Faculty Sabbaticals at Government,
Industrial Organizations
A different approach
Boris Iglewicz, Temple university Department of statistics
compensate for only a semester of leave. Hence,
working with a government or industrial institu-
tion that is willing to provide compensation for
the remainder of the year makes it financially fea-
sible to take a complete year of leave. Such a length-
ened sabbatical can provide a more rewarding
intellectual experience.
Two biopharmaceutical companies offering
such sabbaticals for research statistics faculty are
Merck and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Merck has
a well-established program, while GSK offers sab-
baticals on an individual basis as the need and
opportunity arises. (Note: These cases were chosen
because the author is familiar with the individuals
and institutions involved. It is likely there are many
ON SABBATICAL
such arrangements, which may be highlighted in
future articles.)
Merck’s Stanley Schor Scholar Program was insti-
tuted upon the retirement of Stanley Schor in 1992.
Schor, a Fellow of the ASA, was the first executive
director and head of the Biostatistics Department
at Merck. He is credited with raising the scientific
level of biostatistical support in clinical trials broad-
ly and in the pharmaceutical industry. The goal of
the program is to bring in experienced faculty for
six months to one year to interact on a daily basis
with Merck statisticians. The Schor scholars are
F
aculty members at research universities typi-
cally take sabbaticals by working on a research
available to consult on project-related issues, give
project at their institution or spending time
seminars on current statistical topics, and collabo-
at another university. An option not always con-
rate with Merck statisticians on research questions.
sidered is to spend part of the sabbatical at an
Statisticians who have participated in the program
industrial or government organization. Such
include Myron Chang, Jack Lee, Dan Heitjan,
arrangements do exist and can be successful.
Robert Stine, Seymour Geisser, and Anastasia
There are a number of advantages to taking a sab-
Ivanova. Scholars in epidemiology and health eco-
batical at an industrial or government organization.
nomics also have been a part of the program.
Gaining knowledge of and experience in an entirely
The program is considered a success by all
different, yet practical, environment that may lead
accounts. In addition to training and consulting, the
to interesting and valuable research projects is one.
research collaborations have resulted in many pub-
The possibility of a longer-term consulting relation-
lished papers. Chang, of the University of Florida,
ship also exists. Further, many academic institutions
was the first scholar and worked primarily in group
10 AMsTAT NEWs OCTObER 2009
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