Hello Bogleheads,
We appreciate Bogleheads’ cool-headed and down-to-earth advice on all sorts of topics...Below is another “move or not to move” question.
Background: Both spouses are tenured professors in traditional disciplines (e.g., a science discipline with 9-month salary for Spouse #2). Both in their late 30s/early 40s. One child to enter the fifth grade.
The situation: Spouse #1 has an offer in the same discipline from an institute that can be considered an upward move. Spouse #1 is excited about it. The new location is better the current one.
As a spousal hire, Spouse #2 is offered a position with tenure in medical school (long story, but no need to go into the details). No change in research areas. The real difference between a science discipline and medical school is external grants expectations. Science departments do not require faculty to have grants (e.g., research grants from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health), but many are grant-active to support graduate students and research activities. This particular medical school expects tenured faculty to maintain 50% salary support from extramural sources. They do describe what to expect when the funding drops below the expected level: one would need to increase efforts in other areas such as teaching and service.
Spouse #2 has been successful in grant applications and plans to continue this effort. However, grants are highly competitive. The concern is that the stress level is much higher in medical school as one's salary is at stake.
So one better career and one different type of career with higher level of stress. Kid loves the friends here and would hate us for a year or two if we move. More money but offset by higher housing cost. Better location—all household members like the new city.
Question: would you move if it were you?
Our goal is to work reasonably hard and enjoy time with kid and traveling. Being on the fence about the potential move for a while… We’d like to gather your thoughts. Thanks!
We appreciate Bogleheads’ cool-headed and down-to-earth advice on all sorts of topics...Below is another “move or not to move” question.
Background: Both spouses are tenured professors in traditional disciplines (e.g., a science discipline with 9-month salary for Spouse #2). Both in their late 30s/early 40s. One child to enter the fifth grade.
The situation: Spouse #1 has an offer in the same discipline from an institute that can be considered an upward move. Spouse #1 is excited about it. The new location is better the current one.
As a spousal hire, Spouse #2 is offered a position with tenure in medical school (long story, but no need to go into the details). No change in research areas. The real difference between a science discipline and medical school is external grants expectations. Science departments do not require faculty to have grants (e.g., research grants from federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health), but many are grant-active to support graduate students and research activities. This particular medical school expects tenured faculty to maintain 50% salary support from extramural sources. They do describe what to expect when the funding drops below the expected level: one would need to increase efforts in other areas such as teaching and service.
Spouse #2 has been successful in grant applications and plans to continue this effort. However, grants are highly competitive. The concern is that the stress level is much higher in medical school as one's salary is at stake.
So one better career and one different type of career with higher level of stress. Kid loves the friends here and would hate us for a year or two if we move. More money but offset by higher housing cost. Better location—all household members like the new city.
Question: would you move if it were you?
Our goal is to work reasonably hard and enjoy time with kid and traveling. Being on the fence about the potential move for a while… We’d like to gather your thoughts. Thanks!
Statistics: Posted by renner — Sun Jun 30, 2024 5:29 pm — Replies 23 — Views 1242