Yesterday, in the midst of an interview for a tenure-line position I found myself trying to describe for the candidate our strategy for investing in young scientists, in general filled with potential, but as yet unproven in their careers. For me that strategy is best summed up by the slightly glib expression “chose your bets carefully, but then follow them all the way through”. In other words, once we have made a choice, as a rule, we tend to avoid hedging that bet.
The first years of an independent investigator are of course the most fraught with risk. There is the challenge of developing a line of research that is separate and distinct from that of one’s mentors. There is the challenge of using set-up funding wisely in order to ensure good pilot data for the first round of independent grant applications. There are the challenges that go with balancing teaching load with research, combined with the need to attract quality graduate students to the effort.
In all of these challenges, I view the Krasnow Institute as a partner. We are also at risk (because of the investment, but also because each time we bring in a new investigator we to some extent roll the dice on the collegial environment that we enjoy here). As a partner, of course we give advice, but it is also crucial to be there with support and to do whatever can be done to improve the chances of the new person for success.
Jim
Discoverers and Discoveries 