Hey people,
I just had another 12 hour day and I'm still thinking about experiments. If I haven't said it before I'll say it again: moving to my current lab is the best thing that has happened in my short career as a scientist. I am really loving what I do. Is it bad to dream about experiments?--I do! Having a great mentor means that someone is there to encourage you and gives you the freedom to enjoy your work--I'm really blessed. Now that I know that I like benchwork (when it works, ask me again when it doesn't work), I need to find a way to make it profitable.
Postdocs (post-Doctoral fellow) start at 35-37K --benefits vary from school to school and lab to lab in academia and at Genentech, a leading biotech company, they start at $46K and with actual benefits!--but that's $46K in the Bay area and I'm thinking that it won't go far. If you become a faculty member, you're a slave to governmental grant funding (and we've hit a dry spell). If you're a scientist at a company, you're subject to layoffs. I'm thinking that if I'm going to work 60 hour weeks for someone, it should be for myself. So I'm thinking about exploring job opportunities with start-up companies. They are far more risky, but your contribution and worth are far greater. I haven't ruled out the other options, but I want to explore this one a little bit more. Any suggestions?
Hey Look!
This is my first perfect plate of tetrad dissections. It's a long story but the punchline is that it took me almost two weeks and lot's of blood, sweat and tears to produce a plate like this. Now I can dissect yeast like a pro! I had to share (:
Toodles,
Chi(:
4 comments:
Back in my day (I am getting old!), postdocs made 24K and grad students made 17K. No wonder I jumped ship.
If you really love it (and your plate does look awesome), do it!
If you really love it, and you want the chance to make money, come to the Bay Area or San Diego, where the entrepreneurial spirit is everywhere. During your postdoc, you can learn the market and if you choose the right startup ...
If you really love it, and you would be satisfied with less money for the chance to control your own research, aim for being a professor. You can still travel the world because there are conferences everywhere. Plus, usually your university will spring for 1/3 of your house, your kids' education, etc.
Probably I am not telling you anything you don't already know.
The one thing I that maybe I can offer is that you should make an effort to talk to people who aren't academics. I found that all of my mentors in grad school had bought-in to academia, and didn't have a perspective outside of academia, so their advice was unintentionally biased.
I know a postdoc at Genentech who I could hook you up with if you are interested, as well as 2 former scientists now doing business. And, of course, if you're interested in patents, you know who to turn to.
Hey Brunsli,
Thanks for the hook up. I'll email you for the info. After your post about mentors, how can I refuse?
Congrats on your dissections! Sounds like you're gonna have some fun and interesting decisions to make.
you and your locs look awesome! Girl you taking me way way back to my Biology days! I am so proud and happy for you, I am certain, whatever you decide to do, you will be at your best!
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