Ellen Walker, Hiram College

Who am I?Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Research

University), 1989Research in computer vision, fuzzy logicGraduated 3 Ph.D. studentsSpent “too much” time helping undergraduates,

outreach (PipeLINK, see Rodger, Walker, SIGCSE 1996)

Hiram College (residential liberal arts college, 1000-1200 students total(!)), 1996Broadened teaching, research, work with undergradsFull professor, 2002; giving back through service,

now.

Who Are You?What size is your school?What size is your department?Are you the only woman in your department?What is your academic preparation?What is most important at your school –

teaching, scholarship or service?Is your school public or private?What is your teaching load?

Training and EducationYour institution benefits from investing in youThink of yourself as a $1,000,000 -

$2,000,000 investmentYou’ll need ongoing training and education in

your research areaemerging areas and technologyteaching methods

Where to LookAttend conferencesRead

Journals, magazines, booksStart or join a reading groupMailing lists

Online tutorials (ACM, IEEE, free)Local seminars, colloquia and professional

groups

Where to LookAttend workshops and tutorials at

conferences (SIGCSE, OOPSLA, SIGGRAPH)Apply for NSF Summer WorkshopsTake a graduate course Hardware and software vendors offer coursesTeach a course about something new

ConsultingSummer faculty fellowships: NASA, Air Force,

National Labs, Microsoft, and othersNSF panel reviews

Allows you to keep with the main trendsWill know what the most important issues areGood contacts and networkingProvides you with tips on how to write a successful

proposal

AP Exam gradingWorth doing especially if you are teaching introductory

CS courses

Instead of Summer Teaching

AskDon’t be afraid to ask for what you needIf you are consistently thwarted, don’t be

afraid to change jobs

Improving Your TeachingTeaching may be more important than

scholarship at your schoolFind your local teaching and learning centerAttend seminars on teaching techniquesAttend SIGCSE, ITiCSE or CCSC conferencesAsk your colleagues to share their lecture

notes and assignmentsAsk another good teacher to observe you

You need to maintain currency, you need to generate publications…

You need recognition, letters of recommendation…

FundingInternal sourcesExternal sources

Internal Funding SourcesIndividually earmarked funds

Travel / Equipment / StartupDepartmental fundsCollege / Division / School funds

Research & teaching centerTravel funds

Institution-wide funds

Additional Internal Funding“Hidden funds” at your institution

Can you connect with an institutional grant?Can you position your need in terms of

institutional priorities?Get to know your development officers

May help find trustees or alumni interested in your project

External Funding SourcesFederal agencies

http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/Science/Agencies.shtml

NSF relevant divisions: CISE, DUE, EHR General purpose equipment not supported; tie request to

curriculum development Volunteer to serve on panels to learn more

Corporate Research & Development Labs Often initiated by contact at the lab

ConsultingFurther your own goals (not only the company’s)Be careful about patent and copyright issues

Professional organizations such as SIGCSE

External Funding Sources (cont’d)State fundsPrivate foundationsCollaborations with others

NSF DUE Project Information & Resource system lists funded projects and PIs

https://www.ehr.nsf.gov/pirs_prs_web/search/You might serve as evaluator, beta tester,

become involved with dissemination

Travel FundingCombine trips

Give a talk nearbyVisit feeder institutions or alumni

Admissions or Development might help?Share costs

Travel with a colleague Share driving, hotels

Bring studentsBuilds visibility; institutions more inclined to

fund!

EquipmentInternal / external funding sources already

mentionedFind someone else to share it with

Who already has itWho can help you purchase it

Can you trade something you have for something you need?

Time for ResearchTime shift – don’t overloadDo not teach in the summerAsk for release time (and learn to say “no”)

Administrative responsibilitiesExternal professional activities

Incorporate research activities in your classesResearch-oriented projectsDiscussions of current literature

Recognition OpportunitiesSeek leadership roles with visibilityACM and IEEE senior membership

5 years of professional experience Grad school counts partially

“Press releases” at your institutionBlow your own horn!

Opportunities for awards & recognitionBe aware: institution, local, professional

societyNominating others helps your visibility

In SummaryInvest in yourself and your careerBe proactive and don’t wait for it to happenTake advantage of all available resourcesTake full advantage of the experience that

mentors and role models have to offerGood luck! And when you make it, be sure to pay

back and help others.

Equipment and curriculum development examplesHP (equipment grants for education):

www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/tech_teaching/higher_ed_main.html IBM (equipment through employee donations)

http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/giving/match.shtmlMicrosoft (research and curriculum development projects)http://research.microsoft.com/erp/

Software and training examples IBM (Academic initiative - software & training)

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/university/scholars/academicinitiative/Microsoft (Academic Alliance)

msdn.microsoft.com/academicOracle Academy (formerly Academic Initiative)

https://oai.oracle.com/en/index1.html

Some companies mainly support their local geographic area (e.g. Dell)

Funding from Companies

Recruit work study students who have federal funding

Consider giving students course credits if money is not available or not sufficient.

If you have an NSF grant, you can get funds (relatively easily) through an REU supplement for undergraduate researchers

Undergrad Research Assistants