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[andrew80]

Hello to everybody,

recently I got a position as a senior lecturer in  New Zealand, in one of the biggest universities there(but not the best one ). In US I am a visiting assistant professor in a medium-high class business school (and I am looking forward to enter in a tenure track in a research oriented university).

I have few questions:
1) what is exactly Senior Lecturer? as far as I understood would correspond to a senior assistant professor here in US.

The salary is OK there, but I have 15,000 more dollars here. it is attractive since my teaching load would be lower there (here I have 3 preps and 6 classes, there 2 preps and 4 classes) and I would have a big advance in my career. but:

2) will I able to return in US one day? I mean, I am not from US (I am from Denmark), and the US system seems to me a system where  if you go abroad, it is difficult to enter back (if you do not have an outstanding publications curriculum).

3) how is the research level in New Zealand? I have looked up to the senior lecturers' vitae, and they have some publications (let's say a couple for year), in medium -level journals. As far as I understood in US, if you work in most of the colleges or in teaching oriented universities, you are not really able to publish  due to the teaching load. but here I do not know if I will able one day to enter in a research-oriented university.

what would you suggested? where do you see a brighter future for a young scholar who loves to do research, but also to teach (let's say 50% - 50%)?

many thanks

[wet_blanket]

1.  Senior lecturer is the equivalent of a (brand new) assoc. prof in the US.  Is the position "confirmation path" (the equivalent of tenure track)?  Usually people get promoted to Senior Lecturer after submitting the equivalent of a tenure file.

2 and 3. The research you do, and whether it'll be good enough for you to come back to the US, is largely up to you.  Depending on the research you do, you may find the facilities aren't as new and shiny as you're used to.  As is the case in the US, people publish in the very top journals, the very bottom journals, and everything in between.  The NZ system does not have teaching unis and research unis.  There are some individuals who are hired to be either researchers or teachers at all levels, but Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Assoc Professors, and Professors are expected to do both.

[andrew80]

many thanks!

for me this would be a big career jump, since right now I am not in tenure-track (I am  visiting Ass. Prof). I assume I have to think a lot before to say no.

[raleighthree]

unless you are cranking out As, it might be difficult to get back to the US.  Its hard to justify paying for a flight from NZ for a campus interview without a REALLY good reason (in this economy).  So unless it gets better or you are a crack researcher, you might be stuck there.  just a thought.

[ariodante]

Oh, no! "Stuck" in New Zealand! What a dreadful fate!  How awful it must be to be stuck in a beautiful, friendly, prosperous, liberal, peaceable country!  I weep at the prospect...