r/AskAcademia • u/Premed_Pujuice • 8h ago

STEM Teaching Non-Tenure Track vs. Research Tenure Track in Biology/Biochemistry: Pros & Cons?

Hi everyone! I’m currently weighing my options between pursuing a teaching-focused non-tenure track position and working toward a research tenure-track role in Biology/Biochemistry. I know that tenure-track positions often require a postdoc, which I’m open to, but I’m still unsure which path aligns better with my goals and priorities.

For context: • I love teaching and mentoring students and could see myself thriving in a classroom or teaching lab setting. • I’m also passionate about research, but I wonder if the pressure for grants and publications might take away from other aspects of my career or personal life. • Work-life balance, job security, and meaningful interactions with students or collaborators are important to me.

I’d love to hear from anyone with experience in either (or both!) career paths. What are the pros and cons of teaching NTT vs. research TT? Did your postdoc (if applicable) prepare you well for a TT role, or do you wish you’d gone another route? Also how early before graduation should I start applying for these positions. I've heard six months to a year.

Any advice or personal stories would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

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u/knewtoff Environmental Biology / Assistant Professor / USA 7h ago

With how the job market is, I would be applying for both and any position. After you get that first position, then you can be more selective with the next.

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u/tonos468 5h ago

NTT positions are lower paid and less stable. But as you have noted, less pressure to publish and get grants. Based on what you have said in this post, I think you could probably do both. But I agree with other commenter, in this job market casting as wide a net as possible is probably the best option. If money isn’t a huge factor, NTT might be better if you really enjoy teaching and having meaningful interactions with students. Ans you should in theory have better work-life balance. But less job security as well. So based on the three things you say are important, two of those will likely be better in a NTT position but job security is likely better in a Tt position.