Starting a New Tenure-Track Job: Should You Ease In or Dive Straight Into Research?

Responding to a question from a dear reader in office hours

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

One of my dear readers posted this question in office hours:

I'm starting my first year on the tenure track this fall, and I've heard that I really shouldn't worry about research my first semester and should just focus on getting adjusted to my new colleagues, students, and the broader university. That sounds nice, but I'm also already feeling the pressure to publish. What is your take on the "adjust" vs. "dive in" approaches?

First of all, congratulations on beginning your tenure track journey—what an exciting and significant milestone!

When it comes to balancing "easing in" versus "diving in" during your first semester, it’s important to recognize that this is a highly individualized decision. The best approach really depends on your unique circumstances and how you're feeling right now.