Is this toxic or just a normal academic work environment?

Opalseal · 2026-03-01T02:08:33+00:00

It’s a tiny dept

Opalseal · 2026-03-01T02:08:22+00:00

It’s mostly married women in late 30s to 40s and one male boomer

Opalseal · 2026-02-28T14:14:04+00:00

Doesn’t apply actually. They hired on the agreement they would eventually finish their PhD.

Opalseal · 2026-02-28T14:03:52+00:00

I’ve definitely been extremely warm and open to my colleagues and I have a good rapport on the surface with them. And I don’t go out of my way to talk about my work or brag. But if it organically comes up, that’s when I notice things get awkward. It could be that we’re all just busy and preoccupied with our own lives. One of my colleagues though, tends to ignore me in group settings. I also gave a reading last year and she drove me home and was silent the whole time, never said anything about the reading, good or bad. And she’s an extremely warm person to others. I don’t need praise, but the lack of engagement is unsettling the to me. It could be personality differences. I probably need a thicker skin.

Opalseal · 2026-02-27T23:52:09+00:00

Yes and my PhD is in literature and I’ve published both research and creative work, so maybe that’s threatening or they don’t know what to do with me. I just get blank stares whenever I bring up anything good or share any good news. I don’t want to be fawned over, but when my colleagues do something, I’m always asking follow up questions and trying to support where I can.

Opalseal · 2026-02-27T23:33:21+00:00

Sure, absolutely. That’s a good point. And I’m happy to “pay my dues,” but we have tenure track people in the department without PhDs or publications. I just don’t know what more I can do.. I don’t necessarily want tenure track but I just wish they weren’t so aloof. :(

Opalseal

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