I have positive comments about a career in science -- or to
be exact a career in science teaching. Sure, pay is low. But
the flexibility of a 9-month contract is what I want. And I
don't think teaching duties are the hell on earth some posters
are making them out to be! Teaching is more fun than swotting
away in the lab, for some of us. Even administration can be
fun.
I think students in science are being encouraged to put all
their eggs in one professional basket. Lots of people have
posted here about 'I have a family and a life', but career-wise
it isn't coming across. Sure, your job is not your life. But
within your job, your research doesn't have to be your life,
either. Why run along that treadmill, when you could have a
more diverse focus? There are teaching colleges, community
colleges, all sorts of institutions other than research ones.
When I got my PhD, I didn't even consider applying for a
postdoc. I applied for teaching jobs (76 ofthem) and, if I
hadn't gotten one, would have gone into the peace corps
for teaching experience. In fact, that was part of what got
me my job, when the interviewers saw it as evidence that I
was really interested in teaching for itself and not as the
'dues to pay' before I could do research.
So just because your major prof is running a research lab is
no reason on earth that you should want to. It's a big world
out there. Even in academia, it's a bigger world than most of
the posters are noticing! And whether you have that nobel-winning
lab or not, you have flexible work hours, interesting and varied
challenges (especially if you go into administration!), summers
off, and the respect of your students if not even your colleagues.
And not least, you get to do amusing things like carrying a bucket
of sheep hearts up a crowded elevator.
Hard to believe I can be that upbeat after an eight hour chairs
meeting! It just shows what you can learn to enjoy ...
Pat
