agnes_us
New member
Posts: 9
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« on: June 01, 2007, 12:25:19 AM » |
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After 5 years as a postdoc in the US I started looking for academic positions in Europe in January this year. After a job interview in March I recently got a job offer for a lecturer position in the UK. Some of you may know this from my previous posts. This position involves no start up package and no technical help to start with, that needs to be raised from grants. After much hesitation I decide to take the offer and they sent me a contract to sign. Since I was not happy with the salary they offered me initially, I asked for a bit more and they agreed to give me what I asked (I'm still amazed at that) so I decided to accept it because I think overall this is a good opportunity for me and they seem serious and very reasonable. I'm now waiting for the new contract (with the new figure on it) to arrive and to sign it.
Now, since I have been in this "job search mode" for the most part of the past year I can't help but keep looking for positions in Nature and Science ads. I came across today a Group Leader position ialso in London but a different Univ (the one that pays better). This will have start up funds and technical help from the beginning (although I have to find out for sure). The deadline to send the application is tomorrow. Since my CV and Research interests forms are ready to be send I found myself writting to that search committee. I know that on one hand I have committed myself to the other position and they won't be happy if they find out that I'm still looking elsewhere. but I only agreed to start on that post next February and I have a feeling that this other position will be worth it. In terms of research field , I feel that my work fits very well and is very complementary to what other faculty are doing there and the conditions to start them seem better. Should I try? I have saved my email with the attached application on the "draft " folder till tomorrow. I mention to the hiring committee that I have an offer from a different university and therefore I ask for their discretion. Should I even put that on the cover letter? After all, both univ are on the same city an one never knows... It might never turn to anything but at least I would have tried...
I hope someone can help me on this matter.
Thanks A LOT
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conjugate
Compulsive punster and insatiable reader, and
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Tends to have warped sense of humor
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« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2007, 12:39:16 AM » |
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If you haven't signed the contract, you're not obliged. But be very careful about how you turn them down if the other opportunity bears fruit. Good luck if you apply.
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Unfortunately, I think conjugate gives good advice.
∀ε>0∃δ>0∋|x–a|<δ⇒|ƒ(x)-ƒ(a)|<ε |
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orienteer
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« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2007, 04:48:04 AM » |
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Me, I don't have too many ethical problems with what you want to do. But, its a small world. Sure ask for discretion, but be tactful, real careful. So if your first offer comes back with a better deal, you still going to say no to them? Thats what option 2 will be asking.
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,564
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2007, 04:53:09 AM » |
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The UK is extremely small.
Think about this whatever you do.
Frankly (and please don't get all huffy over this) I find that from your posts you're sounding like an extremely difficult person to work with. You don't want to start your UK career with a reputation of being a self centered academic.
My suggestion would be to take the first offer and then move in a couple of years, when the new RAE (or whatever it's going to be) has been decided.
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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snape
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« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2007, 06:22:46 AM » |
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The UK is extremely small.
Think about this whatever you do.
This is good advice. You often meet people you know at job interviews. It is easy to aquire a bad reputation within a disicpline. |
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agnes_us
New member
Posts: 9
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« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2007, 08:22:05 AM » |
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Thank you for your ideas.
I don't think the first place is not going to come with a better offer, at least not for a lecturer position. I think it is good to try to look for what is the best situation to start up a group. There is nothing unreasonable about what I ask, in my field of biomedicine this is perfectly normal, at least in the US. I know if I am working for an institution that takes care of me I won't mind working like crazy, and that is what they want, anyway...
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,564
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2007, 08:52:26 AM » |
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There is nothing unreasonable about what I ask, in my field of biomedicine this is perfectly normal, at least in the US.
erm... you're not applying for a position in the US... but in the UK... and believe me things are different here. |
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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wegie
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« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2007, 09:00:15 AM » |
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Trust expat on this one. The people in the other department will not only know the people in the department you are contemplating applying to, they will in some cases be best friends and spouses of people in the first department. The UK academic community is small enough that the news will spread.
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snape
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« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2007, 09:37:26 AM » |
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By way of illustration my department recently interviewed 6 candidates for a position. Three of them currently work together (I think they were shocked to meet each other at the interview).
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