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I have been thinking for quite some time about the consequences of COVID19 and closures on assistant professors.
Here is a partial list of issues, and some ways to help each other out because yes, we are all in this together
Here is a partial list of issues, and some ways to help each other out because yes, we are all in this together
Being a cancer researcher, that's where the focus is, but I believe most issues apply to all.
First problem: STARTUP funding. Lots of places are implementing restrictions on use of these funds, and I don't think it's crazy to foresee some institutions could reappropriate them
First problem: STARTUP funding. Lots of places are implementing restrictions on use of these funds, and I don't think it's crazy to foresee some institutions could reappropriate them
This is a huge issue, one that is complicated and hard to parse. Lots of assistant professors (the vast majority, certainly those 1-3 years in) highly depend on those funds. I hope there will be an effort to implement sensitive measures and try to protect/reinstitute these later
Extramural funds: NIH. This is where the situation seems better at this point. Only speaking for NCI, but at this point there is consistent support for cancer funding, and a number of measures to implement flexibility and help ESI applicants and grantees: https://twitter.com/soragnilab/status/1248310698326687744?s=20
Now this is great - but the truth is, lots of assistant professors in my field, me included, typically start off with smaller foundation grants. These funds are SO crucial, they help us pilot projects, acquire preliminary data and build a track record of funding.
In my experience, foundations take risks on young investigators often.
But they are be particularly vulnerable to the ongoing crisis, due to cancellation of fund raising events and to the economic downturn that will imperil donations.
The damage here will be extensive.
But they are be particularly vulnerable to the ongoing crisis, due to cancellation of fund raising events and to the economic downturn that will imperil donations.
The damage here will be extensive.
Another huge issue is hiring restrictions. Whether you are trying to make progress on existing grants or quickly get moving once we go back, you will need to deal with hiring freezes that are now implemented pretty much at every institution.
So to recap: labs are closed, working from home nearly impossible, hiring impossible, your startup in jeopardy, getting grants challenging and possibly there will be less funding agencies you can apply to.
Is it all lost?
I think we can come together and help each other out.
Is it all lost?
I think we can come together and help each other out.
For starters, grants. We truly need to change the standards in terms of preliminary data requested/expected - this is true for all, but even more so for assistant profs that cannot count on having had a lab for 5-10 years.
Papers. What you see is what you get. To be honest, this is how I wish all papers were evaluated at all times. A paper is a complete product. You don't think a conclusion is supported? You remove the conclusion, don't ask for experiments. Cause guess what? Labs are closed
I truly hope this stays with us long after COVID19:
STOP asking for your wish list of experiments!
Judge what is in front of you, is all.
STOP asking for your wish list of experiments!
Judge what is in front of you, is all.
Promotion/tenure etc: many (most, and hope eventually all) institutions are implementing some extended timeline to account for COVID19. I am not sure that it's enough. I think that even if we were to go back in one month, the consequences of these closures will be long lived
At some point, you need to adjust expectations even more so than timelines. My hope is for Institutions to work together with their assistant professors to set new, sensible, standards.
It's really important to remember that, even when back, is not just business as usual. The lucky ones lost not only work time but sanity having to stay home and deal with children, spouses, solitude. Some people had to care for sick ones, some lost loved ones. It's rough for all.
So next paper or grant or academic advancement you review, be kind to your colleague. We got enough to deal with.
