<p>I want to be a scientist doing research in engineering/science. I even think of being a professor who devote all of his time to do research. But is it true that research professor is in the non-tenure track and the salary to support his life is not secured? To become a full time professor, must I devote some time each week to teaching and admin thing? </p>
<p>I'm not object to teaching, but I really don't like the admin stuff. Will the teaching load affect or interfere the time to do research? Considering the planning, developing of course materials, lecturing, writing exam papers, grading, etc, teaching is not an easy job and will consume a lot of time. Is admin compulsory? What are the percentage of time dedicated to research, teaching and admin for a tenure professor?</p>
<p>Also, when I should accept the tenure offer (IF GIVEN)? When completing the PhD or after finishing the PhD? I read somewhere that do not accept the tenure offer before completing the PhD as it is a trap that I may need longer time than usual to get the PhD. Is that true?</p>
<p>For me,
Research >Teaching >>>>>Admin</p>
<p>Is there any universities offering tenure track for research professor?
Is there any options so that I can devote all of my time doing research after PhD?</p>
<p>Any opinions and comments are highly appreciated.</p>
<p>Yes, the private sector. There are plenty of jobs in your area.</p>
<p>At most, if not all, universities, tenure is only given to associate and full professors, although one can be hired at either level and still not have tenure at the new university. (If an individual is promoted from assistant to associate at the same university, it means that tenure was granted.) </p>
<p>You’re right that researchers don’t have to do the university committee work that tenure-track professors do, although they do have to do administrative work within the lab.</p>
<p>If you’re doing biomedical sciences (biomedical engineering, for one) and are a professor at a medical school/med campus, you may have very little or no teaching requirements. The downside is you’ll likely be paying almost all of your salary out of grants, rather than having the university cover most of your salary and supplementing it a little from grants. </p>
<p>For example, at my program, professors can opt to not teach, will receive three months salary from the university, and must pay the rest from grants. Or, they can opt to teach a class or two a year, receive nine months salary from the university, and pay what’s left from grants. As long as you’re well-funded, the first option is probably nicer. But it also makes you personally reliant on grants, rather than just professionally reliant on them.</p>