In your experience, is it most effective for a new professor to address incremental questions on one topic within her comfort zone; undertake a more challenging, possibly more impactful big-picture project; or some combination of both?

First projects are often related to post-doctoral research. How soon must I try to differentiate independent projects from previous work?

I consider collaboration a source of inspiration and collegiality as well as functionally important. At the beginning of my career, am I better off seeking collaborations, avoiding them in the name of independence, or placing myself somewhere on a continuum between the two?

Do you agree that interdisciplinarity is the way of the future? Approximately what percentage of time did you invest in cross-disciplinary work as an assistant professor, versus today?

How did you build a network of male or female colleagues and mentors who helped and advised you onto the path you took? How and where do you interact with these friends today?