2nd 6σ -itinerary en route

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

interdisciplinary research

My department in grad school was very supportive as I dedicated myself to teaching and doing research in a cutting edge, brand new, interdisciplinary specialty. It was and has been wonderful to do what I really like. Unfortunately, what I didn't know then, but know now, is that cutting edge, new, interdisciplinary research can have severe draw backs when looking for a job.

For starters, very few departments advertise positions in most types of cutting edge research (no matter the field), and these departments are usually the ones getting 300 applicants per position. That is, the places who have positions dedicated to new specialties are generally the Harvards and other top r1s of the world. For every position in my specific subfield, there are at least 15 to 20 positions advertised looking for generalists who can teach methods, intro or theory. As such, I wish I had taught or done more research in the more general areas.

Second, while new research can lead to more publications (and publications with more impact) down the road, doing so actually takes longer initially. It is easier to publish quickly in a established subfield in a established subfield journal than it is in interdisciplinary journals where you have to satisfy people coming from very different places in terms of assumptions and back grounds.

Not that I wouldn't still focus on what I currently do, but I would have spent more time doing it in a way where it was easier to market myself as a generalist/methods guy too.

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