The image that most people have of a professor is that of an old grey man, in an ivory tower, completely dedicated to the work of science. The female audience laughs at Hulscher's cliché. They know the image is accurate. Still, standing in front of them is a smart young woman, professor in water management and leader of one of the largest research groups of the Faculty of Engineering Technology.
Hulscher explains what her job entails. `My responsibilities include finance, research, education and staff. In 2004 I spent ten percent of my time on education, forty percent on research and fifty percent on managing the department. I never realized how much time it takes to be a manager until I became a fulltime professor.' Hulscher has a team of 37 scientists, including 18 PhD students, a very large group. Finally, she works with three secretaries and one teaching and research assistant.
So is a professor a leader or a researcher? Hulscher thinks there are two ways to approach her job: bringing research and education to the highest level versus creating an environment in which people are motivated to get the best possible results. `I value the latter more, but the first is usually used to evaluate one's performance.' There are enough difficult choices in her job. `Take delegating tasks. You are supposed to delegate to the person hired to do that, but sometimes you know others will do a better job.' The professor also has trouble being a good manager in what she calls a financially bad organization. `The UT is such an organization. I never know how much money I have exactly. Apparently that takes a special kind of intuition.'
Despite the dilemmas, Hulscher is very happy with her job. `I'm in a position where I can give people all kinds of opportunities. That makes being a professor fun.' Of course, she has some tips for the young female researchers in the room who aspire to be a professor. `Communicate your successes, even though that's a bit uncommon in the Netherlands. Don't be afraid to brag. Men do it,' Hulscher says. Take advantage of the opportunities that cross your path, be clear in what you want and go for it. She adds: `Yes, I know it is difficult expressing that, because it makes you vulnerable.'
A final tip: `Choose your supervisor carefully. Good managers give good opportunities. Also don't be afraid to work hard.' But the most important tip of all: `Believe in yourself.'
Trans. Jeroen Latour
