Tuesday, July 31, 2012

I'm back, and charging toward the finish-line

Sorry for the silence the past week or so, but I was at a really, really awesome small conference (think Keystone/Gordon/Cold Spring Harbor).

The conference was a ridiculously tiring marathon: 5 13-hour days (including 3 hour breaks to do outdoorsy stuff that my body is in no shape to attempt) followed by 3-5 hours of cocktails/networking. Sleep was somewhat of an afterthought, but science was everywhere. My inner and outer nerd were excited to be able to share my research to everyone and get feedback on all the weird thoughts that swim around my brain.

In addition to the offers of talks/collaborations/citing my paper, I was reminded that I am not to different than anyone else in the field. Granted, I was mainly talking with academics and am not so sure that particular boat will sail for me. But everyone, no matter how famous, has doubts and fights the dreaded "impostor syndrome." I only wish I was more oblivious to my inner dialogues. And less petrified by my fears.

I also found out that 3 other groups (2 are VERY BIG labs) are working on projects very similar to mine, but that's OK because I published last year. And two of those groups are willing to collaborate. It's also exciting that after 5 years of doing relatively obscure research people are now verifying my findings using slightly different techniques. I love it when other people can prove my wild theories correct :)

Which is why I'm charging toward the finish line of my current project/paper. Collaborations may allow me to continue the project in the new lab, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. On the bright side, I discovered a way that my current research DIRECTLY relates to my new research. So maybe it won't be so hard to continue after all.....

In any case, I'm back and busier than ever. But I am happy again. And excited to do research. Man, I love small conferences....

Monday, July 16, 2012

New job!!!

I've made my decision and it feels sssssoooooo good to finally pull the trigger!

I decided to stay local, not only because it makes things MUCH easier at home, but also because I think it'll help me down the road. It is a bit divergent from my background, but my hope that this will broaden my experiences and make me more marketable in the future. Most likely the future will be industry, but in theory this position could lead to a  new biological focus for an academic lab if things end up right and I decide to go in that direction....

My PI is already discussing a small grant I can apply for (that has the goal of setting up a fledgling independent investigator at the institution), I spent about an hour chatting with HR (they were actually helpful and positive....), and everyone is very excited to see me join them. While it's "only" a postdoc, it sure feels nice to be wanted :)>

In any case, I'm riding the waves of endorphins (is there such a thing as a job-hunter's high?) and really looking forward to the next chapter in my career. In the meantime, I'll buckle down and try to finish writing up my current story. And try not to smile too much while working....

Tee-hee!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Women in science: how level is the playing field?

I'm short on time, but I stumbled upon a link that tells me that there is still much we can do to level the playing field in science.... I personally find it absurd and sad that women are still fighting these battles.....

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/12/156664337/stereotype-threat-why-women-quit-science-jobs

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Job offer conspiracy?

I don't mean to complain, but how is it that one can struggle through months of silence during a job search only to have a flood of interest within a few days or weeks?

The good news is that I finally got an "official offer" via phone for a postdoc position that interviewed for several months ago. The funny part is that I got the offer the day after I got nervous enough to hedge my bets and start applying to other places (academic postdocs and industry). I honestly wonder if my office was bugged or if they planted a tracking cookie on my computer.

To make it even more comical, I also got an unsolicited heads-up on an academic position that will be opening up at a very good Institution by a contact of mine, who wants to recruit me to work with him. Needless to say, I will push past my odd feelings about the situation (most likely stemming from self-doubt) and pursue that option. Add to that a few industry phone interviews and my ego is reeling from too much stroking.

 But then again, these are not bad "problems" to have and I am very excited about the prospect of having decent health insurance again....

Woo-hoo!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A musical interlude during my job search

I thought I'd post a song that has slowly wormed its way into my preoccupied brain. It's not a particularly new song, but I do think that it is a particularly good song.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Great opportunities

It's been longer than I intended since I've blogged last. Things have been busy, but honestly I've been having a hard time coming up with a post that did not involve whining or worrying about my future. Which is ridiculous because I love my job and the opportunities that have been given to me.

Like sitting down for a chat with Donald Johanson, esteemed anthropologist and "discoverer" of Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old humanoid, about how great my son was. Well, actually, he asked what we (truth be told, I shared my lunch with several faculty members) thought the best approach was to teach evolution. I suggested using examples from nature, as evidenced by my 3-year old's ability to grasp the concept after watching a one hour show highlighting the species diversity of the Congo River. Apparently the current is so strong that pockets of fish are unable to leave localized areas. As such, these local populations are under extremely strong selective pressure and new species are evolving very rapidly. In any case, after the show I asked my son what he thought about what we had seen. In addition to learning that he thought it was "cool" to see all those different kinds of fish, I asked him why he thought there was such variety in that particular river.

Using logic only available to a child he said that "The fish were living in different areas and their bodies were doing what they normally do (I'm pretty sure he didn't know of Lemarck, and yet still managed to refute his theories), but because the river's different in each place, they end up looking very different." This from a 5 year old....

But I digress. What other job would allow me to meet with people of this caliber? And what other profession would allow me to interact with them on the same level. Very few, I would think. And that is why I love my job and contributions I make, no matter how uncertain my future may seem to me.