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[banana]

Hello Forumites -

I thought it would be motivating to have a thread in which those who started on the tt in the same cohort could report on their progress in publishing, teaching, getting labs set up, etc. -- sort of like the Paralysis Analysis thread, but over a longer timeframe, and specific to cohorts.  Any takers from those who also started tt in the Fall of '04?

Here's my report on what I've done and what I've yet to do...  (I'm in the social sciences at a SLAC)

Accomplished
Published 2 articles, one with a student
Submitted 1 additional article that got a revise and resubmit
Presented at a handful of conferences, some with students
Received one grant
Applied for another grant
Turned around 2 classes in which I'd received negative evaluations
Built student interest in my classes and research
Established relationships with area agencies (for research)
Passed my mid-tenure review
Served on 2 college-wide committees

Still to do in time for tenure review
Submit 4 articles currently in prep
Get others into the pipeline
Secure another grant
Strengthen discussion-leading skills
Address other teaching points raised in mid-tenure review


Others?

[tenured_feminist]

Not in your cohort, but I'll give you a pat on the back!  Sounds like you're doing well, as long as you are placing those articles appropriately and you mean to have the additional four out or forthcoming on your CV by the time your file goes out for review if you're at a R1.

One question: how many of the articles you're working on right now reflect investment in a project substantially different from your dissertation work? It's time to start thinking about this.

[edwidge]

banana, I would love to take part in this thread, but I fear that if I list all of the details about my first few years, I might give away who I am. I know, I know, irrational, but there you have it.

I wonder if other recent hires feel the same way?

BTW, it looks like you're certainly on the right track with your career--congrats!

[banana]

Wow, edwidge, you must be doing some pretty high profile stuff! 

[untenured]

banana, I would love to take part in this thread, but I fear that if I list all of the details about my first few years, I might give away who I am. I know, I know, irrational, but there you have it.

Can't you make your list really vague?  "Published 3 articles" "Attended 2 conferences" that sort of thing?

Untenured

[untenured]

Although I started full-time teaching in Fall '00, I began at my current position in Fall '04.  Since then I have:

Accomplished
Published or accepted for publication 9 articles
Published or accepted for publication 3 invited book chapters
Submitted 1 additional article that got a revise and resubmit
Submitted two other articles for publication
Submitted one book chapter for publication
Presented at about ten conferences
Formed and administered my own conference
Selected for appointment as special editor of a "A" journal issue
Served as staff editor for three journals, including one "A" journal
Received three internal grants
Developed three new classes
Taught at multiple campuses
Built student interest in my classes
Passed my mid-tenure review
Served on 2 college-wide committees
Headed a search committee
Rebuilt the gaza pyramids by hand
and so on and so on ...

I have no life!

Untenured

[avaya]

OK, here's mine, started in Fall 04:

1.  Book contract (currently revising manuscript)
2.  One article published, one accepted and in the pipeline for publishing
3.  One book review published
4.  One national grant received
5.  Three more articles to be submitted this summer (research complete, one will be sumitted in a few days if I can get off this forum!, one is mostly written, the other has all the research done but has to be written)
6.  One book chapter accepted
7.  Much consulting and lectures (which my dept likes)
8.  Very high course evals and SLAC-wide teaching award
9.  At least two conferences a year

I guess this sounds good but I am struggling with my articles and I do not look forward to my manuscript revisions, even though they won't be that hard.  Listing all this is a kick in the butt to get moving!

[avaya]

Although I started full-time teaching in Fall '00, I began at my current position in Fall '04.  Since then I have:

Accomplished
Rebuilt the gaza pyramids by hand

I love it!

[edwidge]

Wow, edwidge, you must be doing some pretty high profile stuff!

LOL! No, not at all, it's just that, it seems like when you add everything up I've done, that it's possible for someone who knows me to figure out who I am. I guess the real issue is that I've posted a lot of gripes on these fora over the past few years, and I wouldn't want someone in my department to stumble on to my identity and realize that I have a lot of negative things to say about the department, etc.

But, on the other hand, this thread could be really fun: all of us getting to know each other and rooting for each other, and it's probably very unlikely that anyone who knows me would put two and two together...

[tortugaphd]

Ok, I will offer only a slightly tongue-in-cheek progress report for myself since beginning my tt position.

Accomplished:

Went into therapy.  Dealt with lots of personal issues.
Got rid of 2 toxic and draining friendships.
Made a few new healthy friendships.
Got out of credit card debt.

Still on my to-do list:

Start dating.
Get back in shape.
Buy a house.

[banana]

Edwidge, I see your dilemma -- on the one hand, that you could potentially be identified, and on the other, that it would be fun to join in and have a cohort of cheerleaders/fellow sufferers.  The choice is yours, of course, but I'm hoping you'll decide the latter.  Maybe under a different moniker, with some subtle hint in the message that would identify you as edwidge only to those of us in the know... :-)

Untenured, are you just trying to make the rest of us look bad!? ;-)  You've been *ridiculously* productive!  What's your secret?

Avaya, way to go!  And tortugaPhD, you might have meant it tongue in cheek, but those are real accomplishments.

[untenured]

Although I started full-time teaching in Fall '00, I began at my current position in Fall '04.  Since then I have:

Accomplished
Rebuilt the gaza pyramids by hand

I love it!

Too bad it won't count towards tenure.  Construction of the pyramids was not peer-reviewed.

Tee hee.

Untenured

[untenured]

Untenured, are you just trying to make the rest of us look bad!? ;-)  You've been *ridiculously* productive!  What's your secret?

Eeks, my secrets.  Here are my top 10 secrets for productivity:

1. Find a research stream or two and stick with it.  That saves you a time-consuming lit review every time you think of a new article.

2. Work with *productive* co-authors.  Once you find one or two, stick with them and find a mutual stream.

3. Don't overdo your teaching.  Devise easy-to-grade exams.  Help your students, but set your boundaries with specific office hours.  Teaching is wonderfully fun but it can be a time hole.

4. Worrying about writing is wasted energy.  Don't waste time ruminating that you don't have anything to day.  Just start writing, even if its crap, even if its how you think your writing is crap.  Once your fingers start moving the ideas will come.

5. Don't get distracted.  Find a place where you can work uninterrupted for hours at a time.  For me, that's a local town library.  Shut the door and get to it.  No email.  No games.  No chronicle forums (gasp!).  I call this "going hardcore".  I go hardcore a few times a week.  After I'm done I reward myself with a treat or a relaxing activity.

6. Think entrepenurially about your ideas.  Always, always be searching for new paper ideas.  If one pops into your head, no matter how crazy it sounds, write it down in a piece of paper.  I've had to pull over on a highway to write down new research ideas.  Don't let the idea fade.

7. Save your research.  Put it in a big file cabinet neatly organized.  You never know when it might be useful.  I just used some research I compiled in 1999.  Thank heavens I kept it.

8. Network.  Networking helps your research.  You meet new co-authors and find new outlets for your work.  You may also be invited for a book chapter.   This is a good way add a pub with a short length.  Which brings me to...

9. Least Publishable Units.  Publish the minimum of material possible to get that article published in the targeted journal.  A top journal may require a greater LPU, and that's ok.  But don't waste your time and your ideas but squeezing all of your intellectual chestnuts into one article.  Spread them out.  Take each idea and totally explore it.  Again, keep the articles on the shorter side without of course compromising quality.  Long articles means less publications which means lower productivity, merity, and tenure chances.

10. Have fun.  Academic research is a wonderful activity.  There are few leisure activities I'd rather do than construct a new idea.  If you enjoy your work - it won't feel like work.  It's all (well, mostly) playground when I write a new manuscript.  I hope it is for you too.

Secrets unmasked!

Untenured

[avaya]

Eeks, my secrets.  Here are my top 10 secrets for productivity:

1. Find a research stream or two and stick with it.  That saves you a time-consuming lit review every time you think of a new article.

2. Work with *productive* co-authors.  Once you find one or two, stick with them and find a mutual stream.

3. Don't overdo your teaching.  Devise easy-to-grade exams.  Help your students, but set your boundaries with specific office hours.  Teaching is wonderfully fun but it can be a time hole.

4. Worrying about writing is wasted energy.  Don't waste time ruminating that you don't have anything to day.  Just start writing, even if its crap, even if its how you think your writing is crap.  Once your fingers start moving the ideas will come.

5. Don't get distracted.  Find a place where you can work uninterrupted for hours at a time.  For me, that's a local town library.  Shut the door and get to it.  No email.  No games.  No chronicle forums (gasp!).  I call this "going hardcore".  I go hardcore a few times a week.  After I'm done I reward myself with a treat or a relaxing activity.

6. Think entrepenurially about your ideas.  Always, always be searching for new paper ideas.  If one pops into your head, no matter how crazy it sounds, write it down in a piece of paper.  I've had to pull over on a highway to write down new research ideas.  Don't let the idea fade.

7. Save your research.  Put it in a big file cabinet neatly organized.  You never know when it might be useful.  I just used some research I compiled in 1999.  Thank heavens I kept it.

8. Network.  Networking helps your research.  You meet new co-authors and find new outlets for your work.  You may also be invited for a book chapter.   This is a good way add a pub with a short length.  Which brings me to...

9. Least Publishable Units.  Publish the minimum of material possible to get that article published in the targeted journal.  A top journal may require a greater LPU, and that's ok.  But don't waste your time and your ideas but squeezing all of your intellectual chestnuts into one article.  Spread them out.  Take each idea and totally explore it.  Again, keep the articles on the shorter side without of course compromising quality.  Long articles means less publications which means lower productivity, merity, and tenure chances.

10. Have fun.  Academic research is a wonderful activity.  There are few leisure activities I'd rather do than construct a new idea.  If you enjoy your work - it won't feel like work.  It's all (well, mostly) playground when I write a new manuscript.  I hope it is for you too.

Secrets unmasked!

Untenured

Hey, this is REALLY good.  Into the HOF!

[untenured]

Whee!  The HOF.  I feel so privileged.

For your freetime, play nethack.  www.nethack.org.

Untenured