Operations Research and advice....

[physasst]

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Okay, so some of you know me, some of you don't. Briefly, practicing PA in EM, over a decade of practice as a PA, finishing my doctoral and defending my dissertation in February. It's a DHSc in Organizational Behaviour (Science) with an applied science focus. I have an economics background, and am "numbers" person.

My main research interests have been in physician/medical workforce studies, in particular modeling the effects of different provider matrixes. Have an Instructor rank, but just missed Assistant Professor by 1-2 papers. I have 3 going into various journals in the next 3 months.

I technically "graduate" in August, although I will have completed all necessary requirements by June.

I want to transition into a FT research career. I was either an applicant, or listed on 4 grants in the past year, and while all of them scored well, wasn't awarded any of them.

I have looked at postdoc fellowships as well as possible RA positions, but both are "temporary" positions, and would endanger my retirement/pension, change my benefits substantially, and would engender such a large pay cut as to be impossible to consider seriously (unless I wish to be divorced).

There are potential junior faculty spots (Tenure Track), but I am borderline on the requirements. One will be opening this winter/early spring in Operations Research, which is actually where I want to be. Decision analysis, stochastic modeling, and queuing theory were all part of my education to various degrees.

They require Assistant Professor rank, although sometimes the appointment is made with the understanding that the individual will reach the rank by x date. They also require 3-5 years post doc research experience, but sometimes "consider" other factors such as clinical background and research experience before obtaining your doctoral. They cannot however, consider you until your degree is finished....

I guess I am mostly thinking aloud here. Would it be reasonable to apply for the position, knowing that I might be a "soft" applicant at this time? It would possibly be a small pay cut, although I would likely stay where I am. It's a 3-5 year appointment. Has anyone else been in a similar position? That is, mid career transition into HSR?

 

[atsai3]

Okay, so some of you know me, some of you don't. Briefly, practicing PA in EM, over a decade of practice as a PA, finishing my doctoral and defending my dissertation in February. It's a DHSc in Organizational Behaviour (Science) with an applied science focus. I have an economics background, and am "numbers" person.

My main research interests have been in physician/medical workforce studies, in particular modeling the effects of different provider matrixes. Have an Instructor rank, but just missed Assistant Professor by 1-2 papers. I have 3 going into various journals in the next 3 months.

I technically "graduate" in August, although I will have completed all necessary requirements by June.

I want to transition into a FT research career. I was either an applicant, or listed on 4 grants in the past year, and while all of them scored well, wasn't awarded any of them.

I have looked at postdoc fellowships as well as possible RA positions, but both are "temporary" positions, and would endanger my retirement/pension, change my benefits substantially, and would engender such a large pay cut as to be impossible to consider seriously (unless I wish to be divorced).

There are potential junior faculty spots (Tenure Track), but I am borderline on the requirements. One will be opening this winter/early spring in Operations Research, which is actually where I want to be. Decision analysis, stochastic modeling, and queuing theory were all part of my education to various degrees.

They require Assistant Professor rank, although sometimes the appointment is made with the understanding that the individual will reach the rank by x date. They also require 3-5 years post doc research experience, but sometimes "consider" other factors such as clinical background and research experience before obtaining your doctoral. They cannot however, consider you until your degree is finished....

I guess I am mostly thinking aloud here. Would it be reasonable to apply for the position, knowing that I might be a "soft" applicant at this time? It would possibly be a small pay cut, although I would likely stay where I am. It's a 3-5 year appointment. Has anyone else been in a similar position? That is, mid career transition into HSR?

I'm a little confused by your post.

How can you be an Instructor (which to me means junior faculty) but still be completing your PhD as a doctoral student? And how can you be accumulating a pension if you are a student? Is your pension (and Instructor position) based on your work as a PA, and you are completing your PhD on the side?

Also, I am unclear as to why you are referring to yourself as "midcareer". I may just be reading your comment wrong, or you may be referring to your previous career as a PA. If you had a previous career and are now completing your PhD, that would not necessarily be considered a mid career transition. From the perspective of professional societies, NIH, etc. you are basically considered a newly minted PhD. You are eligible for "young investigator" awards, New Investigator status with the NIH, etc.

And finally, I'm confused as to what you mean about needing to take a pay cut. If you are a doctoral student, your stipend is probably in the neighborhood of $15-25K. As a postdoc, you might make $35-45K. Unless you are referring to your PA work as your baseline? But that doesn't make sense either-- if you were moonlighting as a PA while completing your doctoral studies, then you can still moonlight as a PA while you are doing a postdoc.

There is so much about your post that I find confusing. Perhaps others on SDN will have an easier time of it. In any case, in my limited experience if the job posting lists a requirement, then it is a hard requirement. Based on what you have written, I don't really see that you have any wiggle room here. If you can't compete for an Assistant Professor posting, then you need to postdoc until you can make it.

 

[physasst]

I'm a little confused by your post.

How can you be an Instructor (which to me means junior faculty) but still be completing your PhD as a doctoral student? And how can you be accumulating a pension if you are a student? Is your pension (and Instructor position) based on your work as a PA, and you are completing your PhD on the side?

Also, I am unclear as to why you are referring to yourself as "midcareer". I may just be reading your comment wrong, or you may be referring to your previous career as a PA. If you had a previous career and are now completing your PhD, that would not necessarily be considered a mid career transition. From the perspective of professional societies, NIH, etc. you are basically considered a newly minted PhD. You are eligible for "young investigator" awards, New Investigator status with the NIH, etc.

And finally, I'm confused as to what you mean about needing to take a pay cut. If you are a doctoral student, your stipend is probably in the neighborhood of $15-25K. As a postdoc, you might make $35-45K. Unless you are referring to your PA work as your baseline? But that doesn't make sense either-- if you were moonlighting as a PA while completing your doctoral studies, then you can still moonlight as a PA while you are doing a postdoc.

There is so much about your post that I find confusing. Perhaps others on SDN will have an easier time of it. In any case, in my limited experience if the job posting lists a requirement, then it is a hard requirement. Based on what you have written, I don't really see that you have any wiggle room here. If you can't compete for an Assistant Professor posting, then you need to postdoc until you can make it.

Yeah, I can see how my post was confusing..

1. My instructor rank is based on my publications and work in Emergency Medicine as a PA. My technical title is "Instructor in Emergency Medicine" and I was told that the committee actually considered Assistant Prof, and that I was right on the fence, but because I was on the fence, they went with the instructor rank to start. Yes, completing doctoral on the side....

2. I am mid-career. Maybe not as a researcher, but in terms of age, and time or employment here, I am mid career. I understand your point about starting a new career, but I think I am looking at this in terms of maintaining what I have worked to get.

3. Yeah, I'm going to continue to work clinically at this point, and attempt to get funding (get on some grants) to start building a track record.

4. I simply cannot work for what a post doc or even RA position pays. I have a mortgage, wife, daughter, daughter's college fund, etc. It's not an option. I worked full time as a PA while completing my doctoral. I could possibly take a small pay cut, but the post doc would be over 45% pay cut....even RA would be a 25% pay cut. I can't do that....

Just frustrated.....not happy with pretty much anything.