether they'd like to be colleagues, collaborators, and course directors with you. Would the students want to work with you and enjoy you as a prof?
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