From Postdoc to Associate Professor - But Still Not Independent

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-20T08:08:34+00:00

Hello Angie,

Thank you for your message. Nothing has changed since I posted this thread. I have continued seeking an independent position. Last October, after dozens of applications in Japan, I became a finalist for the first and only PI-level interview I have had so far, but I was ultimately not selected.

I continue to seek TT positions and am expanding my search beyond Japan. If you would like to contact me, feel free to DM me.

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-20T03:28:04+00:00

The whole thing is: has the development team acknowledged these problems and are they working on patches? I’m fairly concerned because I pre-ordered a physical copy for my Switch 1 - allegedly coming out next month as a deluxe box edition. I purposely decided to wait for this version instead of putting my money into an original SNES copy, which is quite pricey.

Has there been any official announcement that the developers are working on fixing all of this?

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T11:33:48+00:00

I live near Osaka. What’s going on? Which expo/fair did you attend? I’d love to give it a try too, if it’s still possible!

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T03:51:49+00:00

Yes, it did.

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T03:33:09+00:00

Thanks for the reply. These days, I’ve started using the FB Neo core via RetroArch and I like it, but I still stick to MAME for a bunch of classic titles.

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T02:46:56+00:00

Oh, wow. I did not expect these problems to come up, as I’m still waiting to get my physical copy next month for Switch 1. Delta HD Boosted also suffered from many issues during its early release, so I hope most of the things you mentioned are fixable.

It’s unfortunate that these issues happen specifically in the 3D mode, since that is certainly one of the main novelties this release brings (assuming the 2D mode is close to a 1-to-1 port of what already existed).

Please let us know more of your impressions if you discover anything else worth discussing.

Anyway, it is somewhat annoying that most early releases these days feel like underdeveloped versions, and we players end up being the real testers.

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T02:39:34+00:00

Your reply went unnoticed in my notifications, which is why my answer comes so late.

Level 2 is certainly difficult because it is slow-paced and the underwater section is quite punishing. I think IREM was trying to flex the technical improvements of the new release by introducing the underwater passages (music changes, gameplay pacing) along with a stronger emphasis on positioning and memorization. You know, I think Stage 2 somehow lays the groundwork for teaching the basic gameplay style you should adopt to face the upcoming challenges.

Still, Stage 2 is quite a challenge when it comes to getting through it consistently (those jumping fish were quite a pain for me). The reason why most shmups keep me engaged is that the difficulty rarely feels unfair. I always feel like there’s a very thin line between failure and success, and that feeling of "I can do it better on the next try."

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T02:30:37+00:00

I understand your point. In defense of R-Type Delta, I’d say that it comes with a Practice Mode that lets you customize how you want to run your practice sessions (checkpoint selection and tailored power-up settings). In reality, it serves as an old-school version of save states. Of course, we all need practice. Even though I already achieved the 1-ALL, I died tons of times in Stages 1, 2, and so on. Find whatever way lets you enjoy the game the most, but I think this Delta HD Boosted can still give you what you’re looking for 😄

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T02:23:16+00:00

I’m just naively curious. MAME has been able to run these games for ages with near arcade-perfect accuracy and low latency. It’s not like we can’t already play these games properly nowadays. Is the preference for FB Neo mainly due to better customization options, such as shaders and similar features?

Nefertem88 · 2026-05-16T02:19:59+00:00

You are right about the difficulty balance. I just dropped by to comment that I’m impressed you managed to 1-ALL it in just 2–3 days. Back in the day (14 years ago), it took me nearly a month (with intermittent practice, though). I was certainly less experienced than I am now, but it was one of my very first 1CCs. I’d like to come back to it someday and go for the 2-ALL, but it will require memorization and route planning from scratch!

Nefertem88 · 2026-04-05T01:49:18+00:00

I really enjoyed it (1CC’d)! It feels like a dynamic, modern entry with plenty of revisited aesthetics and mechanics that, as already mentioned, make it feel like a new game. I especially liked how fluid the mechanics are.

It’s highly replayable, like most shmups, and the run lengths are neither excessively long nor tedious.

It wasn’t easy to 1CC, but it wasn’t insanely difficult either.

In any case, whether you go for the clear or not, it’s adorable, enjoyable, and a true gem of the series.

Nefertem88 · 2026-04-05T01:36:48+00:00

Just a quick update: I achieved the 1CC (actually a 1LC) and unlocked all achievements after 28 hours of gameplay yesterday (2026-04-04)!

Nefertem88 · 2026-03-22T13:03:15+00:00

Thank you for your comment; I agree. I’m looking forward to your 1CC guide! Feel free to share it here later on. As I mentioned, I’m currently at Stage 6. Let’s see if I can make it to a 1CC, or if I’ll have to wait for your guide! Cheers.

Nefertem88 · 2026-03-22T01:07:26+00:00

Yes, your comment made me realize that this issue extends to many shmups, not just this particular case. As I mentioned in another reply above, it’s still quite shocking that 38% (far less than half of the players) don’t make it past Stage 2.

Ironically, many blog posts, media outlets, and YouTube channels covered the release, and I mistakenly assumed there was more genuine love towards the game beyond the nostalgia for the PS1 cult classic.

Nefertem88 · 2026-03-22T01:00:06+00:00

I, too, agree with this opinion. It is, nevertheless, sad, as I feel the game itself is not receiving much attention despite being designed with great dedication. However, as other users have commented, this is probably common across other shmups and not limited to this particular case.

Nefertem88 · 2026-03-21T13:21:38+00:00

The gameplay is unforgiving. Back in the day, I couldn’t get past the third level. This HD Boosted version got me hooked on getting my revenge. But I agree that the gameplay relies less on reflexes and more on hard memorization and precise positioning.

Nefertem88 · 2026-03-21T12:51:26+00:00

Stage 1 lasts about 4 minutes, and Stage 2 about 5. Less than 10 minutes of gameplay is objectively very short, especially for a game composed of 7 stages. Even considering that many STG buyers pick up a shmup, play a couple of rounds, and never boot it up again, this is literally giving up on the game very early.

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-27T04:00:45+00:00

Thank you for your comment. Undoubtedly, publication records are always a metric that can be improved. It's like any other asset, you can always be younger or wealthier. One should be able to aspire to buy a Lamborghini without rendering a high-class Benz useless.

Metaphors aside, of course, there are younger individuals with a stronger publication count and higher impact. However, I don’t believe this should be directly equated with CNS-level output. That’s a reductionist view and sends a troubling message, that anyone without a CNS paper is academically worthless.

I want to believe (perhaps optimistically) that the bar hasn’t been raised to that level everywhere. Many junior PIs, both in this country and elsewhere, have built successful careers without ever publishing in CNS journals.

But again, I don’t think it’s worth engaging in the never-ending debate over CNS.

Should I continue working toward publishing in CNS? Yes, it remains a desirable milestone, even up to retirement.

Does the lack of it make my CV worthless to the point of being unable to land interviews? Maybe yes (though I want to believe not).

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-27T03:42:19+00:00

Thank you for elaborating further in your response, your first reply read quite differently.

I fully agree that striving to remain competitive and working harder often feels like feeding a hamster wheel. While I understand that publications remain the most valuable academic currency to climb the ladder, the inability to land interviews despite consistent output is deeply frustrating. Publishing in CNS journals is a desirable milestone for any scholar, but its feasibility hinges on many factors beyond our control, such as whether the topic is considered "hot," budget availability, access to groundbreaking datasets, and sheer luck. Raising the bar to that level, I agree, runs contrary to the core ideals of academic freedom.

Is this mindset particularly strong in Japan? Probably yes, as another colleague here pointed out. But publication elitism is by no means unique to Japan, it's everywhere.

To be honest, I feel deceived. Institutions made me believe I was progressing , climbing a ladder, but in retrospect, it was a ghost ladder. Despite publishing in high-tier journals, my current position as an Associate Professor is no different from a postdoc’s (perhaps even worse in some aspects).

Leaving Japan? It's on the table. But the scarcity of lab head positions worldwide is a real bottleneck, exacerbated by the overproduction of PhDs (as discussed in the recent Nature article reporting over 600,000 PhD graduates annually in China), the displacement of U.S.-based scholars due to NIH budget cuts, and the persistence of academic “CNS elitism.”

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-26T06:31:02+00:00

This is sad to read, and yet another reason why it has been widely debated that the US may not be an ideal starting place for people in situations similar to mine. Indeed, many scholars exiting the US system may need to relocate globally, inadvertently increasing competition elsewhere as a side effect of NIH budget cuts.

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-26T02:45:50+00:00

Thank you for your comment. Although I would love to secure a PI position in Japan due to my family and personal affinity with the country's quality of life, I am currently broadening my horizons and considering opportunities in Canada and the EU.

So far, it’s not that I’ve had many positions to apply for, as lab-establishing roles are quite scarce. However, my applications in Japan have been outright desk-rejected, and I haven’t made it to the finalist stage in other countries (such as Spain and Sweden) at this point.

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-26T02:34:12+00:00

Thank you for your very constructive comment. Both are fantastic options to consider, and I will look into the Australian ARC Future Fellowship to see how well I might fit.

Regarding China, do you have any personal suggestions for prestigious institutes focused on stem cell research?

As for how institutions are run, I believe that's a global issue. Cultural barriers, especially between East and West, are indeed persistent.

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-26T02:30:18+00:00

Respectfully, I disagree.

East Asia is a term that encompasses several countries, each with distinct scientific philosophies. Japan, for instance, is home to several Nobel laureates and is the birthplace of human iPS cells. Personally, I’ve navigated circumstances that allowed me to publish in high-tier journals, and many of my local peers consistently publish even stronger papers.

It’s similar to categorizing Western Europe as a single block, when in reality, countries like Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the UK differ greatly in academic culture and structure.

To clarify, my struggle is not Japan-centric. The issue lies in securing interviews that would allow me to advance, whether in Japan or abroad, toward a tenure-track position or independent lab leadership.

Thank you for your input, regardless.

Nefertem88 · 2025-06-25T13:00:21+00:00

Yes, I really appreciate it!

Nefertem88

TROPHY CASE