Consider how you balance the demands and pleasures of this season. Have you found ways to make progress on your must-dos while also taking time for your family, friends - and yourself - and being in the moment of this time of year? Or are July and August just another month for you?
As a frazzled first year assistant professor who lives half a world away from her family, an entire continent away from her closest friends and who continues to add to her list of injuries, ailments and illnesses on a daily basis, my summer has been shot to hell. TO HELL, DAMN IT!
Where to even start?
This was supposed to be 3 months of doing kickass research. I had an undergrad student lined up for the summer with plans for a short journey to see my family as well a week or so traipsing across distant mountains. But alas, it was not to be.
Thanks to various factors, ordering the big ticket equipment stuff for the lab was delayed but we are now (finally) bursting at the seams with Shiny New Stuff.
My student has turned out to be unbelievably wonderful and is developing amazing lab hands but is still at the “I’m Still Not Sure You Should Trust Me On My Own” stage.
And the grants I had planned to submit were duly pushed out the door with one tiny one actually being awarded (yay, me!).
All positive stuff, right?
Uh huh.
Now if you throw in the obligatory trip home to the land far, far away, catching Not Swine Flu along the way, being told by my parents that I need to consider moving closer to home, having my mother outline her plans for when my father kicks the bucket, having my gorgeous nephew look at me with his big blue eyes and ask when I’m coming to play with him again, as well as the ongoing jet lag, you’re getting some idea of how my not-so-idyllic summer is progressing.
Oh, and let’s not forget the goddamned health issues.
Geeez, where to even start with that?
Hmmm ... let me see. I only just had my shoulder sewn back together earlier this year and over the past couple of months I’ve been rushed from one scanning machine to another with a breast cancer scare, had a long overdue physical exam, endured some weird experiences with my bizarre new dentist and am now facing the possibility of surgery to fix a fucked up knee. Oh, and I’m still having PT for my shoulder.
And the Fall semester starts in a matter of weeks.
Eeeeeeeeekkkkkkk!! What the hell happened to my summer of kickass research?
I am in desperate need of a vacation to recover from the summer so I’m taking the next couple of weeks off to try to reset my overheated synapses.
In the meantime, it’s time to hit the couch with a family-sized bag of Doritos.
Sigh. At least I can always rely on the evil corn chip.
scientiae-carnival
Summer is like this mythical period of productivity that elusively slips through our grips as were are mired in the daily minutia of science.
ReplyDeleteWell...at least your summer hasn't been boring? Sorry it hasn't gone as planned. I hope the two weeks off allow you to recharge!
ReplyDeletePiT,
ReplyDeleteI slowly started my job hunting this year. Could you suggest some forum to check out information or discuss application procedure?
thanks
Anon: are you looking for a position as a postdoc, faculty or technician? Are you shooting for academia or industry?
ReplyDeleteTo find available positions, ask your supervisor/PI/mentor and read through the ads in journals appropriate to your area. Also check out Science mag and the Chronicle for job listings. If you're searching for anything other than a faculty position, it's also worth contacting people/labs you are interested in working with and sending them your CV. I would venture to say that most postdoc positions are not advertised.
Re info about application procedures: again, it depends on the type of job you're applying for. For a faculty position, you'll need a CV and probably a statement of research interests or a research plan (check out PhysioProf's info over at DrugMonkey about this).
In the current economic climate, you need to apply for as many jobs as possible to maximize your chances of getting an interview. Get your mentor to look over your application(s) and provide critical feedback before you send it/them out.
Best of luck.
PiT; I hear you. I too would love a vacation after vacation ;) Had to check in with my student and check email most of the time, hard to relax then... ah well, it's life.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I would love to hang out in my house and do absolutely nothing for a week! now, that is clearly not happing.... have a couple of really interesting experiments to do. And finishing stuff up.
Good timing on the unrelated question on job hunting, as I had the same question in regards to post-doc hunting, and your answer is here, I am very grateful. I've had other advice to do exactly the same as you suggested, ie email labs/PIs that I would be interested in working with. But, I didn't know to attach a CV. Would you suggest an initial gauging email with a follow-up CV or to jump in with an initial email, CV attached?
ReplyDeleteI am currently applying for postdoctoral positions. I sent a cover letter, research summary, and CV to each PI I was interested in. Professors get so many emails every day, and they're too easy to lose/delete, so hard copy is better. I already have two interviews, so I think it's a good strategy!
ReplyDeletei think hard copy + email is not a bad way to go if it is a 'cold call'.
ReplyDeleteIf your current PI knows the potential post-doc advisor, just have her give the new person a call.
and my summer has been swallowed up by crap as well.
Thank you for the suggestions! My question to Katie is: How far in advance of graduation did you start this process?
ReplyDeleteNot soon enough! I would have liked to start about a year prior. My advisor wanted me to wait until my first author paper was submitted, and the revision process took longer than expected. I sent my applications out at the beginning of July, and I expect to graduate this fall. So 4-5 months?
ReplyDelete