CESAER, 22.5.14 EPFL : Tenure-Track Assistant Professors Dr. H.R. Sadeghi, Head of Faculty Affairs EPFL-PRES, 28.3.14 The Lake Léman area – a European research hub Switzerland & Worldwide Lake Geneva EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 2 EPFL History 1968 – Act on the Federal Institutes of Technology 1853 Today 1946 Maison Bischoff rue Saint-Pierre In Lausanne Ancien Hôtel Savoy 29-33 avenue de Cour In Lausanne Ecublens-Dorigny Ecole spéciale de Lausanne EPUL EPFL Students 11 399 Faculty Looking back… More than 150 years 1,293 9,868 (2013) 56 329 (2013) EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 3 EPFL at the heart of national endeavours ETH Domain = 2 Federal Institutes of Technology & 4 Research Institutes (2013) Students in the ETH Domain Bachelor Students 13,622 ETH Zurich 8,444 EPFL 5,178 Master Students 7,208 ETH Zurich 4,778 EPFL 2,430 PhD Students 5,947 ETH Zurich 3,889 EPFL 2,058 CHF 2.27 B PSI EPFL Lausanne ETH Zurich Total 28,055 ETH Zurich 18,187 EPFL 9,868 Background The ETH Domain Paul Scherrer Institute EMPA Materials WSL Forest, Snow & Landscape EAWAG Water management, treatment & protection EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 4 13 Study Programmes, 316 Research Labs 5 Schools 7 Interdisciplinary Centers 13 Sections SB 2 Colleges Mathematics Chemistry Physics IC ENAC Computer Science Communication Science Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science & Engineering STI Electrical Engineering Microengineering Mechanical Engineering Materials Science Overview SV CDM Management of Technology Financial Engineering CDH Human & Social Sciences Life Sciences & Technology Bioiengineering Education Transport, Energie, Neuroprothèses, Design (EPFL-ECAL Lab) etc... 26 Institutes 316 Laboratories and Research Groups EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 5 Unprecedented growth since 1990 (1990-2013) 9’868 students (excl. CMS) 5’096,1 staff (FTE) 329 faculty (FTE) Students +37% (4 years) – 2009-2013 +62% (10 years) – 2003-2013 1990 = 100% Overview People EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 6 Origin of Students (Bachelor+Master+PhD) Switzerland Europe 41% Americas 2.6% 45.3% Asia & Oceania 7.7% Africa 3.3% 9,868 Students en 2013 Overview Students EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 7 European Ranking 2013 – The EPFL is well-placed (Eng. & Technology) QS THE Shanghaï Leiden (Eng. & Technology) (Eng. & Technology) (Eng./Tech. & Computer Science) (PP (top-10%) indicator) 1. University of Cambridge 1. University of Cambridge 1. University of Cambridge 1. EPFL 2. ETH Zurich 2. University of Oxford 2. EPFL 2. University of Cambridge 3. Imperial College, London 3. ETH Zurich 3. Imperial College, London 3. ETH Zurich 4. EPFL 4. Imperial College, London 4. University of Manchester 4. University of Oxford 5. University of Oxford 5. EPFL 5. ETH Zurich 5. London School Main Criteria Reputation. Citations/paper. Student/faculty ratio. Research Reputation. Citations/paper normalised by publication field, across all fields. Ranking Most cited scientists. Number of papers published. % of papers published in top 20 science journals. Citations/paper normalised by volume and publication field, across all fields. 300 largest European universities. EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 8 European Recognition - ERC Grants (European Research Council) EPFL 4th in Europe, cumulative data for 2007-2013 116 108 Cambridge Oxford 81 ETHZ 76 EPFL 74 U.C. London 36 Advanced grants 76 68 H.U. of Jerusalem 66 Weizmann 40 Starting grants 60 Imperial College 38 K.U. Leuven Research Europe EPFL Presentation | 02.2014 9 Governance Issues and Trends Attract and retain first rate Faculties -> Recruit worldwide -> Adapt the US three level Faculty systems -> Develop a tenure-track system -> Provide competitive start-up package + hard money -> Provide a modern infrastructure -> Develop spouse programs -> Provide competitive salaries EPFL-PRES 15.04.10 Faculty Assistant Professors « Tenure Track » Give to young talents the academic autonomy ! -> Autonomy and academic freedom -> Own budget allocation -> Possibility to develop their own research activities -> A clear career path -> Transparent evaluation criteria and procedure -> Evaluation at the School and EPFL levels (“tenure Committee”) EPFL-PRES 15.04.10 EPFL: Recruitment and Development Trends Approx. 20% TT-AP in the steady state Approx. 50% of new hires are TT-AP Faculty TT Ass’t Profs Présentation EPFL-Public | 2014 12 What is a tenure track? Definition: A job classification indicating that a professor is on the way to a permanent position. Holding a tenure track position does not guarantee a permanent position. Instead, promotion to a tenured position depends on a successful evaluation showing that certain expectations were met. EuroTech Universities - Tenure track round table discussion – Prof. M. Blokesch (2013) The position of a tenure track assistant professor • Entry level for young scientists. • Based on a competitive selection process. • Comes with scientific independence. “Tenure track assistant professors enjoy the same academic freedom as associate and full professors“ (Rules and Regulations Concerning EPFL Tenure-Track Assistant Professors) • Full responsibility for group members. • Should provide the means to succeed. EuroTech Universities - Tenure track round table discussion – Prof. M. Blokesch (2013) Timeline for tenure track assistant professors at EPFL submission of tenure file annual meeting with the dean of the school Associate professor 0 years 1 2 3 4 midterm review (in 4th year) 5 > 7 ….. 6 + evaluation period phaseout 7 EuroTech Universities - Tenure track round table discussion – Prof. M. Blokesch (2013) 8 The evaluation criteria • Research - Quality of science, international reputation (bibliometrics, invited lectures, …) Awards Funding Technological innovations • Teaching & Education - Quality and extent of teaching Supervision of Bachelor & Master projects and doctoral thesis • Potential - Scientific, educational, and technological development Vision • Miscellaneous activities - Participation in activities of general interest Spin-offs EuroTech Universities - Tenure track round table discussion – Prof. M. Blokesch (2013) Why tenure track attracts top research talent • Perspective • Full scientific independence • Recognition by other scientists EuroTech Universities - Tenure track round table discussion – Prof. M. Blokesch (2013) Statistics on tenure track assistant professors at EPFL Numbers (2000-2014): • Tenure track assistant professors appointed: • Female researchers among hires: 132 28 (21%) Currently: ~ 50% of new hires are at the level of tenure track assistant professor Success rate (based on 68 former tenure track assistant professors): • 47 successfully obtained tenure (69% - identical rates for men & women) - 29 currently at the level of associate professor 18 already promoted to full professor • 21 left EPFL - 7 of those went through the evaluation process without success (10%) Faculty TT Ass’t Profs Présentation EPFL-Public | 2014 18 Thank you for your attention! Présentation EPFL-Public EPFL-Public || 2014 Présentation 19 EPFL Gender Proportion of women 2000 50% 2013 Students 45% Staff 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% EPFL-PRES, 28.3.14 Ad m ta l To .A nd Te St af f ch . c ie nt ifi Sc Fa cu lty nt s St ud e Ph D BS /M S 0% EPFL Gender Leaky Pipeline 2013 35 30 % women 25 20 15 10 5 0 BS EPFL-PRES, 28.3.14 MS PhD Coll. sci. MER PTit PATT PAss PO