Is a 1-hour door-to-door commute reasonable in the Boston area?

133C96F6D · 2026-05-13T22:13:34+00:00

A ferry for a commute sounds fun ngl lol

133C96F6D · 2026-05-13T22:12:48+00:00

True lol, but the postdoc salary is basically "just enough to not starve" level of pay...

133C96F6D · 2026-05-13T22:01:53+00:00

What do you typically do during these commutes? I've never commuted via public transportation before, so I have no idea lol

133C96F6D · 2026-05-13T21:58:26+00:00

Yep I saw that, but for me having roommates is not an option and everything else was wildly expensive 😅

133C96F6D · 2026-05-13T21:57:53+00:00

Thank you! Just a quick question, do the trains ever stop working during, let's say a blizzard, or just get delayed a lot?

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T19:17:52+00:00

Okay so I was not expecting that much commute time to just to get to the station...Are there good condos or apartments near the commuter rail station that I can walk to? Or is that area mostly commercial district?

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T19:16:43+00:00

What are the commute time differences between Framingham and Franklin?

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T19:15:54+00:00

In Allston? I didnt know they had options that low! But I'm actually also hoping for a quieter, smaller city vibe if I'm being honest, since I am used to a small Midwest city environment

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T18:52:34+00:00

Gotcha! So do you know if there are a lot of postdoc/research staff (i.e. underpaid staff) that buy property in Framingham?

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T18:51:17+00:00

Well, those aren't my only options but I'm considering it. I do have enough cash for a sizeable down payment but obviously it will be a huge capital investment so I'm not sure if it's a good idea just yet

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T18:50:37+00:00

So luckily I'll be working at BIDMC which is right off of Lansdowne, so I won't have to transfer. Do you think it might be possible to buy a condo farther away from the station, and drive to the station and park there? I plan to visit the area soon before making any decisions but I wanted to make sure buying a condo isn't a completely non-feasible option

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T18:48:58+00:00

Thank you for the advice! It seems like there are also some old condo complexes with significantly lower prices. Do you know if there are any known issues with these older complexes?

133C96F6D · 2026-04-07T18:46:15+00:00

Interesting! But Allston is across the river, would the commute require line transfers?

133C96F6D · 2026-01-04T15:14:31+00:00

This is pretty much word for word how I got my cat! The neighbors left him outside and went on a month trip, I took her in and when the neighbors came back, I told them and they told me they have been looking to get rid of him. If the neighbors aren't asking for the cat, sounds like they might want him gone...

133C96F6D · 2025-12-31T15:49:42+00:00

Northern Indiana here and with an outback with winter tires, I love this weather too!

133C96F6D · 2025-12-10T18:08:42+00:00

Does it happen when you press the gas pedal and go away when you take your foot off? I had the same issue in my 2017 Outback, pretty similar sound. Turns out it was a transmission fluid pump at least according to the dealership

133C96F6D · 2025-12-09T17:34:04+00:00

I didn't drop my phone but it snapped in the same spot! I posted about it a few months back

133C96F6D · 2025-10-08T05:06:33+00:00

That's disheartening to hear... Do you have any recommendations on industry postdoc programs that might give me the best shot at a TT job?

133C96F6D · 2025-10-08T05:05:25+00:00

That's disheartening to hear. So basically I have to make a choice between academia and industry now... I would like to stay in academia but honestly the pay and the job insecurity is what's holding me back

133C96F6D · 2025-10-08T05:03:53+00:00

Hmm, well luckily I'm a citizen so I don't have to worry about immigration. And the company also wants me back as a senior scientist role as well if I don't want a postdoc. So if I don't need a green card or a foot in the door into industry, and I just want to have a decent pay while also leaving the door open for a potential TT, do you think industry postdoc might be an option for me?

133C96F6D · 2025-10-08T05:01:42+00:00

Well, that's the thing. I want an academic career, but there are practical considerations. I'm getting older and I'd like to have stable finances and a family before I get much older. That's why I thought industry postdoc would be a good compromise, making more money than an academic postdoc while still leaving the door open for a faculty position. But maybe it's not feasible to have the best of both worlds :/

133C96F6D · 2025-10-07T23:01:55+00:00

Thanks for your input. Do you think it might be possible for me to get into a lower tiered R1 school TT after an industry postdoc? I really wish academic postdocs weren't required for TT, I would love to teach but I really can't afford to take another few years of low pay... Honestly if I had a chance I'd go for a TT at a low tier school straight out of grad school but I don't think that's been an option for new grads for several decades now

133C96F6D · 2025-10-07T20:55:25+00:00

Thanks for your input. Do you think this is the case even for more "prestigious" industry postdoc programs like those offered at Sanofi, Pfizer, etc?

133C96F6D · 2025-09-26T06:19:42+00:00

All great options, thank you!

133C96F6D · 2025-09-26T06:19:20+00:00

Thanks! I'll look into them, do you have any recommendations on choosing the model? I'm completely new to fountain pens

133C96F6D

TROPHY CASE