Advice for new professors

A summary of advice I have for new professors.*

1) Delegate

Graduate students were invented for a reason. Delegate everything. Data analysis. Literature reviews. Writing. Teaching prep. If you don't have any graduate students, find some undergrads. A task you might find mundane can actually be "research experience". 

One of my colleagues laments that their students often mess things up, causing even more work than just doing it themselves. For some things this may be true, but thus far I've been pleasantly surprised with what happens when I challenge my students. Even if they don't do a perfect job they are still doing useful work for both of us.

For CS-type folks -- get someone else to manage your machines. I know it's tempting to spend hours and hours tweaking your linux box to play fur elise backwards every other Tuesday at 2:22pm and building That Perfect Windows Manager config file and whatever other fun hacky things you do, but try to resist the urge. Shell scripts won't get you tenure (damnit). 

2) Ask

I read Boice's advice for new faculty, and he implied "quick starters" ask everyone for help on everything - research, teaching, grant writing, etc. This is helpful to remember. Spending three hours trying to find an arcane policy statement on NSF's website isn't worth the time when a quick email to your university's research support office will suffice. 

3) Network

Don't forget to water your social networks, both in your department, at your university, in your town, and in your professional community. This is something you shouldn't delegate or put off. 

Of course you don't want to spend all of your time networking; I think Boice suggests about 2-5 hours a week. YMMV.

4) Dry Clean

Best. Thing. Ever. Absolutely worth every penny. To just wake up in the morning, go to your closet, have cleaned and pressed professional clothes ready to go is just about the best thing since fur elise.

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(*)  To be honest I just had one piece of advice ("Dry cleaning FTW!"), but I thought I'd throw the other ones in too while I was here. 

san fran

in case you can't tell, i went to san francisco....and obviously i had a blast eating and drinking my way through the entire city!!  i cannot thank y'all enough for leaving me comments on what to do while i was there.  i seriously took advice from everyone.....in case you don't believe me:
callie- i loved cow hollow and alcatraz was so cool, loved the audio tour
brittanie- i totally took your advice and made sure to eat susie cakes and pepples organic doughnut...i got salted cameral and man was it awesome!!
laura- i could live in the ferry building...and i did....i think i ate their 4x's....loved mission st- la taqueria and san jose were amazing...definitely authentic mexican vs. what we are use to here!
lizzy- went to every street you listed: filmore, chestnut, union....had a blast peeking in the small boutiques
megan- you know we had to go to wine country....although didn't do the marathon to get there :)  but enjoyed those wine tasting a lot!!
kasey- tartine- HELLO!!  fabulous!
teryl- i have to hand it to you- lunch at la boulange was the best ever....and the atmosphere was so inspiring!!
kelley p- again, can't say enough about the alcatraz tour (wish it hadn't rained on us but it made it fun) and chinatown was a great place to eat and get good gifts to take back for the kids
andi- all i can say is that "crossroads" is the BEST store ever....why can't i have one here?  seriously, best deals on major clothing labels...i had to set a limit or i would have bought the whole store!
caroline- so excited we made it to the farmer's market at the ferry building on sat. AM- it was the best meal we had all week....we had lox w/ cream cheese, dirty girl tomato, and it came on acme sourdough bread-OMG my mouth is watering...and of course i had to get a blue bottle dip coffee (in fact, i think i got one everyday)
i swear we did other things besides eat and drink- i hiked up to coit tower, ran up lombard street (and almost died from the hills), went to fisherman's wharf/ ghiradelli square, got a muni pass and road the cable cars (and all other public transportation...so proud of myself for figuring it out), went to beach blanket babylon, went to a book reading at city lights, rented a car and drove on route 1 and the golden gate bridge, toured vineyards, and mostly walked all over the city just taking it in.....i can't say enough about my experience.  i have to say a huge thank you to my brother for inviting me to tag along on his work trip.  colin, it was a true blast and one i will remember/ cherish forever!!  thank you.....

Striking a cord!

Kit Heath are pleased to introduce cord as their new addition to the Autumn and Winter 2011 collection. 

The Tumble collection is simplicity at its very best captured by our designers, it includes a silver and gold version of a classic cord bracelet embellished with tumbled pebbles of Kit Heath Sterling silver.

Inspired by the tumbled stones along our Devon coastline, the tumbled silver and gold is incredibly tactile and smooth.

The bracelets are complimented by a necklace and a pair of simple studs which can be worn together for a complete delicate evening look or just on its own for a more casual "Saturday lunch with the ladies" look!

The 18ct gold plated silver bracelet is £55rrp and the silver is £45rrp both are available from all Kit Heath stockists this autumn.

We're a fan of the gold because it makes our diminishing tans appear that little bit more vibrant as the winter evenings draw in! To see more of the Tumble collection please visit our website.

 

We love the sandblasted detail on the middle pebble of this necklace and bracelet!

If neckwear is more your thing, you are a fan of colour and gemstones then the Carve necklace collection could well win you over. 

The cord and silver necklaces come in four different colours/stones; Turquoise, Smokey Quartz, Grey Agate and Blue Lace agate and all are priced at £40rrp. 

All the necklaces have complimentary coloured cords and all clasps and finishings are sterling silver, even the stone is finished off with a silver roundel with the Kit Heath stamp which gives our necklaces the Kit Heath mark of quality our customers are familiar with. 

We love this more casual necklace and see it being worn all day every day. If you want to see more on our cord jewellery you can visit our webite or view our latest newsletter! 

i swear i'm alive and haven't abandoned this blog!!  i have been gone FOREVER but i have to say, i had an amazing, amazing trip to San Fran.  i am working on a real post (but have a meeting in an hour so i can't get it up in time)....so here is a little pic from our trip: the first one was taken 25 yrs ago when our parents took my brother and i to san francisco for a vacation, the 2nd one was taken at the same place, Sam Woo in Chinatown last week....we've aged a little, and thankfully given up the lovely running jackets and white tennis shoes :)  be back soon, i promise!!!

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