Fig. 1. Neoteny. (A ) The timeline on the x-axis runs from when a young faculty starts out after training and progresses toward some point at which he or she will be considered for having “established him/herself.” This corresponds to the vertical dotted line . The timeline would correspond, for example, to promotion from assistant to associate professor, perhaps including the granting of tenure. The candidate needs to attain some measure of achievement, as denoted by the x on the dotted line . (B ) If independence is too early, productivity can lag behind. When candidates are assessed, their project may be insufficiently productive. (C ) Ideally, we should closely support a candidate to maximize productivity without undue preoccupation with “independence” and then in the period shortly before assessment, ramp up and give a “burst” of independence. See text for further explanation.