Job Market Series Part 5: Startup and Negotiation
Once you've received a job offer, the next crucial step is navigating the negotiation process. This blog post aims to provide guidance and insights for R1 assistant professors looking to secure the best possible startup and salary and teaching package as they embark on their academic careers.
Things to keep in mind: this is the most power you will have with an institution to set the stage for what you need for your pre tenure success. AND ALSO the people who you’re negotiating with are not your enemy! They also want you to succeed and thrive in their institution. Help them out by approaching this strategically, with ample justification, and collegiality.
In general…
Be Professional and Courteous
Approach negotiations with professionalism and courtesy. Maintain a positive and collaborative attitude, as this sets a positive tone for your future working relationship with colleagues. Respond quickly to emails, even if it’s to acknowledge the email was received and to let them know you are thinking it over.
Practice Negotiation Skills
If you're new to negotiations, consider practicing with a mentor or trusted colleague. This can help you refine your communication and negotiation skills, making you more confident during discussions.
Prioritize Your Needs
Identify your financial priorities, such as salary, research funding, or reduced teaching load, and rank them. Be prepared to make trade-offs if necessary, and be sure to know your non-negotiables. What do you need to do your best research —> staff, support for grad students, number of assays, equipment, professional development funds, conference travel funds, etc.? What do you need to support your life outside of work —> childcare, mortgage or rental assistance, salary minimum, etc.?
Research Institutional Policies
If you’re able, familiarize yourself with your prospective institution's policies on salary scales, promotion timelines, indirect kickbacks, and salary increases. I found that assistant professors were super helpful in this regard - both in their experiences and social support!
Ask for Time to Reflect
My personal advice is to not accept the first offer and think about which components of the offer you’d like to see changed. I found that all of my negotiations happened over the phone or zoom calls - nothing was put into writing until the offer was ready to be signed (or, in my case with the R00, reviewed by my NIH PO to assert that the offer was acceptable for the R00). I personally would have loved for this to be in writing, but that’s not how it went — it’s okay to listen to their offer, ask questions, see where there is flexibility, and say, “Thank you so much for this conversation. I will think about what we’ve discussed and get back to you.” You want to carefully evaluate your options and respond with a well-thought-out counteroffer.
Startup
Understanding the Importance of Startup Packages
Startup packages play a pivotal role in an assistant professor's early career. They provide the necessary resources and support to establish a successful research program, build a research team, and achieve tenure. Negotiating effectively can significantly impact your ability to conduct cutting-edge research, attract (and support!) graduate students, and contribute to your institution's academic community.
Be aware - your startup will be your major (maybe only) source of funds for the first 3 years of your lab. Planning carefully is well worth your time!
How much can I ask for? —> A great question. This is really research- and field-dependent. I suggest connecting with your broader network of folks who were recently on the job market/successfully negotiated their startup to get a sense of what the ballpark looks like. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what you need to be successful.
Research Your Needs
You will use your startup money to:
Equip your lab (small and larger equipment) & pay for maintenance contracts and repairs.
Pay part of your salary (e.g., summer salary for hard money positions or more for soft money)
Pay for staff, student, and postdoc salaries
Pay for preliminary data for your grant proposals (assays, facilities, participant costs, instruments, etc.)
Pay for conference, publication, and professional development costs
Consider the following:
Research Equipment and Facilities: Assess the state of the lab or research facilities you'll be working with. Identify any gaps or upgrades necessary for your research.
Personnel: Determine the number of graduate students, postdocs, and research staff you'll require to execute your research plan effectively.
Funding: Estimate the funding needed for your research projects, including grants, equipment, and conference travel.
Timeline: Create a timeline for when you'll need resources to support your research activities.
Communicate Your Vision
During negotiations, articulate your research vision and how it aligns with the department's goals and the institution's mission. How I did this - I planned out the next 2 studies I would need pilot data for and made an itemized budget for those studies to delineate what I needed to succeed (in my world, publish and get a juicy R01 before tenure). What preliminary data do you need to get a big grant?
How I broke down my startup budget (these are header categories, each category had sub-line items that broke down the individual line item and total cost:
Personnel (salary + fringe + raises)
Capital Equipment Costs (this may be institution-specific, but generally equipment >$5,000) —> aka a -80 freezer for me.
Study Costs
General (participant registry development, cell phones for recruitment, advertising, parking costs for participants, subject recruitment and retention materials, mailing costs, shipping for biosamples, compliance caps, infant scale, that kind of thing that would be used over and over again for studies)
Study 1 specific costs (with aims of study and participant N) —> this included blood draws costs (how much do I need to pay a nurse for a blood draw?), assay costs, participant payments, behavioral assessment costs, that kind of thing)
Study 2 specific costs (with aims of study and participant N)
Server space for data (if not provided)
Computing Resources/Supplies (your own computer, computers for staff, ipads for studies, etc.)
Behavior Equipment —> Video camera, parent-child interaction toys, assessment-specific furniture
Standardized Assessments
Publication costs for open access
Conference Travel and Society Membership
Early Career Mentorship/professional development.
Be Flexible
While advocating for your needs is crucial, be prepared for some negotiation and flexibility. Understand the limits of what the institution can provide and consider alternative solutions to meet your requirements.
Seek Guidance
Don't hesitate to seek advice from mentors, senior faculty members, or colleagues with startup negotiation experience. They can provide valuable insights and help you refine your negotiation strategy.
Evaluate the Total Package
Remember that startup negotiations are not limited to research resources. Consider other factors like teaching load, administrative duties, and potential opportunities for collaboration when evaluating the total package.
Get It in Writing
Once negotiations are complete, ensure that all agreed-upon terms are documented in writing. This avoids misunderstandings down the road and ensures that both parties fulfill their obligations.
Conclusion
Securing a favorable startup package is critical in launching a successful academic career. You may feel very stressed and close to a panic attack during this process (ask me how I know). Remember that startup negotiations are not just about resources but about setting the foundation for a thriving academic journey.
Remember, this is exciting! Do your best to approach negotiations with the understanding that your success in securing the right resources can ultimately lead to meaningful contributions to your field and your institution. Good luck!
