Code of conduct when proposing to open a new lab in a field new at the University I have no idea what is code of conduct when proposing a new lab and hope you can help me out.
I am looking for a Tenure Track, just finishing my PostDoc, having a good track in an emerging field and looking forward to opening a new group.
I know that at University X there is a program dedicated to opening a new labs and hiring good PIs for that, however, at this University my field is not present at all. I would love to set up a new group there, but have no idea how to approach them and propose it?
Technically the program works like they open a position from time to time, yet then it is already specified, the field, requirements, keywords, etc. Just casual job offer.
So I need to approach them before they open a position, but what is a proper way to do that?
Colleague of mine benefited from the same program, yet he contacted a senior researcher from similar field, who advocated internally for the new lab. I do not have such option, since my field is not even close to the ones already at the Uni (However it would strongly synergise with other Labs and for sure is a prospective and active field).
Shall I already contact with a CV, or first with idea for a lab?
Shall I be transparent and first convince them for a lab before proposing myself as a candidate?
Shall I first call, or mail?
I do not want a faux-pas or being misunderstood, how would you take it?
If I understand this correctly, you are asking if you should contact a university telling them (a), that they definitely need their first lab in field X that they currently have no lab in, or (b), what (a) says plus I’m applying for this to-be-created new position! Neither approach would have any hope in any country or field I’m familiar with.
Your question seems to be prompted by a colleague of yours being hired into a newly created lab (in an already present field) through personal connections. This combines connections with the new lab being in a field that already exists, and so does not really compare.
By and large, you can only apply to specific job openings, no matter how good your fit would be in a place. As you are in a new field, there might be neighboring fields with sufficient overlap that you can apply to openings in them as well. But the case at hand strikes me as fruitless.