1. Managing your allowance: startup, release time, and space Managing your allowance: startup, release time, and space Kristin L. Gosselink, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences The University of Texas at El Paso Women in Physiology Career Symposium The American Physiological Society Experimental Biology Meeting Anaheim, CA; April 2010

2. Start-up Funds Two words: NEGOTIATION and FLEXIBILITY With whom are you negotiating? Do they want an itemized and justified budget or “just a number”? (my opinion - be prepared for either question) Start from square one on day one? Hire a technician? A Postdoc? Get students into the lab? Shared equipment and/or Core facilities? What can you buy ahead of time?

3. Start-up Funds Be realistic, be honest, and be prepared to cut Leverage whatever you bring to the table Hit the ground running – you KNOW how to do science Keep track of your funds and expenditures yourself Consult your friends / mentors / colleagues

4. Other support External fundsExternal funds Internal fundsInternal funds –Small grants –Endowments –Training grants or other resources (ADVANCE, teaching awards) Student support / Travel supportStudent support / Travel support Society fundsSociety funds

5. Laboratory (and office) Space Space and startup may be related to one another Balance between efficiency, productivity and necessity (even if it’s not YOUR necessity) Hazardous materials Traffic patterns and methodological needs Large equipment and emergency power / backup What is infrastructure vs. what are you responsible for?

6. I’m all set up and now I have to move! It happens… rip off the band-aid Don’t let it disrupt your focus or your flow (okay, try to have as little disruption as possible) Office AND Lab? Utilize available resources If it’s precious to you, move it yourself Help people find you

7. Release time What release time? From the institution From grant support Sabbatical? What is the “talk” and what is reality? Life is not fair (it’s best you get over this as soon as possible)

8. Expect the unexpected A smattering of my personal experiences (maybe I should write a book…) - Roof leaks - Roof leaks - EH&S concerns – IACUC, Biosafety, Radiation, etc… - EH&S concerns – IACUC, Biosafety, Radiation, etc… - DEA licensing - DEA licensing - What the heck is wrong with my water? - What the heck is wrong with my water? - Nearby construction; BSL-3; vivarium - Nearby construction; BSL-3; vivarium - Fire alarms and other evacuations - Fire alarms and other evacuations - Administrative changes - Administrative changes “There’s no crying in science”

9. What would I do differently if I had it to do over again? What I did well: What I did well: - order major equipment in advance - order major equipment in advance - arrive early and get settled in home and office - arrive early and get settled in home and office - prepare for teaching load - prepare for teaching load - hold off on accepting students (?) - hold off on accepting students (?) - track expenditures closely - track expenditures closely - accept service activities on my terms - accept service activities on my terms What I wish I had done: - hire a technician - hire a technician - begin writing grant proposals earlier - begin writing grant proposals earlier - finish those papers from the postdoc! - finish those papers from the postdoc! - spend more time outside my comfort zone - spend more time outside my comfort zone - find out about other sources of support - find out about other sources of support - get involved in fewer service activities - get involved in fewer service activities

10. (tenure) Thank you!