Faculty need to learn how to add value to their institution when starting their first role, says John Tregoning.

Guest contributor John Tregoning

Congratulations, you have your first academic appointment and are now a member of faculty.

Commiserations, you are now a massive financial burden to the faculty and will need to continually justify your appointment.

As a postdoc, financially you were someone else’s problem: your salary came from whoever funded your project. Now, as a member of faculty, the cost of your salary comes from the university’s pocket. But it doesn’t stop at salary. The university also pays for bench space, utilities, parental leave, and – if you were better than me at negotiating – consumables, equipment and possibly even a technician’s salary. None of which comes cheaply. In this age of austerity, heads of department are forced to make budgetary decisions and salaries are not only the biggest cost to most departments, they often account for more than 50% of the total budget. In business speak, these costs mean that not only do you need to demonstrate that the department is making a return on its investment in you, but you also need to add value. Continue reading →