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The GrantDoctor

The GrantDoctor
United States
25 April 2003

PREVIOUS ADVICE

Dear Heather,

It's the researchers at the big research universities who get all the attention, but I save my greatest admiration for scientists who manage to maintain meaningful research programs at colleges with heavy teaching loads, often without postdocs, grad students, or significant research resources. Many researchers manage to maintain active programs at such colleges, despite the considerable odds against them. As I pointed out in a GrantDoctor column some time ago, faculty members at the nation's top 25 liberal arts colleges have, between them, 13 R01 grants, despite teaching loads that typically run to four or five courses per year. The productivity of some of these small-college scientists is remarkable, given the circumstances.

In her Next Wave article "Getting Research Done", Rachel Austin notes that one of the keys to succeeding as a researcher at a teaching-oriented college is to stay connected to the outside world. Active collaborations help keep the fires burning, keeping you and your young students excited and engaged; without these connections its all too easy--especially after tenure--to merely meet your core obligations, which, in your case, involve teaching, not research. For people like you such an approach is unlikely to lead to long-term job satisfaction. You'll probably also end up being a less effective teacher, since your enthusiasm for the subject will wane.

There are places to find money to support research sabbaticals, though not very many. Unfortunately, at this point you don't have time to pursue them. An outside research grant may take the better portion of a year to write, shepherd through the review process, and collect, even under ideal circumstances. Considering that you haven't found the time to write research grants and papers in recent years, it isn't obvious that you'd be able to get the job done properly even if you had the time.

It's important, though, to make this trip happen, since it's likely to make a long-term positive impact on your job satisfaction and your students' education. To make it happen, you need to exploit all the available resources to their fullest.

First, work through the oversees institution to reduce or defray your living expenses. Ask your host if she or he can pay, from the lab's coffers, a couple of months of summer salary--assuming that you have a 9-month contract from your home institution. The opportunity to get a well-trained senior scientist--even one who hasn't spent much time in the lab of late--for 6 months for a mere 2 months' salary is a great bargain. Surviving the tenure process, after all, requires a great deal of focus and excellent time-management skills; these qualities and skills are likely to make you more productive than anyone else your host is likely to have the opportunity to hire for anywhere near the price.

Most major universities own housing that they make available to certain guests. The demand for these facilities often outstrips the availability, but your status as a tenured professor should put you near the top of the list. These facilities may not be free--in fact, they almost certainly aren't--but they are often priced substantially below the open market.

After recognizing your financial need, your overseas partner should be willing to work with you to make your visit happen. Even if he or she doesn't have money to spare, a phone call to the university's housing office may secure a small subsidized apartment, which could, by itself, make this trip financially viable.

Your next objective should be to reduce your expenses at home by renting out your house while you're away There is some risk involved--make sure the house is well insured--but you should be able to earn back a significant portion of your mortgage payments in rent, even if you rent at a reduced rate to a visiting professor (an ideal situation if you can find one who's visiting for the same period you'll be away) or a responsible group of honor students.

Finally, read up on the tax implications of your trip abroad. I'm not a tax accountant, so you shouldn't take my word for it, but the last time I checked, the tax laws favored the kind of trip you are planning. As long as you're gone for less than a year, you can treat the whole visit like a business trip, deducting all expenses, including rent, utilities, moving expenses, and so on, from your income for tax purposes. You can even claim a generous per diem to pay for your food. Once again, talk to a qualified tax accountant to be sure I'm right about this.

The bottom line: It's worth doing, for you, your host, your students, and your home institution, so you ought to be able to find a way to make it happen.

Be Well,

The GrantDoctor

Due to the high volume of questions received, The GrantDoctor cannot answer all queries on an individual basis. Look for an answer to your question published in this column soon! Thank you!

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