Beginner’s luck
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007
This is what Peter Jordan wrote in Nature (Nature 446, 466 (March 2007) | doi:10.1038/nj7134-466c) about his postdoc:
I actually seem to be enjoying my postdoc.
I’m writing this entry at the end of the fourth week of my first postdoc position. It is too soon for grand claims but, despite expectations to the contrary, it seems that being a postdoc isn’t that bad. In fact, I’d almost go so far as to say that I’m really enjoying myself. What’s going on?
For one thing, it’s liberating to know that there is no degree riding on my performance; there aren’t going to be any assignments or exams standing between me and the continued receipt of my salary. Postdoc positions present their own challenges, of course, but I like to think that it is still too early to be worried about such things.
My optimism could be due to the fact that so much in my life has changed. I’ve changed cities, changed labs, changed supervisors and, most importantly, changed research direction. I’ve already stumbled across what looks to be a worthwhile project in my new field, something both intellectually stimulating and maybe, just maybe, medically useful. And there’s nothing quite like the promise of a manuscript being submitted for publication in the not-too-distant future to help make research life look rosy.
And then there’s the very real possibility that this period of the job is like the beginning of any new relationship — all fun and no work. Here’s hoping that it stays fun for a long time to come.
… I must be one lucky guy…because I am not only seem to enjoy as a matter of fact I DO enjoy my postdoc.
This is what Peter Jordan wrote in Nature (Nature 446, 466 (March 2007) | doi:10.1038/nj7134-466c) about his postdoc:
I actually seem to be enjoying my postdoc.
I’m writing this entry at the end of the fourth week of my first postdoc position. It is too soon for grand claims but, despite expectations to the contrary, it seems that being a postdoc isn’t that bad. In fact, I’d almost go so far as to say that I’m really enjoying myself. What’s going on?
For one thing, it’s liberating to know that there is no degree riding on my performance; there aren’t going to be any assignments or exams standing between me and the continued receipt of my salary. Postdoc positions present their own challenges, of course, but I like to think that it is still too early to be worried about such things.
My optimism could be due to the fact that so much in my life has changed. I’ve changed cities, changed labs, changed supervisors and, most importantly, changed research direction. I’ve already stumbled across what looks to be a worthwhile project in my new field, something both intellectually stimulating and maybe, just maybe, medically useful. And there’s nothing quite like the promise of a manuscript being submitted for publication in the not-too-distant future to help make research life look rosy.
And then there’s the very real possibility that this period of the job is like the beginning of any new relationship — all fun and no work. Here’s hoping that it stays fun for a long time to come.
… I must be one lucky guy…because I am not only seem to enjoy as a matter of fact I DO enjoy my postdoc.
