Scientists come in!

[drloretta]

As for PIs:

In grad school, I loved the fact that my PI was one of the only ones in his field (very low stress) and that we got along fantastically. I didn't like that he would wander in once a week wanting an update, and I would have to pull out my notebook and walk him through every.single.thought process

For my postoc, I liked the fact that my PI had an HHMI fellowship ($$$$$ in that lab). I hated everything else about him, from being an anti-mentor to having an affair with both a clinical fellow and his secretary while being married to his wife. He was a creep and a horrible supervisor. I came thisclose to writing a murder mystery where he was the victim, and the suspects were too numerous to count.

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 13:44:21 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I'm an engineering. Can I join the club?
I just started my 3rd year as a PhD student in biomedical engineering. My research is in total hip replacments.
Right now I see myself staying in academia but who knows what will happen a year or two down the road.

Do you go to the school in my town? I know we live near each other, but I am pretty sure your home is not as close as the school I'm thinking of.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, sorry LOL. I just didn't want to be all specific and give away our location

[missymoose]

Masters in medicine studying community health over here

[distracted]

May 16, 2012 14:00:34 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

May 16, 2012 13:47:24 GMT -5 @246baje said:

I'm a geologist. I try to find oil. My specialties are seismic interpretation and sedimentology.

Geologists represent! My specialty is volcanology and planetary geology. I used to work for NASA, taking pictures of Mars, and now I teach at a small private liberal arts college.

Another geologist here! Offshore exploration

Sent from my PC36100 using ProBoards

[reginaphalange72]

May 16, 2012 20:36:31 GMT -5 distracted said:

May 16, 2012 14:00:34 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Geologists represent! My specialty is volcanology and planetary geology. I used to work for NASA, taking pictures of Mars, and now I teach at a small private liberal arts college.

Another geologist here! Offshore exploration

Excellent! So many impressive ladies on MM!

I have my BA and MS in geology and 99% of my MS in adolescent education (did everything but student teaching because I got the job teaching at the college instead - which was what I wanted in the first place). I started to work on my PhD in geology in New Zealand last January (2011), but had to withdraw due to lack of funding. Not sure if I'm going to do that down the road in the future.

[chia]

May 16, 2012 14:44:59 GMT -5 @nj4life said:

I have my Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology and did a post-doc at NIH. My Ph.D. advisor was such a bitch and my post-doc advisor was the nicest man you'd ever meet but I still hated bench work. Got out and have a secure job working in the area of scientific and regulatory policy, which I love.

Do you work at a federal agency? just curious.

I have an undergrad B.S. Slacker! LOL. I thought about going the hard science route, and almost applied to programs. But, realized that lab work forever probably wasn't the best career path. I got an MPH instead, and work in non-science related policy.

RE: the science PhD SAHM comments.... a good friend of mine did that. She has a PhD from Michigan, and now stays at home. (She might be working part time, but I think she's given it up totally...)

[miesl]

May 16, 2012 17:15:06 GMT -5 schrodinger said:

May 16, 2012 15:31:56 GMT -5 miesl said:

Another Chem/ChemE double... working in regulatory at a paint company.

Did you do a 3/2 program as well? I wanted to go to a small school at first, but didn't like any careers in the Chem field. I switched into 3/2 so that I wouldn't waste any of my electives by transferring mid-year.

No, it just worked out that way. If you picked the right set of technical focus classes for the ChemE degree you got a Chem degree as a bonus. U of MN. I don't know if it still works that way now, but it was nice since I liked the chemistry part.

[dana]

I'm trying to finish up my PhD in biology this fall and then do the SAHM thing for a while. I'll start applying for jobs next year, right? Sure.

My advisor is great except for one thing, he's impossible to read. Does he think I'm lazy? Does he think I'm an idiot? I have no idea. He doesn't discourage me but he doesn't encourage me either. Maybe I'm just needy.

[aliciar6]

chemical engineer here (bachelors and masters)
do weapons R&D for the army

[brit1017]

I work in forensic science, specifically DNA. My bachelors is in biochem and I have a masters in forensic science. While I love the work that I do, I don't so much love my current office. Unfortunately, I didn't really think about how specialized my experience would become and that getting another job in the same area (we need to stay in the city for DH's job) would be incredibly difficult

[gt7301b]

Looks like other engineers are signing in, so I'll play. I'm an industrial engineer and I have my MBA.

[aspentosh]

May 17, 2012 5:53:37 GMT -5 brit1017 said:

I work in forensic science, specifically DNA. My bachelors is in biochem and I have a masters in forensic science. While I love the work that I do, I don't so much love my current office. Unfortunately, I didn't really think about how specialized my experience would become and that getting another job in the same area (we need to stay in the city for DH's job) would be incredibly difficult

I am so jealous! Outside of virology, this is what I'd want to do. LOVE forensic science!

[Orangeblossom]

Masters-level Epidemiologist. Have mostly done communicable and infectious disease type work. Have always worked in a public agency (both federal and state). Prefer state, but like the fed money.

[keweenawlove]

May 16, 2012 20:14:30 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

May 16, 2012 13:44:21 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

I'm an engineering. Can I join the club?
I just started my 3rd year as a PhD student in biomedical engineering. My research is in total hip replacments.
Right now I see myself staying in academia but who knows what will happen a year or two down the road.

Do you go to the school in my town? I know we live near each other, but I am pretty sure your home is not as close as the school I'm thinking of.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, sorry LOL. I just didn't want to be all specific and give away our location

I'll send you a PM

[sm12]

My BS and PhD are both in biochemistry. I got sick of lab-work so I moved into clinical research (cancer) - I work at an academic medical center. I'm generally very happy with the career move - clinical research can be hard to break into, but once you're in, you're in. And it is a pretty good field to be in.

[remmiznonnac]

Chem E here. I manage a research lab at a university that focuses in the areas of biomass gasification, and solar-thermal water splitting!

[chia]

May 17, 2012 6:09:16 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

May 17, 2012 5:53:37 GMT -5 brit1017 said:

I work in forensic science, specifically DNA. My bachelors is in biochem and I have a masters in forensic science. While I love the work that I do, I don't so much love my current office. Unfortunately, I didn't really think about how specialized my experience would become and that getting another job in the same area (we need to stay in the city for DH's job) would be incredibly difficult

I am so jealous! Outside of virology, this is what I'd want to do. LOVE forensic science!

I was a double major w/criminal justice in undergrad... and worked a part time job doing DNA stuff for a company that worked with the courts (paternity testing). I actually had a job prospect in local law enforcement doing forensic stuff after undergrad... but, decided to go to grad school instead! When I graduated (2000) my school's forensic science Master's program was really small and competitive. They have since ballooned... I don't necessarily think it's a great thing, because I just don't think there are *that* many jobs out there.

[brit1017]

May 17, 2012 10:14:43 GMT -5 chia said:

May 17, 2012 6:09:16 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

I am so jealous! Outside of virology, this is what I'd want to do. LOVE forensic science!

I was a double major w/criminal justice in undergrad... and worked a part time job doing DNA stuff for a company that worked with the courts (paternity testing). I actually had a job prospect in local law enforcement doing forensic stuff after undergrad... but, decided to go to grad school instead! When I graduated (2000) my school's forensic science Master's program was really small and competitive. They have since ballooned... I don't necessarily think it's a great thing, because I just don't think there are *that* many jobs out there.

There aren't. I got in at the right time, which was before forensic programs started popping up everywhere and churning out grads. We have barely hired over the past 3 years due to budget cuts, and every posting gets easily over 150 candidates (most of whom are massively overqualified). Most of us joke that if we applied now, we wouldn't even get an interview. We have interns here who have literally worked here for years unpaid doing research just trying to get a foot in the door. I tell anyone who is interested in the field to get a science bachelors (bio, biochem, chem) and then the masters in forensics, so that at least if you can't find a job in forensics you can apply for a wide range of other fields. Straight forensics undergrad degrees pigeon-hole you b/c a lot do not have a super-strong science background.

[squirrely]

Anyone with a Biochem degree who did NOT go to grad/med/vet/other school have a job they just love? I'm looking for career ideas...

[wrev14]

I'll de-lurk for a moment.
I've got my BS in microbiology and currently work as a research tech at a medical university. I'm a grad school drop-out. I just decided that the PhD route wasn't for me. I love doing lab work and was able to jump into clinical research. It doesn't pay well, but the benefits are great and overall, I love it.

[squirrely]

Thanks for your input wrev14,

I'm in a research lab doing bench work at a large university and I really wouldn't mind it so much if I could get slightly better pay and benefits- the job market here is so tough (especially since there's a whole new influx of grads) that I was lucky to even get a position. I just feel like I worked so hard for my degree (organic and p.chem were the bane of my existence!) and now I'm making laughable wages- it's discouraging.

[margaritabandita]

Evolutionary genetics PhD here.

Hmmm... I wonder if we should ask for a nerdy sub-board. Scientist are simultaneously both the most awesome and most weird people I've ever know (myself included). We may need our own place to work through our idiosyncrasies...

[wrev14]

Squirrely--
I totally agree with you about the pay and I find it very discouraging at times as well. It is especially disheartening when you hear about how funding is looking for the next few years. I'm currently pregnant with my second child which has locked me into my current work situation for a while. I'm entertaining the idea of either going into industry once my girls are older or possibly going back to school for a MS and make the transition to become a Med Technologist. I'm hoping to be able to put in my years at the university either in the research sector or the hospital so that I'll be eligible for the state pension. I'll just have to see how that all plays out.

[Doc_Lobster]

I just deposited my dissertation today. I do computational image analysis for biomedical imaging applications.

[everam01]

May 16, 2012 13:46:46 GMT -5 lanyac said:

May 16, 2012 13:45:25 GMT -5 meredithl618 said:

I'm sort of science-y, I'm an engineer. A lot of my work is neurobiology though, so I think it counts!

I'm going into my 4th year as a biomedical engineering PhD student at Duke.

Congrats on defending soon! I can't wait, but it feels like it's an eternity away.

Ohai! I'm at Wake.

Not a scientist, but I'm always happy to see a fellow Demon Deacon (my undergrad).

[Deleted]

May 17, 2012 15:46:47 GMT -5 Doc_Lobster said:

I just deposited my dissertation today. I do computational image analysis for biomedical imaging applications.

OMG I am so happy for you! I am totally starting a new AW post when I submit my dissertation. When do you defend?

Drinks all around! :drink: :beer: :drink: :beer:

[Doc_Lobster]

May 17, 2012 15:53:47 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

May 17, 2012 15:46:47 GMT -5 Doc_Lobster said:

I just deposited my dissertation today. I do computational image analysis for biomedical imaging applications.

OMG I am so happy for you! I am totally starting a new AW post when I submit my dissertation. When do you defend?

Drinks all around!

Thanks!

I actually defended last week, on the 7th. Today was the final review from the graduate school before they accepted my dissertation and sent it off to ProQuest. That means I am DONE. I won't lie, it feels pretty stinking good.

I also have a job lined up in New Mexico, and am very excited to move out there and start (I'm in WI now).

[Deleted]

May 17, 2012 15:58:27 GMT -5 Doc_Lobster said:

May 17, 2012 15:53:47 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

OMG I am so happy for you! I am totally starting a new AW post when I submit my dissertation. When do you defend?

Drinks all around!

Thanks!

I actually defended last week, on the 7th. Today was the final review from the graduate school before they accepted my dissertation and sent it off to ProQuest. That means I am DONE. I won't lie, it feels pretty stinking good.

I also have a job lined up in New Mexico, and am very excited to move out there and start (I'm in WI now).

Even better! More drinks! :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink: :drink:

[keweenawlove]

May 17, 2012 15:46:47 GMT -5 Doc_Lobster said:

I just deposited my dissertation today. I do computational image analysis for biomedical imaging applications.

Congrats! :beer: That's got to be an amazing feeling.

I'm starting to get a little bit into image analysis. I mainly do FE modeling but my project is looking like I'll be adding some image processing to it

[Doc_Lobster]

I looooove image analysis. It's like magic.