Hiring Criteria in Biology Departments of Academic Institutions

Authors

Christine M. Fleet, Duke University
Meredith F.N. Rosser, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rebecca A. Zufall, University of Houston
Marney C. Pratt, Bowdoin CollegeFollow
Tracy S. Feldman, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Paula P. Lemons, Duke University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2006

Publication Title

BioScience

Abstract

We surveyed faculty in the biology departments of US institutions of higher education to compare the experience and training valued by faculty at hiring institutions with the experience and training most graduate students receive. Our data show that associate, baccalaureate, and master's institutions value teaching experience and skills more highly than research skills. In contrast, doctoral institutions place a higher value on the ability to publish research and obtain outside funding. These findings provide quantitative and qualitative insight into discrepancies between the values of those who train graduate students in biology and the expectations of the institutions likely to hire these individuals.

Keywords

Academic job market, Biology education, Career development, Graduate education, Teaching

Volume

56

Issue

5

First Page

430

Last Page

436

DOI

10.1641/0006-3568(2006)056[0430:HCIBDO]2.0.CO;2

ISSN

00063568

Rights

© 2006 American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Comments

Archived as published.

Recommended Citation

Fleet, Christine M.; Rosser, Meredith F.N.; Zufall, Rebecca A.; Pratt, Marney C.; Feldman, Tracy S.; and Lemons, Paula P., "Hiring Criteria in Biology Departments of Academic Institutions" (2006). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/294