<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I noticed that most or all of the profs out there constantly do research and publish papers. Why are they required to do that, even when they are not researchers or anything like that? Sorry if this is a dumb question. :o</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Well, first of all, profs are researchers, especially at large research universities, where the prestige of the department is dependent quite frankly on two metrics: how many papers are getting published, and how many times they get cited. Another factor is publishing in high impact factor journals like Science, Nature, JACS, PRL, etc.</p>
<p>Yes, some professors are the Outstanding Teacher Award types, but most profs, esp at large universities, get their tenures by publishing and getting cited a lot. You don't get funding by being a good teacher.</p>
<p>my professor said, if you want to concentrate on teaching, get a degree from a top 20 program in your field, and go teach at a liberal arts college. The professors there aren't under as much pressure to publish constantly.</p>
<p>Depending on which LAC you're at. I know that at Colby, many profs are here on a research basis and are pushed to publish.</p>
<p>with a few exceptions, professors have Ph.D.s. A Ph.D. is a research degree. you earn it through research and you use it by doing research.</p>
<p>As has been noted, the PhD is a research degree. One's PhD dissertation is just the beginning of one's research.</p>
<p>Because students' experience with professors is primarily in the classroom, they do not always realize that the bulk of our work is research. I spend more than twice as much time each week on research than I spend in the classroom.</p>
<p>And in agreement with an above post, most professorial positions require constant research and publication in order to earn tenure and promotion. Today, even some tenured positions are not "safe" if one does not continue to be productive in research.</p>
<p>Even positions at liberal arts colleges require constant research and publication, although many will evaluate and "count" teaching as well. In my observation, these days, it's only at the community college level where research is not a priority.</p>
<p>Now I get it. Thank you so much for the replies. :)</p>