Job update

It came to my attention that it's been awhile since I've posted (Thanks, Josh!). Sure, things get busy. Frantically wrapping up one postdoc.... Collaborations turning into mentions of job openings and book chapters.... Having a son who refuses to potty train no matter what.... Getting overwhelmed with my new postdoc....

And then I looked at the date of my last post and was shocked. Over two months?!? Sure, I didn't know what to write. What people would be interested in. But over two months? That's just sad.

So here goes.

My old postdoc - ended with a flourish of activity and a whimper of writing. On the plus side, I think I crammed in all the final experiments I needed for my last paper. On the downside, I didn't have them finished until my last day. Like an hour before the day ended. So, needless to say, I didn't have as much time to wrap things up, to say goodbye, or tell people where I stored my reagents. And in a way, I suppose I was disappointed that no one made a big deal about me leaving. I left feeling like no one would notice I was gone, which I know is not true, but it depressed me a bit. Not only had I been in the lab for over 5 years, but I actually helped set EVERYTHING up from scratch after the lab moved across county. But I digress...

My new postdoc - in a totally different field. I can't begin to explain the learning curve I feel I'm up against. I don't know any of the basic biology of the new system, but at least I know the signaling (thankfully the mechanisms of most signaling cascades remain the same in alternate systems). There are odd interpersonal/interlab dynamics going on that I can't discuss, but needless to say I've been unofficially tasked with becoming a bridge to unify the cancer center I'm in. And figure out WTH I'm supposed to do without any input from the PI. I get hands-off, but this just feels like total disinterest. A month later I don't have any solid data except for preliminary troubleshooting I've been doing to set up a new assay and feel like I need to get quality data ASAP. Oh, and there is only enough sample for me to be able to do it twice. Good thing I do fairly well under pressure. Assuming I can divine what I'm supposed to do before I use up all of the sample....

That being said, I forgot how fulfilling it is to work at a hospital, especially at a pediatric center. I notice when the ambulances drive by and Life Flights bring patients in. It energizes me to walk past patients and to talk with families. I am amazed by their strength and awed by what they go through each day. It definitely keeps me motivated to think I may directly help the people I see in the halls...

Other professional stuff - I've given two invited talks (as part of seminar series) and gotten some useful career advice (academic only - I still don't know what I'm doing when it comes to industry). I've also made some very good contacts, although most relate back to my old field. I've also applied for a faculty position at the urging of a collaborator, although I'm 90% sure I'm not what they are looking for (clinician-scientist I ain't). I've also written a book chapter and finished a review for my last project. I applied for an internal grant (similar to an R21) in my new field with the hope of gaining independence (I will be PI, but will be mentored by my new boss). Next month I need to finish my last paper for my previous postdoc and start writing a review for the new lab.

I've also been approached about a few other opportunities (both in academics and industry), but I can't really discuss them further than just to say I've got a few other options. And, of course, the best opportunity seems to be in academics. So much for me deciding to get a job in industry....

So that's the career part of my last two months. Busy, but productive. Exhausting, but hopefully moving in the right direction. I'll try and post a life update tomorrow