Friday, June 22, 2012
I'm melting
As much as I love summer, I'm not a big fan of oppressive heat. Call me odd, but I prefer to sweat only when I'm actually exerting myself. And no, walking to the car should not count as an exertion. Oh well, at least it'll get better this weekend.....
Monday, June 18, 2012
So Speaketh the NIH
Based on my K99 score, it appears that an academic career will be an uphill battle, at best. They ain't gonna fund this puppy. I can't say that the news was particularly shocking to me (I've written enough grants to have been concerned about my application), but it's still deflating to me.
I don't know why, especially since my private desire after receiving my PhD was to enter industry. Maybe it's because I felt that people (advisers, family, friends) wanted me to be a professor. That it held some sort of cache.... But I suspect the real heart of it is that I haven't the slightest idea how to get a job anymore. I know the academic system backwards and forwards, and know all the potential pitfalls I could fall in during early career stages. But industry remains a bit of an enigma to me.
What does the job market look like for a 5+ year postdoc? What kind of jobs are available? What do these positions actually do? Once I find a job posting that fits how do I get past HR? What are they looking for in a candidate? What is the best way to leverage my professional network?
Today starts the official restart of my job search. And I am feeling more than a little anxious. Deep breathing is helping a little, but I still feel waves of uncertainty. Is it possible to suffer from impostor syndrome before you even have a job? In the meantime, I think it's time to find better stress management techniques and choke back this feeling of being overwhelmed. 'Cause what I'm doing right now ain't exactly helping my situation any....
I don't know why, especially since my private desire after receiving my PhD was to enter industry. Maybe it's because I felt that people (advisers, family, friends) wanted me to be a professor. That it held some sort of cache.... But I suspect the real heart of it is that I haven't the slightest idea how to get a job anymore. I know the academic system backwards and forwards, and know all the potential pitfalls I could fall in during early career stages. But industry remains a bit of an enigma to me.
What does the job market look like for a 5+ year postdoc? What kind of jobs are available? What do these positions actually do? Once I find a job posting that fits how do I get past HR? What are they looking for in a candidate? What is the best way to leverage my professional network?
Today starts the official restart of my job search. And I am feeling more than a little anxious. Deep breathing is helping a little, but I still feel waves of uncertainty. Is it possible to suffer from impostor syndrome before you even have a job? In the meantime, I think it's time to find better stress management techniques and choke back this feeling of being overwhelmed. 'Cause what I'm doing right now ain't exactly helping my situation any....
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Raising polar opposites
Why must my children confuse me so?
Just when my wife and I thought we had this parenting thing down we decided to have #2. And with that decision all the rules apparently changed.
A few examples:
#1 LOVES art and drawing (always within the lines). We have to bribe #2 to scribble on a piece of paper
#1 is generally careful and gentle with all his toys (most were re-used for #2). #2 destroys everything he touches within minutes of finding it (books, toys, blinds, furniture)
#1 is a thinker, an analyst. #2 prefers action without thought.
#2 is frighteningly athletic. #1 has a few coordination issues.....
#1 never needed punishment; reasoning always worked instead of time outs. We've tried just about everything, but still don't know how to deal with #2....
#1 is the pickiest eater on the face of the Earth. #2 will eat anything (as long as it's not green)
#1 loves fruits and veggies;protein is a bit more challenging. Reverse for #2
#1 likes to sleep with the door open. #2 likes it closed.
Sigh... the screaming in the background tells me I should go check to see what's going on in the other room. Yup. This is why we react with horror when people ask if we have a #3 - 2 is definitely enough. :)
Just when my wife and I thought we had this parenting thing down we decided to have #2. And with that decision all the rules apparently changed.
A few examples:
#1 LOVES art and drawing (always within the lines). We have to bribe #2 to scribble on a piece of paper
#1 is generally careful and gentle with all his toys (most were re-used for #2). #2 destroys everything he touches within minutes of finding it (books, toys, blinds, furniture)
#1 is a thinker, an analyst. #2 prefers action without thought.
#2 is frighteningly athletic. #1 has a few coordination issues.....
#1 never needed punishment; reasoning always worked instead of time outs. We've tried just about everything, but still don't know how to deal with #2....
#1 is the pickiest eater on the face of the Earth. #2 will eat anything (as long as it's not green)
#1 loves fruits and veggies;protein is a bit more challenging. Reverse for #2
#1 likes to sleep with the door open. #2 likes it closed.
Sigh... the screaming in the background tells me I should go check to see what's going on in the other room. Yup. This is why we react with horror when people ask if we have a #3 - 2 is definitely enough. :)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Celebrating 15,000 page views
Wow - when I started this a year ago I had no idea so many people would stop by and rest their eyes on my undeserving prose. It humbles me to see how fast this has grown, and I hope I can continue to be of interest.
And yes, I'll try posting a bit more on my family/family life and less on the cranky ramblings of a confused postdoc. :)
Thank you, and please help me to find interesting new topics (feel free to email me or post in the comments section).
And yes, I'll try posting a bit more on my family/family life and less on the cranky ramblings of a confused postdoc. :)
Thank you, and please help me to find interesting new topics (feel free to email me or post in the comments section).
Friday, June 1, 2012
Dr. Dad goes to Washington
One of my favorite things about my job is how I get to do things I never expected.
A few weeks ago (date obscured a bit to help with anonymity) I had the amazing opportunity to head down to our nation's capital to sell science to Senators and Congressmen. I've made the trip to DC many times, but I always get the same feeling - like I'm there doing something important. Like what I do matters.
With my continued job search and the uncertain career path ahead of me I sometimes forget just how awesome it is to think about science. Especially in the bigger sense. It's not necessarily about the substance I'm pipetting that day or even the question that I'm trying to answer.
It's about the fact that I get to ask questions. And seek out answers. And sometimes, try and persuade other people that the most important thing is to ask questions that no one else is thinking about. Because those questions can lead to something greater. A greater understanding? Yes, but also a foundation for further questions probing the unknown.
A few weeks ago (date obscured a bit to help with anonymity) I had the amazing opportunity to head down to our nation's capital to sell science to Senators and Congressmen. I've made the trip to DC many times, but I always get the same feeling - like I'm there doing something important. Like what I do matters.
With my continued job search and the uncertain career path ahead of me I sometimes forget just how awesome it is to think about science. Especially in the bigger sense. It's not necessarily about the substance I'm pipetting that day or even the question that I'm trying to answer.
It's about the fact that I get to ask questions. And seek out answers. And sometimes, try and persuade other people that the most important thing is to ask questions that no one else is thinking about. Because those questions can lead to something greater. A greater understanding? Yes, but also a foundation for further questions probing the unknown.
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