Pennsylvania State University

Penn State is a public research university

I received a BA from Oxford University in Earth Science in 1980. I then came over to the US and went to Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. My first year was pretty much a disaster and I failed my oral exam. I ended up doing a consolation MS degree and this really got me going. I received my PhD in Earth Science from SIO in 1986. I went straight to Florida International University as an Assistant Professor in 1987 and then went on to UNC-Chapel Hill in 1990 also as an Assistant Professor. I received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 1993 and became Department Chair and Full Professor at the same time in 1998. I came to Penn State in 2002 as Head and Professor.

I am continually multi-tasking. I try to teach every semester and have two or three research projects going as well as two or three graduate students. As Head of a large program I have a lot of administration with oversight of faculty and staff evaluation, which takes up much of my spring. I devote my summer to research and try to block everything else out. I cut travel down to one trip per month. During the semester my days are pretty much half full with meetings, classes, and other obligations, but once again I always try to block off time for research and class preparation.

Teaching and contact with great students, both undergraduate and graduate. Flexibility and being able to decide what to work on and when to work. Wonderful colleagues at Penn State and elsewhere.

Constant bombardment via e-mail. I like to be responsive but it can be consuming. If I have to do something like write a letter, proposal, or manuscript, I turn e-mail off.

A couple of papers that came from my MS project were instrumental. Also my fellow students and I held intense mock interview job talks with some pretty brutal questions and criticism. Otherwise I have to say I was pretty young and naive a lot more so than my current students.

First of all if you are not happy personally it will be very hard to be productive professionally. Do not even think about working 7 days a week 365 days a year. You absolutely have to take enough vacations every year that you can get away from work and spend quality time with your friends and family. My wife is a writer and artist and we have a 5-year old son. I feel fortunate that we do not have to deal with the two career faculty issue because it places a lot of burdens on a relationship and it can be really hard for both spouses to find a happy job situation at the same institution. My advice is not to expect two tenure track positions on Day 1 -- very few schools have that type of money -- but to find a position for the "trailing" (I'm sorry about using that term) spouse that will allow him or her to find a niche. If your wish is both to end up in tenure track positions, then both of you should make yourselves invaluable at that institution and be patient.

Get publications out as soon as you can. These are absolutely critical in the selection of the interview short list. Really think about what type of school will make you happiest for the long term. You should expect to have to be good at everything at every type of institution. Liberal arts universities are going to expect great research just as most public research institutions are going to expect great teaching. The balance at the two types of universities will be different, however. When you interview, really find out whether faculty and students are happy at that institution and whether you would want them as your colleagues. For your first job try not to stress too much about location. If you are productive then there are always opportunities to move. More important are the fit, your colleagues, and the opportunities at the institution.