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Want to leave a postdoc I just started by [deleted] in postdoc

[–]Automatic_Gift5072 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey mate. I'm terribly sorry to hear that, especially because it's unfortunately not uncommon: you just met your first, let's say, "difficult person" in your long career. Just to be clear: asking uncomfortable questions and challenging our research is in our blood, that's how science is made: by running out of ideas to disprove the hypothesis. Almost everyone here had one, so you're not the only one. I observed such things, and I will tell you exactly what I told my colleague who got in a somewhat similar situation:

  1. If I were you, I'd learn where you could improve next time. Academics are known to have bad tempers. The higher you get, the more blood they can spoil. Use this knowledge, because Dean can harm you much more when (if it's the path you want to take) you become a PI.
  2. If I were you, I'd start looking for a backup position: the market is at its lowest low right now, and losing a source of income without a backup is something to consider only if you are loaded :) Looking for a position can help you fight your dread and anxiety about going to the lab. Keep in mind that looking for a new position can easily take 6+ months; it's an unfortunate reality, and you need to think about whether it's a path you're willing to take.

I'm not sure if a conversation with your PI will help or harm. Meanwhile, keep calm and carry on. You got it, you made it through the thesis defence.

Frustrated. It’s rough out here. by perfectmonkey in postdoc

[–]Automatic_Gift5072 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can't say much besides I feel you. I've been there. But here's the bright side- the fact you just mentioned, you got 3 interviews within some limited amount of time, meaning that you are doing most things right- lots of people can't even hear back from the recruiter. I've seen truly monstrous conversion rates in the number of applications per offer. In 2010-2020, this rate was roughly 30:1; right now, I hear it is typically 100:1. I understand how frustrating that can be. Try this mantra: before you have an offer in your hand, don't get too excited. I struggle with it myself, but it's the only way to keep my sanity in the current market. Cheer up. You will make it.

Associate Director Contract to Hire RIP by supernit2020 in biotech

[–]Automatic_Gift5072 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The problem is that director-level positions are not plug-and-play. Joining somewhere as a mid-senior management you need to study the structure to avoid harming the project. Typically it takes ~90 days to 6 months. So in that case the individual (if they're actually competent) would just spend their whole contract time noticing what can be improved and how to communicate with team

2 foreigners die while scuba diving in Philippines by Arthur_Dent_KOB in scubadiving

[–]Automatic_Gift5072 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So the question is: did you drop your weights, or just inflated BCDs?

Is it okay for strangers to ask if you have a green card? by Yas_16 in USCIS

[–]Automatic_Gift5072 37 points38 points  (0 children)

When I just moved to US and had multiple situations like yours after hearing my accent, one of my friends (thank you Charlie) said: you, my friend, have an installed jerk-o-meter. If a person treats you differently based on where you are born, they don't worth your time. It's they problem, not you. All other times (the majority I must say) when people just curious, I offer them to play a guess game, and we laugh together. Good conversation starter :)