Category Archives: strengths and weaknesses

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

What’s in a name?

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Curiouser&Curiouser

I defended 7 years ago this month…. and I’m still a Research Scientist 1.  I had hoped to be up for a promotion last year because I felt like I kicked butt all year. When I had my year end … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative career, biotech, bosses, broken dreams, conflict, industry, money, motherhood, pharma, strengths and weaknesses, uncertainty, women in science, Women in STEM | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The hardest semester of my life

Posted on November 30, 2017 by SweetScience

Don’t worry, this post isn’t a complaint. I had the hardest semester of my life but I got something great out of it. I started a new job this fall – one of my top-choice careers, at one of my … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, alternative career, confidence, dream job, early career scientist, education, finishing postdoctoral training, flexibility, gratitude, happiness, Illness, letting go, new job, no regrets, part time work, strengths and weaknesses, teaching, transitions, uncertainty | 2 Comments

Writing your own letter of recommendation

Posted on August 23, 2017 by SweetScience

In response to a recent post, a reader asked for advice on writing a letter of recommendation – specifically for oneself! Yes, for better or worse, “minor fraud” and ethics aside for this post, this is very common and important … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, bosses, finishing postdoctoral training, graduate school, job search, mentoring, postdoc, professional, research, strengths and weaknesses, support, uncertainty | 1 Comment

Feedback on job applications

Posted on July 17, 2017 by SweetScience

My partner and I applied separately for a number of Assistant Professor positions last year. We both had varying degrees of success at different institutions that really showed us where we stood in terms of what kinds of institutions were … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, early career scientist, finishing postdoctoral training, gratitude, Interview, job search, lack of jobs, mentoring, postdoc, strengths and weaknesses, support | 1 Comment

Book Club – Lab Girl

Posted on July 20, 2016 by SweetScience

We recently read Lab Girl, the nationally bestselling memoir by Hope Jahren, PhD. Dr. Jahren is a Professor at the University of Hawai’i Manoa where she runs a Geobiology Laboratory. She also blogs about interactions between women and men in … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, Book Club, female scientist, memoir, role models, strengths and weaknesses, women in science | 1 Comment

Mission Statement

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Curiouser&Curiouser

There is so much that I love about my career as a Research Scientist in BioTech. I love the creativity and intellectual stimulation, the teamwork and independence, the opportunity to apply expertise but always keep improving and learning, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative career, biotech, confidence, dream job, early career scientist, female scientist, flexibility, happiness, industry, job search, no regrets, pause, resolution, strengths and weaknesses, women in science | Leave a comment

Listen to yourself

Posted on April 25, 2016 by SweetScience

For the last six months I’ve been co-facilitating a peer mentoring group for postdocs, a group initiated by our postdoctoral affairs office. We’re seven people, all in some kind of biomedical research, but not necessarily with the same career goals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, advice, alternative career, dream job, flexibility, job search, strengths and weaknesses, support | 1 Comment

Why I stopped faking it

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Curiouser&Curiouser

When I was in grad school I felt like I wasn’t good enough and at the same time that I deserved to have it all – perfect grades, grants, awards, fantastic publications, a great social life and a happy family. My … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative career, biotech, bosses, broken dreams, confidence, early career scientist, female scientist, graduate school, having it all, industry, job search, Leaving Academia, letting go, new job, no regrets, perfectionism, professional, strengths and weaknesses, trying to please others, uncertainty, vulnerability, women in science | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Encountering new levels of diversity… and lack of diversity

Posted on April 13, 2015 by SweetScience

I just started a new job in a big city. This has been a huge change for me in many ways, and one refreshing change has been the new level of diversity I’ve experienced. I am a white woman who … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, conflict, diversity, Laboratory, postdoc, strengths and weaknesses | 3 Comments