next »

[testingthewaters]

O forumites, lend me your wisdom.

I am in the running for a prestigious grant. I've been a close runner-up in previous years, and based on the reviews I got this round, I think that this year I have a very good chance of getting the grant. That would be most excellent, as I need a grant of this size to secure tenure and my tenure decision is coming sooner than I'd like to think about.

This year, for the first time, they have decided to make interviews part of the process. The interviews are scheduled, though they have not yet announced who is invited to the interviews. As I mentioned, my reviews were excellent, so I think there is a very good chance I'll be invited.

I'm also very pregnant. The interviews are, of course, scheduled less than a week before my due date. This means that there is a more-than-enormous chance that I won't be able to be there, be it because I'm actually in labor, or because I'm on doc's orders to be immobile (which could well happen given the signs from the past week or so). There is no flying involved in the interview (close enough to home) but it will be a trip and a lot of stress.

My dilemma: do I contact the program administrator now to let her know that there is very good chance that I won't be able to come to the interview, or do I wait until the invitations go out?

Background: this is a relatively small pool of applicants, so the PA is very approachable and the committee is not facing hundreds of potential candidates (more like 10-12 for 3-4 grants). On the other hand, this is run within an enormous granting agency known for having the flexibility of a cement slab. Other piece of info that may be relevant: this is a grant specifically for encouragement for early-to-mid-career women in science to stay in academia.

Pro for contacting now: gives the PA some leeway to come up with an alternative (if the committee is willing to do so). The interview is now about 5 weeks away; invitations go out about 10 days before the interview. I was thinking of suggesting something along the lines of a phone appointment a few weeks earlier with a few members of the committee, but I have no idea (nor does anyone else I’ve spoken with) whether this committee is likely to play along with that idea.

Con for contacting now: obviously, this might a) give the suggestion of trying to influence the committee, or b) actually influence the committee into not inviting me for an interview, since I can’t be there anyway.

I've talked to a number of senior people in and around my department, and the votes are mixed. Interestingly, the men all voted for “call now”, while the women all voted for “wait until you are invited”.

[quotiazelda]

From the perspective of someone who works at at grantmaking organization (although we do not require interviews):

Although it probably won't make much difference one way or another, I would wait until invitations go out.

[felixrose]

Agh, Testing.  I have no ideas for you except to take a deep breath.  I think waiting until the invitations go out is a good way to go.  Maybe you will have the baby early and someone can come with you and keep the baby while you interview?  Maybe you will be overdue and can manage the car ride?  Waiting until the invite comes and then letting them know the problem seems like the best bet. 

[msparticularity]

Testing, pregnancy is covered by ADA, so I believe you may be entitled to appropriate accommodation--perhaps a Skype interview? I, too, would suggest waiting until you find out if you are invited to bring up the issue, though. Good luck!

[ambassadress]

I'd wait until you hear from them, and as msparticularity says, gun for a Skype or phone interview.