10 March 1954

Dr. D. P. Riley

The Royal Institution

21 Albermarle Street

London, W. 1, England

Dear Dannis:

Thanks for your letter of 25 February. My wife and I are looking forward to receiving the gift that you mention.

I am interested to learn that you feel that you should transfer to the United States. I am sure that you would get a university appointment, but it might take some time, and, moreover, there might well be difficulty in your getting one that you feel that you could accept. Almost without exception staff appointments in this country are made at the rank of instructor or assistant professor, with salary around $5000 per year; then the staff member is promoted to associate professor and professor. It is rather rare for a more senior appointment to be made initially.

Our situation about a temporary appointment is that our funds have now been pretty well allocated for the coming academic year, and unless something unforeseen occurs we could not give you a research fellowship. I doubt that we could go as high as $6500, in any case. If we plan ahead, we might be able to make an arrangement for you for the year 1955-56. (One difficulty is that we have to trim our budget for 1954-55 somewhat, because of decreased income.)

There is, moreover, another aspect of the problem that seems to me to be important. People find it harder to get located if they are in Pasadena than if they are in the eastern United States. The best place of all to be is, I think, New York City. This suggests that you apply to Harker for appointment. I understand that Crick is leaving soon, and it seems not out of the question that his departure would leave an opening in the group that you could fill. If you are at all interested, you should write to Harker about it. I should think that he would be glad to have you with the group, in order to increase its productivity.

Also, you might think it worth while to write to Pepinsky. Pennsylvania State University, located in the town of State College, Pennsylvania, is quite representative of state universities in the United

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States, and by being there you would get an excellent idea as to what university life in general in this country is like. Moreover, Pepinsky has a lot of projects under way, and he is able to provide support for a lot of research fellows. I think, too, that he is not greatly hampered by lack of space, as we are at present.

You might want to apply directly for a university appointment. Professor C. S. Hamilton, Chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, has written me saying that they want to appoint an instructor in general chemistry, to begin work next fall. They want a man trained in physical chemistry who will carry on research, direct doctor candidates in the field, and later on offer a graduate course. They are hoping to have someone who would be appointed permanently. The starting salary as instructor is $4500.

I think that you might consider it worth while to write to Professor Hamilton, telling him that I had mentioned the opening to you, and saying that you would not be willing to come as instructor, but might accept an appointment as assistant professor, at a suitable salary. If you do so, I suggest that you let me know, in order that I might write a supporting letter to Hamilton. I may say that the University of Nebraska is considered to be pretty good, and in particular their chemistry department has a very good reputation.

Please let me know before long about any changes in your situation; in particular, I suggest that you get in touch with me in June, say, to see whether our financial situation for the coming year is the same or has changed.

With best regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling:W