`Desperately Looking for New Talent' is a Recurring Theme.

The article focuses on hiring and retaining employees. Factors contributing to the underlying dynamics that are putting pressure on the research industry in hiring and retaining top talent include overall low unemployment and competition from other industries. The lifeblood of any hiring process, of course, begins with the identification of viable candidates. Over the past three years, author has put together a top-performing team by sourcing from an eclectic mix of industries and backgrounds. While sourcing viable candidates can be difficult, the interviewing process has its own challenges. Retention of employees is another big challenge. The author says in her experience, the successful department head today needs to ensure that every person on the team feels continually challenged, excited, and valued. She says one way she tries to accomplish this is to give each person wide latitude to create their own job. Retention, it almost goes without saying, can be greatly enhanced by creating and sustaining a positive, nurturing, and challenging work environment.