Core facilities are truly one of the most undervalued assets in an academic institution. They are often treated as also rans, staffed by non tenured faculty with little leeway, and given an exceedingly short runway to become profitable. In an age of shrinking lab sizes and astronomical maintenance contracts, cores will increasingly become the engines that fuel research. Institutions have to invest in core facilities in order to spur innovation and efficiency, and expect some will be a “loss leader” on revenues, with intangible returns on research productivity. For those on the job market, getting to know the institutional core facilities and directors should be an indispensable part of the recruitment process. Talk one to one with some of the core directors. How institutions approach core facilities is a huge “tell” on institutional research ethos.

Sad to lose this elegant and majestic spirit, Judith Jamison, at age 81. For decades she danced for and led the Alvin Ailey dance troupe and moved audiences along the way. Rest in Peace!