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[janepostdoc]

I am a science postdoc in a large lab at a federal research facility.

Recently, I completed a study (I did the bulk of the programming & analysis, along with a handful of co-authors who did miscellaneous bits) & wrote up the findings.  Because the source data is in the public domain, and because we know that other groups are looking at the same issues, publishing is time-critical.  My PI is aware of this, and had been very anxious to get it out.  By about this time last month, we had a manuscript that was ready to submit.

Around the same time, I told my PI about my decision to take a TT position (I had been on the job market with his knowledge).  He was very congratulatory, but coincidentally right after that he started dragging his feet BADLY on the paper.  Basically, all we needed was his blessing to submit -- we'd already revised it extensively -- but instead of giving me a go-ahead or feedback for further revision, he kept saying he still wants to "look at it."

I have no idea what's going on, but I'm getting panicked that I'm going to get scooped (or worse).  In any case, I don't know what to do.  I could remove his name and submit it, but that would burn a lot of bridges that I can't afford at this stage.  (It's happened before: a previous staff scientist in my lab submitted two papers w/o my PI's name, but I don't know what his motivation was.... only that his name lives in infamy.)  At the same time, I really don't want to sacrifice a publication to his foot-dragging (esp. if it's vindictive foot-dragging) -- it's already languished a month!  I suppose I could assume I have his approval and submit it as-is, though that also seems like treading on thin ethical ice... but perhaps that's my best option?

What should I do??

[walkingtree]

It sounds like a vindictive foot-dragging. I have been to this situation before and so did my colleague. Professor was an influential senior academic with an ample history of scooping from here and there--then, presenting and publishing liberally from young scholars' research. He would suggest that we defend a few months later, delay publication, or even call the publisher to dump the manuscript. You don't have an option--catastrophe can happen if the person is determined to rip you off. You can, however, move fast, not share any more ideas with or talk to the advisor, you can present more actively and spread the word around. But beware, your advisor has a vast network to keep things in control and can be extremely destructive.

[hoptoad]

Have you read the situation I'm in: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,81227.0.html?  You might learn some strategy from that.  Set deadlines and tell the PI you're going to submit it unless they give you a good reason not to.  If it's foot dragging, do you have any other senior coauthors that could help speed things along with the PI?  Since it's a federal research facility there also should be procedures in place to work out authorship issues and higher-ups who can be third party mediators. 

[totoro]

Yes, if there are any other senior authors on the team I would ask them to contact the PI and tell him to get on with it.