Friday, March 7, 2008

I Like Being a Scientist?

Something interesting happened to me recently. I've had a busy few months: I went to India, for a wedding (mine), came back to the US and to work. Pounded out a bunch of experiments before I left and few since I returned. Struggled badly with jetlag (it only gets worse!), cultural disaffection, being tired and ill, loads of pressure from the boss and truly pernicious lethargy.

And now I want to work. I want to do experiments, read immunology, gossip about science. I even looked up job openings in India, because I think I want to start my own lab there. I want to keep being a scientist.

It's difficult, rarely rewarding, massively underpaid and a niche profession if I ever heard of one. My job prospects in my home country are limited, to say the least, aside from the fact that I have never actually worked in India. I have done all my research in the States and am, for all practical purposes, an American scientist. I have a new husband and our busy life together. I need some sexy papers, and some powerful, original ideas. I need to push and slog and labour till I can't stand it anymore and my family can't stand it anymore.

Why would I do this? I guess its because I really like being a scientist.
Who knew.

7 comments:

post-doc said...

Well, congratulations! I didn't know you were getting married! I think it's lovely that you enjoy your work and very much hope things work out so that you can form your own lab wherever you'd like.

Mad Hatter said...

Wow...congratulations!!! That is big news! Welcome back.

Veo Claramente said...

Thank you :) Last year went by so fast its been hard for me to register all the things that have happened.

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

Good to see you back! I think I started reading your blog just as you took your break, so I'm glad I'll get to see some new content.

Congratulations on your marriage too!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! Do keep blogging...your "i love science" posts always show up when I need to read them. :)

and i very much echo your thoughts about finding a spot to work in India..

Veo Claramente said...

CAE: Nice to "meet" you, and thanks for sticking around through the hiatus.

Girl: I'm so glad! I hope they are more frequent now...

Amelie said...

Congratulations! That's a lot of news!
It's so great to see you so happy with science -- hope the A cells comply soon.