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[liberta]

Has anyone been involved in a search that involves more than one department in a research university where one is an interdisciplinary department?  Are such searches typically more difficult to conduct and lengthier?

[prof_j]

Yes, this happened recently at my university.  The whole process was actually rather short, but I think this was a result of a clear focus of the search committee and not to be cliche, but good leadership on the part of the department heads involved in the hiring.

Another important aspect is to have a clear idea of who is driving the search.  Is it really a 50-50 decision?  Or is one group subordinate?  If this is being litigated during the search, I imagine trouble ahead.

[liberta]

Thanks, and did the respective search committees each bring candidates for on-campus visits?

[prof_j]

There was only one search committee, comprised of members of both departments.  They narrowed the search to three candidates for on campus interviews.  It seems like your process has two separate committees, right?  It'd probably be beneficial to merge the two in my opinion.  That way the short list doesn't have candidates strongly supported by committee A vs. candidates of committee B... but a "consensus short list"

[aprilmay]

Are you asking because you are an applicant or because you are going to be on such a search?

[liberta]

I was asking because I was asked to serve.