Realities of doing science

[Sarah L. Pallas]

In article <37698897.C9E147E8 at salk.edu> S L Forsburg,
nospamforsburg at salk.edu writes:
>In short, every way of doing science costs.  We are not paid what
>we're worth, and our postdocs CERTAINLY aren't paid what they're 
>worth.  Stress is enormous and draining.  You do this not because it's
>a good career --any sensible business-student will tell you you're crazy--
>but because you simply can't imagine not doing it.
>And if you can ever imagine not doing it, then take pride in what you
>did along the way and move on. 
>
>One of the things that puzzles me is why everyone seems so 
>surprised to find that this is an ill-paid, stressful, 
>demanding and at times vicious profession.

I agree.  I always knew this would be a very hard row to hoe, and frankly
I never expected to survive as long as I have.  I went into this field
because I love it and I will keep on doing it as long as they let me,
then I'll do something else challenging.  I don't know how long that will
be.  I am at a well-supported state university with 9 months of salary
and a reasonable teaching load, but I too, spend all of my time writing
grants.  And not getting very many of them.   That's why I never read
this list (that and all the porno ads, is there some way to read this
group without the porno spam?!).  Anyone choosing academic science as a
career must do it out of love of the work, it is the only thing that will
carry you through all the bull****.

Sarah L. Pallas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biology
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4010
Atlanta, GA  30302
tel 404-651-1551 fax 404-651-2509
email bioslp at panther.gsu.edu OR spallas at gsu.edu
http://www.gsu.edu/~bioslp/
http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwbio/neurosci/