In 2002 and 2005, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute partnered on a course to teach laboratory management skills to postdocs and beginning faculty members.
For scientists who cannot meet in person, MentorNet is an online service that virtually connects established scientists with undergraduates and graduate students, postdocs, and beginning faculty (www.mentornet.com).
It is tempting for beginning faculty to rush into recruiting several postdocs right away, but hiring the wrong person can be detrimental to your progress.
Focusing on research during the postdoc is the safe choice, as all institutions, from the smallest teaching college to the largest research institution, expect beginning faculty to have a strong research background.
But after the interview process began, faculty at the school rejected the former U.S. attorney and assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush, citing ethical concerns and questions about his ties to Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), a tea party favorite who has railed against what he calls "liberal academic theorists".
But the administration must begin treating faculty members, and their elected representatives on the Faculty Senate, as equal partners in the institution.
"At this point, there's not a lot of recognition for this sort of work it's just a line on my CV," says Moon, who will begin a faculty position at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom in May.
The key to avoiding problems is to begin your faculty job with a detailed and documented understanding of what your institution expects from you and what you, in turn, can anticipate from the institution at each step of the tenure and promotion process.
(After his release from prison in October 2008, Hopwood went to law school and will begin a faculty position at Georgetown Law School in late August).
Research projects begin after faculty mentors have approved the proposals.
