Science chat

I had a great conversation about Science with my boss today.  The best part was that I could tell he specifically made time to have the chat, in part because he knows that I need to get shit sorted soon if I want to do any significant field work this summer.  Still, it would have been easy enough for him to forget the urgency of the upcoming field season, as he is not a field scientist.

Our lab's work divides out into two vastly unrelated subject areas that are bound together by one broad theme.  The other postdoc's specialty is Area 1 and mine is Area 2.  The technician is also interested in Area 2, but he'll be leaving in a few months.  PI is a specialist in Area 1 but has dabbled heavily in Area 2.  I'm not sure which one he prefers; I think 1 but the other postdoc guesses 2 and PI himself says his passion is the broad theme that ties them together.  Recently, I was chatting with the other postdoc about how I would be sad when the technician leaves because I will be losing my scientific buddy.  I wouldn't be surprised if she conveyed this to our PI and that precipitated our conversation today.

Anyway, I'm encouraged because PI and I are on the same page about the kind of projects I should do.  Moreover, he seems very willing to give me the time I need to figure out experimental designs, gather preliminary data before we commit to a bigger project, and just learn some of this new stuff.  I'm really glad I took this job.

Research continuity

I've written before that my research is interdisciplinary, and alluded to the fact that my postdoc is taking that to a whole new level.  My PhD work crossed two main subjects: A and B.  My postdoc research is still about A and B, but also includes C (which I knew a little about from my work in A), D, E, and possibly a little bit of Z.  These letters stand for disciplines that could have their own department at any typical American university.  Z is radically different from the rest.

Learning all this new stuff is exciting and overwhelming.  Fortunately, I still get to work with my PhD research adviser on the A and B, so there is something familiar among all the new stuff.  In fact, a big part of my job is to help develop this new highly interdisciplinary research by building the relationships between the A+B people, the C+D people, the E people, and maybe even the Z people.  So far it's cool, but much more complex than anything I've done before.  The science is complex, obviously, but the interpersonal/management aspects are also tricky. 

I'm glad there are at least a few familiar personalities in the mix to ease the transition into this new research.  I'm finding that I'm more excited to go to work than I have been in a very long time, and that the days just fly by.  But I'm also so tired by the end of the week, even when it feels like I hardly did anything.  It takes a lot of effort to learn (which is probably why kids need so much sleep!), so it's good that my whole world didn't change all at once.  I'm still with EGM of course, we didn't have to move for this postdoc, I still get to interact with Research Adviser, and I still get to work on my PhD topic, albeit in a very expanded way.   It's comforting to have some measure of continuity as I embark on new research territory.

scientiae-carnival

Quiet time

I have taken a few casual personality tests over the years, and every time I come out right on the line between introvert and extrovert.  I think this is very accurate, as I enjoy the company of others but being around too many people or meeting lots of new people really wears me out.

I've met about a dozen new people since I started my new job.  I had actually been introduced to most of these people before, but even still it felt like a lot of effort to interact with them last week.  I had to give a presentation yesterday that I enjoyed, but performing for two hours--even to a friendly audience--wore me out.  To top it off, I'm not settled into my new office yet (necessary furniture isn't all there), so I have been feeling happy but at loose ends.

I had to take care of a critical errand this morning which was going to make me significantly late.  Between that and a major snowstorm, I decided to stay home.  I had a haircut appointment tomorrow evening for which I was going to have to leave a little early, but I was able to reschedule it for this afternoon instead, so now I'll be able to stay late tomorrow to make up some of the lost time today.  I haven't gotten much done today, but I think it will ultimately be a good thing.  I needed a day away from people and my chaotic office so I could recharge a little bit.  I think I'll be in good shape tomorrow to focus on some real work.

Postdoc pros (and cons)

 Here's what I have to say about my postdoc after one week on the job, presented as pros and cons:

• Pro: I have the most glorious office evah.
Con: But that is just one of three offices I'm expected to occupy on a regular basis.

• Pro: I have four bosses.  That presents an opportunity for major mentorship and collaboration.
Con: It runs a major risk of turning into a serious clusterfuck, or alternatively, letting me fall through the cracks.

• Pro: I'm working with people far outside of my field.  So far, everyone has been super nice and accommodating.  In addition, because I am the only expert in my area in our group, there is no one to second guess me.  Thus, at least I feel confident about the things I do know.
Con: It's a bit intimidating, and I'm worried about making sure I can pull my weight with these high-tech heavy hitters.

• Pro: They got me a fancy new laptop!
Con: It's a mac.  So far it's great (so fast! so quiet!) but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do about some of the software I rely upon.  That's a real problem.

• Pro: My abs were sore by the end of the week from laughing so much with my new colleagues.  Not only are they funny, but they think I'm funny too.  Imagine that! 
Con: These people work crazy, crazy hours and I think they expect that I will too.

• Pro: I get to expand my PhD work into a new area that is right on the bleeding edge of what's being done in the field.
Con: I have SO MUCH to learn!  Eek!

So far I'm super happy with my job, and really excited to get the science ball rolling. Stay tuned.

Update

I have a post-doc staring Monday! Doing pretty much my dream research! With a great salary for which I'm smug to say I negotiated!

There's a bunch of stuff related to this that I'm just dying to blog about, but I haven't yet decided how to pseudonymize it. In fact, that has kept me from posting over the last few days despite a new meme (!) from Amanda. I'm sure I'll settle on a identity-hiding scheme soon so I can tell you something about what I'll be doing, or at least something about how I feel about it.