Category Archives: academia

How do THEY do it all?

Posted on June 25, 2019 by SweetScience

Staying organized, intensive scheduling, and prioritizing tasks is a critical skill that helps me be successful in my job, like many (but not all!) people in science and academia. In addition to my daily calendar schedule, I have a to-do … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, breathing, busy moms, efficiency, keeping sane, letting go, perfectionism, strengths and weaknesses, time management, work-life balance | Leave a comment

How to welcome a new person to your department

Posted on March 29, 2019 by SweetScience

I recently went to a fun dinner party with a few colleagues from my new department, and I’d estimate that about half the faculty know me by name if they see me in the halls, which is pretty good… except … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, early career scientist, empathy, Environment, mentoring, new job, support | Leave a comment

The Three-Postdoc Postdoc

Posted on December 26, 2018 by ragamuffinphd

This new year, I will be starting a new job. Sort of. This will be my third postdoc in as many years. Because my first mentor left the institution one year after I started (coinciding with the birth of my … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, confidence, Laboratory, motherhood, postdoc, Women in STEM | Leave a comment

Justifying your time

Posted on September 17, 2018 by ragamuffinphd

In assessing my mental state over the 8 months that I have been in this new postdoc position, I have observed a trend. It’s not good. I spend a great deal of mental energy — from the time I drop … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, bosses, busy moms, early career scientist, having it all, motherhood, postdoc, women in science, Women in STEM | 1 Comment

What could be happening behind the scenes on the hiring committee?

Posted on July 23, 2018 by SweetScience

I recently heard an interesting story from a colleague about the hiring process for my position – and how I almost didn’t get an interview! Have you ever heard the behind the scenes story of how you got hired? It … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, Interview, job search, new job, uncertainty, vulnerability | 1 Comment

The Six Month Postdoc Evaluation

Posted on July 2, 2018 by ragamuffinphd

I started an academic postdoc position 6 months ago, as a new mom reeling partly from maternity leave and partly from the conditions of leaving my previous postdoc. When I started this position, I wrote about how terrified and isolated … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, busy moms, early career scientist, female scientist, mentoring, postdoc, scientist mom, transitions, Women in STEM, work-life balance | 1 Comment

Unpaid Work

Posted on June 25, 2018 by SweetScience

It’s summer! I can hardly believe it – for the first time in 20 years I have an actual summer vacation with no job to do, until I teach again this fall! Only… that’s not really true at all. I … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, early career scientist, efficiency, finishing postdoctoral training, flexibility, new job, publishing, research, teaching, time management, trying to please others, work-life balance | 1 Comment

Where are we now?

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Megan

Over the life of this blog, our careers and lives have taken us in many different directions. Here’s a snapshot of where we are now, and how we got there.   Megan: I am currently (still) a postdoc in academia. … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, alternative career, dream job, female scientist, industry vs academia, Women in STEM | Leave a comment

What scientists inspire you?

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Megan

I’m trying to make the difficult transition out of postdoc-dom into a more permanent position. It’s been hard, full of rejection and difficult personal and professional negotiations, and my future is still very uncertain. During this time, I’ve been thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, broken dreams, early career scientist, finishing postdoctoral training, job search, Leaving Academia, role models | 6 Comments

What do you miss about academia?

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Torschlusspanik

Prior to and since the launch of this blog many of the contributors have left academia. Is there anything we miss about academia?  If so, what? Torschlusspanik This year marks the fifth year of my leaving academia, of being a … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, alternative career, Leaving Academia | 1 Comment