There is an old saying that those who can do; those who can’t teach. While I’m not too sure about that, there is an interesting paradigm in higher education. That is the highest level scientists in the USA tend to be successful scientists and researchers by spending time doing research, writing grants and papers. The high profile scientists are used as recruiting tools to attract the best students, however it is relatively rare for those researchers to spend time teaching students. Students are the Farm Team for any research enterprise but the students tend to be taught by faculty who are doing relatively little research.

So the best scientists do science; or those who can do research do it. Whereas those who may not be able to get their research funded are relegated to teaching duties; thus fulfilling the old saying above.

That is just sad.

The students are often exposed to senescing professors teaching what the administration has forced on them to meet departmental teaching commitments. Many Departments in the so called research institutions will have big offices and labs for the successful research faculty but little offices or facilities for the teaching faculty. This leaves the teaching faculty, who are valuable contributors to the operations of any institution of higher education, feeling second class. Such feelings can be sensed by the students and result in disincentivizing future scientists.

I actually like to teach and would like to do more student instruction. However, my research is relatively well funded and I am discouraged from taking on teaching duties. It just does not bring in as much money as research. When I was a junior faculty member I did more teaching and found that the students challenged me and that I could connect with students who would sometimes end up working with me.
About ten years ago I taught a first year student who was very bright and engaging. He has since worked with me, published with me and we continue to collaborate. As I said above, students are the farm team and I treat them like potential peers. Now unfortunately, I get little chance to teach and pretty much only do mentoring of graduate students and participating in thesis committees.

So the take home message from above is:
1. If you are a student, use your primary teachers as resources but remember to look at other faculty members in your research institutions. Some of us like students.
2. If you are a department chair and you feel that the department is not attracting the best students – perhaps you should look closely at the faculty who interface the most with those students. Try to know and learn how to plant seeds with the farm team.
3. If you are a teaching faculty member try to learn how to farm the students you are teaching.
4. Finally if you are a research faculty do take on teaching opportunities and use that time to recruit the cream of the crop in those classes.