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[skyrock]

Hi all, like to tap into the wisdom of VAPs. I'm applying for a VAP position. The job ad mentions that there's limited teaching and the purpose is mainly to collaborate with faculty with similar interests. Applicants are required to name 1 to 2 faculty members they would like to work with. Would it be appropriate (or even essential) that I contact the faculty I would like to work with and get an indication of interest to collaborate before applying? I imagine this is somewhat like a PhD or postdoc application where you contact potential advisors/mentors prior to applying? In a related question, there's 2 people in the department I would like to work with -- more with A than B -- should I just contact A or both cos I'm not sure if B would feel annoyed that I'm mainly interested to work with A? Thanks!

[offthemarket]

The job ad is weird enough, I'd either contact the person running the search, or faculty members who you want to work with.  It sounds like an institutionally-funded postdoc that the department gets to fight over.

[jackit]

It sounds like research compatibility will be taken into account in the hiring decision.  By all means, contact A and B and talk about shared interests.  A and B might then be able to speak up for you internally.