untitled

Promotion and tenure are stressful issues

for everyone. Although it might seem pru-

dent for a couple to choose an institution

where tenure is relatively assured, considera-

tions of academic quality, colleagues, facili-

ties, and financial support—all of which can

contribute to launching a successful career—

may be more important in the long run. Both

tenure and biological clocks can seem to tick

particularly fast for couples who plan to have

children during this time. Many institutions

now recognize that the pre-tenure years and

the childbearing years overlap. They may

allow faculty who have children during this

period to postpone their tenure considera-

tion, typically by one year. Since the laborato-

ry continues to mature even in one’s absence,

this extra year can be extremely helpful in off-

setting the inevitable time lost during the pre-

and post-natal months.

Many dual-academic career couples com-

ment on the benefit of being able to under-

stand each other’s work and relate to each

other’s needs. Both members of an academic

couple have first-hand experience with the

often-intense work schedules, the grant writ-

ing, the department politics; they can

empathize vividly with bad news like paper

rejections and experimental setbacks and

even offer educated advice to help get things

back on track. On the other hand, it is also

important to be able to back off and take a

break from work. When children start to

complain that grants are the only thing their

parents ever talk about, it’s probably a sign

that rebalancing is needed.

In the end, communication is everything.

Partners who are friends, parents, and co-

conspirators in the academic game can forge

a very rewarding life together. Just not an

uncomplicated one. ■

CHAPTER 2 • DEALING WITH EVERYTHING AT ONCE 127

When children start to complain

that grants are the only thing

their parents ever talk about, it’s

probably a sign that rebalancing

is needed.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CELL BIOLOGY