After my thesis defense back in summer of 2009, I moved to Ontario, Canada to do a postdoc. I moved to a foreign country and worked in a discipline completely different from that of my PhD. As time went by, I realized that I wasn’t so in love with the tenure track, something which I had in the back of my mind since my early days in grad school. Doing a postdoc helped me finally embrace these feelings, and that my success didn’t need to be tied to whether I became a professor or not. This was a painful process, but somehow (and with the help of many friends, family, and a wonderful partner) I navigated through the process of going back to my field of training, and finding a job as a staff scientist. I work in a sub-discipline of structural biology, and finally, two years after my defense, I feel like I’m in the right track.
This blog started as a way to vent the many frustrations that come with writing a thesis, and the post-defense process. I talk about some of my most challenging, and also rewarding times, before, after the defense, and after, after the defense.
I’m also a guest blogger with 1DegreeBio, a Canadian antibody review (and more) site. Feel free to comment on either site. I love reading and responding to your comments! If you want to get in touch with me, drop me a line at stitchick at gmail dot com.
So glad you found me yesterday on my blog. This is a fabulous idea for a blog and I can’t wait to start reading…I graduated from med school back in 2003 (and am not practicing) so I think I can relate to some of your grad school experiences.
Thank you!!! I’m so glad you checked out my blog
OMG … med school. The building that served as my “home” for those grad school years was shared between med and grad … you could see all the LONG, tired faces, hehe. I can’t wait to dive into your entries!!!
You might think I’m crazy, but I like reading your blog posts. A very natural style that’s easy to read. And I like the hidden identity idea. I think that’s what attracts my attention … you’re just writing, not trying to impress anybody.
Well, I’m impressed.
Thanks Ross! Glad you like it
. I’m just writing from the heart, and it’s very therapeutic. Thanks for visiting and following!
I just stumbled upon your blog. I actually did my first Post-doc in London Ontario, and since it meant I moved from sunny Sydney Australia to this small winter town just as winter was beginning was initially hell. I did eventually embrace the city and the winters. I’ve now moved onto a second post-doc, and I’m hating it. I’ve finally started facing up to the nagging doubt deep inside that academia is just not for me. It’s just going to be hard to dis-entangle myself from Canada to move back home without a job and also just turned 30 and having no idea where I’m going. So glad to hear there are other possibilities.
Hi 30! You’ve traveled quite a bit. I’m so sorry about your 2nd postdoc. It is a tough choice to make, and to face doubts … I can’t even imagine being there (again). It will be a bit uphill, and they’re will be a lot soul-searching, but I’m hopeful that you can do it. If you have a career centre nearby, maybe talk to a counselor. It did a lot of good for me to talk to someone that was able to listen and willing to help, especially with career choices and where to go next and how to do it. Hugs to you and thanks for stopping by. I’m rooting for you
I like your article “I failed my PhD qualifying exam … and I still obtained my degree”, because I am the same as well (I know what you feel). Anyway, bad is gone, light is coming.
Aww, thanks Man Yat Lo. Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed the entry on failing, and later passing, the qualifying exam. I’m glad you passed it as well
. Wishing you all the best,
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