WWYD. Re mentoring a Post-doc?

[MeltsAway]

A sort of academic AIBU

I’d supervised the student who then took a maternity leave. I kept in touch and about a year later I contacted her to talk about an application for a competitive national post-doc competition. We Skyped and she set out to draft an application which I read and commented on and then helped her present for internal selection.

It went into our institutional internal selection process and was on the reserve list to be supported for the national scheme.

I’ve just heard that the current Research Director of my department is now working with her on another application. I was not told about this nor have I been asked to advise support or mentor.

It’s not in the research director’s area - as far as I know it’s much the same project that I supported but for a different scheme.

AIBU to be a tad pissed off?

We’re a collegial department and I think this should have been handed back to me. Or at least I should have been told! I’m actually rather more successful than the research director in getting grants (I already have a Marie Curie Postdoc working with me). And this current applicant was my PhD student and the project comes out of work she did with me.

Or am I being too territorial?

I'm sorry - it sounds like the usual mixture of naivety and low-level rubbishness.

How about, 'Dear Competitive Potential Postdoc cc Research Director, I'm so pleased to hear that you are pushing on with the proposal - it's important to try as many avenues as possible to maximize success. I take it I'm out of the picture now, but I wish you all the very best of luck. Best wishes MeltsAway'.

Then mentally earmark them as job done, they've had their lot of mentoring/support, and say no when RD next asks a favour.

Alternatively ''Dear Competitive Potential Postdoc cc Research Director, I'm so pleased to hear that you are pushing on with the proposal - it's important to try as many avenues as possible to maximize success. If you have a window, it would be good to talk about a co-authored publication plan regarding the element I suggested for the other scheme and which you may be taking forward. Let me know when you're free depending on childcare and I'll send a Teams link across. Great to see RD is supporting this promising proposal - I wish you all the very best of luck. Best wishes MeltsAway'.

Depends on whether there's a potential paper riding on it. Mentorship of a PDRA doesn't count for a huge deal for promotion purposes at most institutions I think - perhaps see it as one less thing to have to carry.

Mentorship of a PDRA doesn't count for a huge deal for promotion purposes at most institutions I think.

However bring in a postdoc with external funding often counts for a lot, so (IMHO) this is very unreasonable behaviour behaviour from the senior colleague.

Thanks everyone it’s really upsetting me at the moment, annoyingly

Interestingly, I am actually the senior colleague in all sorts of ways. And former research director.

And yes, the money attached is important reputationally, as well as - I’ve done the work! Keeping in touch with my former PHD student, suggesting postdocs and supporting her ...

It’s not her fault, but the research director has behaved somewhat uncollegially I think.

Sorry by 'the senior colleague' I meant 'the more senior of the other 2 people involved'.

Yes, I got that @ehtelp - thanks, no need to apologise!

Just the irony is that I'm already the senior professor, and have been for years doing all the things that the current research director is now specifying should be our "new" research strategy - makes me feel cut out of the loop, my work not appreciated, and generally grumpy. And exploited without recognition

But I'm probably also feeling quite personally insecure ... argh!

You need to speak with your academic colleague about this not the ex student. Everywhere I have worked this would be seen as very bad form on their part, but the student may not be aware.
I'd politely but firmly ask them WTFO is going on with this person and watch them squirm.

Having read your updates it sounds like this is part of a bigger picture that you feel edged out by your colleague. This is a really shitty situation and not easy to resolve but you may need to think bigger picture about how you fight your corner in the department

I'd not be happy if it were my former PhD and I'd already worked with them on an application and If this is a similar app. That said if it is a collegial dept and you are very senior why not let someone else have a crack - the new DoR may be feeling a little threatened by you or may be trying to take a load off you. Have you broached the topic with them?
How 'new' can research strategy be really? The game has been/is diversifying grant income... but I feel for you, it's not nice when your research grant track record isn't seen for what it should be.

It's weird they shut you out.
But... (devils advocate) I'm wondering what they think they are doing - & why.

Do you answer emails? I get fed up of academic colleagues who chronically ignore my emails.

"as far as I know it’s much the same project"

that sounds vague. Is it substantially the same research proposal or not.. and how much did you really write it & how much did the Prospective-RA write it with just a few comments from you, which makes it their pet project to take to another PI if they prefer.

Or maybe the other faculty member is just a poaching jerk. You tell us.