July 14, 2006

Scientists Spend Nearly Half Their Time on Administrative Tasks, Survey Finds

By SAM KEAN

If the reason given on Robert S. Decker's voice mail were always true, there wouldn't be a problem. "This is Bob and Marlene Decker. We're both doing experiments in the lab, so please leave a message."

But Mr. Decker, who runs a cardiology research laboratory with his wife, Marlene, at Northwestern University, is almost as likely to miss a call because he is filling out paperwork or in a meeting, as he is because he is examining cell cultures.

So Mr. Decker, a professor of

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