Monday, April 18, 2016

How to deal with the administration (aka HOD)

HOD's have power and control over resources. This means that the HOD can determine if you get a support for a TA/RA/GA, you get space, travel money or other resources.

 I have in writing that the HOD has promised a certain type of support. However, now that it is time to give the support all I am getting is stall-game.

I don't know how to deal with this situation. Note that I am a TT guy who hasn't gotten tenure yet. So what I do has to be in this context.

How do you approach/deal with situation with the HOD so that you get what you need or want or as in this case promised.

(I really hope that I had training in this context as well when I was a postdoc. But my postdoc advisor was a very good person and was always there to support and keep his word)

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

the semester that does not end

This semester has been a roller coaster for me.

1) I had to do a new prep for a course which sucked a lot of time. But I did enjoy teaching the course and hopefully would not have to do the new prep again.
2) I had family/personal issues which again sucked a lot of time.
3) Had 2 grants rejected. Wrote 2 new grants and submitted. In preperation of submitting atleast 2 more during the summers
4)The semester does not seem to end. Since it has been a bit tiring for me it seems that the time is moving slower.

But now that the family issues are a bit mellowed out; hopefully I will get more done and at last the semester will end. And the summers will begin where I will enjoy the heat and work.