role, the job of the Scientific Project Coordinator (SPC) also
becomes increasingly complex.
This person essentially serves
as_an operations officer putting into effect the policies of
the director, as they are developed in conjunction with the
lab's Scientific Advisory Committee.
In addition, the SPC
must coordinate the sending out, evaluation and processing, of
research proposals, and then arrange the scheduling and
logistic support of those proposals which are approved by the
Proposal Review Committee.
Experience has shown that to operate effectively in this
position, the SPC should be a person with experience in both
science and administration.
In order to attract a qualified
person it has been necessary to increase the salary so that it
is appropriate to a person with a Master's or Doctoral degree
in science with five to seven years experience in research and
administration.
Fortunately for MPML, due to the poor job
market, persons with these qualifications are available.
A subject for discussion at the next MPML Scientific
Advisory Committee meeting (which is tentatively being scheduled
for late spring or early summer, 1978) will be the possibility
of phasing out the part-time director and upgrading the
Scientific Project Coordinator's job to that of full-time
director.
This person would have faculty affiliation with the
University of Hawaii.
Although there are pros and cons to this
ten
idea, it seems appropriate to the new, more independent “stand-