dsims@uceng.UC.EDU (david l sims) (07/16/90)
I decided to enter graduate school (PhD bound), initially, in the hopes of getting long summer vacations. My understanding so far seems to tell me that professors at teaching colleges are the only ones who get summers off. It seems that the research professors have to stick around during the summer to continue their funded research. I am curious to know if it is possible or practical for a research professor to take summers off to go fishing, kayaking, and rock climbing :-).
siegman@sierra.STANFORD.EDU (siegman) (07/17/90)
> ........................................... I am curious to know >if it is possible or practical for a research professor to take >summers off to go fishing, kayaking, and rock climbing :-). The smiley at the end may indicate this is not a totally serious query; but in any event trying to remain at the forefront in most any research field -- which means not just doing research (and, raising the resources needed to do it), but also remaining current in your own field and emerging fields through literature reading, attending meetings, etc. -- is an _extremely_ competitive enterprise. It's hard to do on a full time basis, even harder on a part-time basis, and probably not a preferred career choice for those who want a low-key, loe-stress life. On the other hand: a) It can lead to some very pleasant and rewarding opportunities to live and work overseas, if you take full advantage of sabbatical and exchange opportunities. b) If you're willing to accept a lower-key approach, pick a low-key research area, one that doesn't require too much support, that opens up more chances for a generally lower-key life style, while still making useful contributions to mankind. P.S. -- Of course economic needs related to spouses, children, car repairs, mortgage payments, and so on, can limit the amount of summer-time fishing also.
mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach) (07/19/90)
In article <5476@uceng.UC.EDU> dsims@uceng.UC.EDU (david l sims) writes: >I decided to enter graduate school (PhD bound), initially, in the hopes >of getting long summer vacations. My understanding so far seems to During my ten years as a graduate student, research associate and lecturer, I have never had the chance to take more than two or three weeks off during summer. The myth that academics get long summer breaks is a very dangerous one, particularly since it seems to be believed by the politicians who determine our pay, and thus think it quite acceptable for us to be paid half of what we would get in a comparable job in industry. Matthew Huntbach