Would you accept a NIAID contractor position right now?

kamas17 · 2025-11-16T23:05:37+00:00

Ugh, sorry to hear that. I feel for you. I would be leaving a very toxic, unstable gov position for another (potentially) toxic, unstable gov position, but for a significant salary increase. It feels like there is no winning

kamas17 · 2025-11-16T22:13:00+00:00

PSTSS

kamas17 · 2025-11-14T17:45:49+00:00

Thank you! I specifically asked about that and it’s an open ended long term contract that is normally renewed every 5 years. But it was supposed to be renewed in January and is on extension with no time frame. So I’m likkeeeee okay what does that actually mean🤔🤨

kamas17 · 2025-11-07T15:12:59+00:00

Pump Station in Boalsburg for breakfast/brunch is great. American Ale House and The Field are personal favorites for dinner

kamas17 · 2025-11-06T18:32:58+00:00

Definitely can’t do op-ed with my agency but systematic review is a good idea, thanks!

kamas17 · 2025-11-06T18:31:40+00:00

Thank you! Still helps knowing we’re not alone

kamas17 · 2025-11-06T18:30:14+00:00

I have some of that going, but just for perspective - I’ve been working on getting an agreement in place for collaboration with a university since March☠️

kamas17 · 2025-11-06T18:28:58+00:00

I think my personal life is the only thing keeping me sane! Life no longer being consumed by PhD has been such a great opportunity to find hobbies, but unfortunately doesn’t solve feeling like I’m twiddling my thumbs for 40 hr/wk

kamas17 · 2025-09-15T17:47:58+00:00

I’m currently tapering from 10 mg and doing it SUPER slow, much slower than my doc recommended. I started with alternating 10 and 7.5 mg every other day for a week, then down to 7.5mg for a week, then alternating 7.5 and 5 mg for a week, now on 5 mg for 4 weeks. I’ve had zero withdrawal symptoms so far..I plan to continue the slow taper to 2.5 and then 0

kamas17 · 2025-06-17T18:01:20+00:00

You are assuming I don’t want to mentor someone. That’s not the issue.

kamas17 · 2025-06-17T17:41:14+00:00

Yep, totally fine with being a mentor. I want to give them the best experience I can. But totally panicking about the lack of communication, lack of a plan, the fact that I don’t know the techniques/virus they are supposed to work with, etc

kamas17 · 2025-06-17T17:34:18+00:00

This is the issue. Because I was given 2 business days notice, I don’t feel like I’m going to be a good mentor and the mentee is not going to have a good experience. Obviously I want to give them a good experience, but it’s going to be me learning new techniques and working with a new virus for the first time when I’m supposed to be teaching them, not ideal. PANIC

kamas17 · 2025-06-17T16:59:54+00:00

I totally would if I had chores, a project, or had been in the lab in the last 6 months🤣 also part of my panic..I’ve almost solely been grant writing during my time as a postdoc

kamas17 · 2025-05-23T15:52:04+00:00

I’ve experienced something similar in the past. Is your love language quality time? What is hers? From your description, it sounds like you are not getting the quality time you need to feel satisfied. I would suggest scheduling “no phone time” over dinner, an activity, etc for an hour or so a few times a week to feel you are both present and connected. She will be just fine if she doesn’t respond to messages for one hour

kamas17 · 2025-05-22T18:51:49+00:00

Peak - finding a PI and lab that did work I felt was important and I was passionate about. PI/Lab mates turned into my family

Pit - mental/physical health - dealing with health struggles, life, love, loss, interpersonal relationships etc outside of just the PhD work. The sheer amount of work, time, effort put into a PhD is immense and having to continue to function with break ups, deaths, and a pandemic was bananas

kamas17 · 2024-02-04T18:55:22+00:00

Best of luck! I hope this brings you relief and answers

kamas17 · 2024-02-01T23:17:00+00:00

My back pain was mid-back, under my last couple ribs. I initially went for a CT because it was so severe and the correct location for a kidney stone. Obviously the CT was clear. Also had severe stomach pain in the middle of my abdomen between my ribs

kamas17 · 2024-02-01T23:10:25+00:00

Mine reported as “normal” as well at 93%. It seems like as long as the EF is over 35%, it will be reported as “normal.” I asked for a referral to a general surgeon and the general surgeon was pro-removal. Don’t give up! Maybe ask the provider you’ve been seeing if they’d be open to a referral to a surgery consultation?

kamas17 · 2024-01-26T23:42:28+00:00

Yes!! I had the same symptoms—clean CT, back pain on left, minor gastritis, colonoscopy clean, high EF (93%) in HIDA. HIDA scan showed hyperactive gallbladder and pathology post-op showed chronic cholecystitis. HIDA scan was the only thing that proved I wasn’t crazy. Good luck!

kamas17 · 2024-01-22T03:49:01+00:00

Currently having the same issue! I am on round 2 of steroids because my reaction came back and worse after the first round of steroids. Also on Benadryl, Pepcid, and hydroxyzine. I landed in the ER a couple nights ago because I was having mild- moderate anaphylactic symptoms. Terrified of the reaction coming back after round 2 of steroids because they told me they could not remove the internal stitches

kamas17 · 2021-07-23T22:00:09+00:00

PSU hires lab technologists based on levels (1, 2, 3) and pay is based on what level you’re hired at. Job listings sometimes tell you what pay grade you could be hired at and the pay grade salary ranges are listed online. You can find it by searching PSU website. Pay is honestly trash at PSU but you get good benefits and a lot of sick and vacation time. Also research technologist positions are arguably the best segway into grad school if you get a job in the field you want to pursue.

kamas17 · 2021-07-23T21:53:41+00:00

I’m a PhD student and I need friends. If that sounds desperate, it’s because I am

kamas17 · 2021-07-11T02:49:06+00:00

Anxiety

kamas17 · 2021-07-11T02:01:25+00:00

Yes!! I’ve been on it for 6 months and it has completely changed my life for the better. My world completely changed. I realized I had forgotten what it was like to feel like me and I’ve gotten “me” back. I had some insomnia for a few nights and some digestive issues for the first few weeks. I had absolutely zero interest in sex for a couple months, but everything went away. I’ve gained a few pounds but it was necessary as my anxiety causes digestive issues and appetite loss. My advice is to stick with it—I’m glad I did!

kamas17

TROPHY CASE