Start-up Funding Query

[Sean O'Connell]

We are searching for two new faculty and are curious about what level of start-up funding for research makes sense for a new tenure-track assistant professor. Most job ads avoid figures, but claim they are "highly competitive", "generous", etc. What is an appropriate level of funding to get a molecular biology lab going at a M.S. granting institution? $50,000, $100,000, $200,000? Any advice would be of great help.

[Val]

> We are searching for two new faculty and are curious about what level of start-up funding for
> research makes sense for a new tenure-track assistant professor.

Give 'em nothing. This is the employer's job market. The new asst prof is supposed to have an established track record of getting grants, and is expected to bring funding with him, if he is competitive.

In case you are still pressing for a figure, you would do well if you advertise the position and ask the applicants to send a research proposal (you can call it "seeking expression of interest"). They should give a schedule of events and prices. Many of the applicants will be competent job seekers, and they will know how much of funding they could ask for start, which would be competitive with other institutions. You then will be able to use those figures, decide what kind of experiments you want, and publish your official position advertisement.

Regards,
Valerian

[Michael]

It is not always true that new Asst. Profs will bring funding with them.
Yes, an already established Asst Prof will bring funding in most instance.
However, don't forget that new Asst Prof candidates are just finishing their postdoc stints. So, most will not have funding, some may be lucky to have K-type grants because they are in a hot area & help of their mentors.
New candidates can always ask their Postdoc Director or Colleagues for what level of start-up funding to request.
Most Universities have a guideline for start-up funding level. The Dean & Chairperson will have the necessary information on start-up funding.
I am curious that Sean who is a faculty member in a department of the University will post this kind of question.

[Drew Parrish]

Some of my friends have gone on to faculty positions in the past three years - the four that went to medical schools received start-up packages of between 350K and 800K. The higher start-up packages, by the way, correlated more with the type of research (and its requirements) than with the prestige of the university.

One friend went to an undergraduate liberal arts college with a start-up package of $125K. That might be more in line with an masters-level institution like yours, but I don't really know.

The candidates should be able to give you a cost breakdown of what they will need to get their labs up and running.

By the way, to address what was brought up by Val - only one of these newly hired assistant professors had any sort of funding to take with them.