Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Oceanside, CA
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Tal Tales
The Career Begins

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Good luck.

Are you expected to do research, or is it just too expensive?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git


Are you expected to do research, or is it just too expensive?

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Registered: Feb 2003
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No research expected (which, honestly, is OK with me; I'm kind of burned out on research, and am looking forward to devoting my effort to good teaching). I will mostly miss hanging out with scientists--they are interesting to talk to, although I am not unahppy to be leaving active research myself.

It's not impossible that I might do a bit of cognitive psych work through nearby four-year insitutions, but it is not expected (although not discouraged, either). I do intend to keep up with the field, and go to conferences if I can manage it.

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Congratulations! It's not Portland, but it IS tenure track! :0)

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Good for you. Don't tell Osxan, though. I have to admit, I was depending on you to spend some US tax dollars on pointless research, but we can't have it all. I'll see what I can do to pick up your slack in that regard.

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Well done Tal.

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(I stopped the moving so that Simple Simon can play my embedded video's. EEEEE!!!!)

Vote for OBAMA so Wonder can FLY and FUCK YOU HAWLEY!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by loser
Good for you. Don't tell Osxan, though. I have to admit, I was depending on you to spend some US tax dollars on pointless research, but we can't have it all. I'll see what I can do to pick up your slack in that regard.

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I spent a whole lot of research money for as-of-yet unpublished results, so I did my part to waste everyone's money. Glad to hear you'll be joining in.

Why shouldn't Oxsan know? Is it about the tenure thing? I won't be tenured for several years, so there's still plenty of time to abolish the whole thing.

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Registered: Aug 2000
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Congrats, Tal. Hope that works out for you. When would you start there?

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First day of classes is August 21. I'd probably get down there in the second week of August.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Mountains
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Congrats!

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Not much time left if we want to catch another movie then. I leave for home on the 17th of May... Anything good coming out in the next week or two?

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Hmm. I'll have to look it up.

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Registered: Aug 2001
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A hearty hooray from me.

Tenure is (supposedly) fun

Cheers
-m

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It's interesting...I've told my current boss (my PI in academispeak) about this. He's fine, and supportive, but his response has generally been "Well, that's great, first jobs are kind of like that. I'm sure something else will open up for you next year. Maybe that Cal State will offer you the job." I have been totally unable to explain to him that I am not "settling" for this because I can't find something else. I WANT to do this.

From what I've seen and read, it is often this way with Ph.D's who are leaving research for jobs involving only teaching. Many colleagues who are researchers, when they hear that one of us is moving to a community college, see it as a moment for condolences rather than congratulations. It doesn't make me angry, more just bemused.

I admire those who do cutting-edge research very much. They dedicate themselves to their craft with remarkable strength, often regarding consistent 70-hour workweeks as par for the course. Many of them have decided not to have families so that they can focus more fully on their research. (Those who do have families and neglect them, I do not admire.)
I just find it interesting that so many scientists have trouble understanding that one might leave research with any feeling other than regret and shame.

In the end, of course, it doesn't matter whether my current PI understands this choice. I've considered whether his greater experience and (possibly) wisdom is letting him see something that I can't, but I don't think that's what's going on. I think he is so dedicated to his work--and so good at it--that he has trouble seeing anything else as worthwhile. Research is what makes him get up in the morning and go to bed at night. He's a clinical neurologist, one of the best in the world at rehabilitation after stroke and injury, and we are all better off because he's doing what he does.

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Registered: Dec 2004
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I deal with something similar at work as well, Tal. It's common knowledge that I'm leaving- and the management right up to the VP level actually is really supportive of my decision (they wanted me to do some engineering for them after I completed my undergrad, but I refused). It's the other grunts that seem bothered by my decision. They think I'm crazy to give up my place in cubeville to enter a field that will take me all over the world, give me more time for art, and actually excites me. Yeah, I'm fucking loony alright, but I'm not crazy enough to face another 30 years as a 40 hour a week corporate bitch.
Nobody ever got shit worth having by playing it safe.

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quote:

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Originally posted by loser

Nobody ever got shit worth having by playing it safe.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
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Your mother must be proud, Talarohk.

Of you. Not your brother. Certainly not him.

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