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[knitknat]

I am currently soft-money research faculty (non-TT, obviously) in the same department where Knitspouse is on  TT. Tier 2 state uni in the middle of nowhere. We have completely different sub-disciplines in a very broad field of science. I was ABD at time of Knitspouse hire, so we could not negotiate a TT for me. Now I am PhD.

I know the usual answers to "What can I do to make myself awesome so they'll hire me TT?" Publish, grants, more pubs, more money. Doing that already. I taught a course in the fall that the TT faculty all hate to teach for Brownie points, but don't think I should teach anymore at the expense of my research.

But what about some of the other aspects of Univ. life? Should I take on grad students (I have many contacting me, and some funding for this)? Should I serve on committees? Should I volunteer to give seminars/lectures? Or should I hide away in my cave and simply publish like crazy while applying for TT jobs elsewhere for leverage?

I am asking about many of these lateral aspects of faculty life because there are several lines opening up in the very immediate future that will be generalist enough that I can mold myself to them. Would like to know what "extra" pursuits will help my cause. This uni has a poor record of spousal hire, but I'm pretty solid and my spouse is a rock star (and I'm not just proud -hu has been published in Science), so they don't want to lose hu.

[prevprofmd]

Sadly, I would vote for hiding in the cave, applying elsewhere and publishing like mad. Especially if your place has a poor record with spousal hires. They probably will just use/abuse you and not hire you unless you can show that somewhere else would be willing to hire. Sorry.

[niceday]

Another vote for publishing madly and hiding except to give seminars or talks.

I think your strongest hand is for you to get an offer since it sounds like most places would love to get your spouse. You see, with dual-hires, the best strategy is for the weaker-candidate to lead the search as the stronger candidate is an easier sell.

I wouldn't take on grad students and I wouldn't teach hated courses and I certainly wouldn't do any service unless there was a strong indication that the place was already very friendly towards spousal-hires. It doesn't sound like they will buy the cow if they can have the milk for free, errr, hire the spouse if they can have the work for free.

I'd give the talks to prove that I was good and to put the fear of losing your spouse in their hearts.

[larryc]

I think that you and your husband need to take the dean to lunch and have exactly this conversation. Ask her what it would take--a big grant? Does your husband need to have an offer somewhere else?

You need to be bold. DO NOT try to pile up brownie points with time-draining tasks without a commitment on the table, use that time for writing.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Speaking as a one-time trailing spouse...

The department almost surely doesn't care about you even the tiniest amount at this point.  Your only possibility is for them to realize they might lose your husband, wake up, turn to you and realize that you exceed their norm for a TT hire.  The only way for that to happen is for you to continue to build your research career: publish and get research grants.

Do not teach any more.  Do not take on grad students.  Do not take on any service. Build your CV and be ready to move (though don't burn any bridges in case you want to try for a second job where you are). - DvF

[totoro]

Certainly giving presentations is good. On grad students it could be a plus as ability to supervise grad students is often a criterion. But depends if they will do work for you and increase your publications or the opposite.

[aprilmay]

You are doing the right things by working on your CV. If you are building up brownie points at your current institution, you run the risk that they just keep taking the benefits of your presence without changing your position (why the buy the cow. . .). Work on your CV, not increasing your value at the current institution.

Publications, grants, conferences. Lead projects as much as you can, as opposed to working on someone else's. You can do a bit more to show that you seem professorial, like work with students and committees, but protect your research time. You seem to be on the right track.

[knitknat]

Thanks all, this is helpful. Especially advice from larryc on meeting with Dean...it's hard to remember I should be that direct.

[shrek]

another vote for writing. And meeting with the Dean is a great idea. Have you and your spouse gone on the market together? An offer might wake some people up. Keep working at getting grants, especially those you can take with you.

[knitknat]

shrek, we were on the market together when I was ABD, not since (we don't want Knitspouse to be known as a 'jumper'). i, as the weaker candidate, am on the market now in hopes of getting a competing offer to open some eyes, but I am only applying to places where we would actually be okay going if they call my bluff.

Side question related to getting grants: how do search committees view highly competitive grants versus easy money? Most of my grants are direct agreements with government agencies (thus, easy money) and not prestigious things from NSF or the like.  I always figured that money was money, but some recent comments have left me wondering otherwise.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Side question related to getting grants: how do search committees view highly competitive grants versus easy money?

I think you already know the answer since you're asking.  Money aside, an NSF or NIH research grant is independent validation of the strength of your research program.  The others are mainly evidence that you know some rocks to look under for money (which is an important and attractive skill, but not in the same league). - DvF