My life post-science

Hey everyone.

Long time no blog.

So yeah, basically, my mind has now shifted to a post-science state. I’ve finally come to terms with my new reality. It seems after leaving my PhD last December, I have also left science. I’m not sure there is a place for me in the field, not one where I could balance job satisfaction with my own health and a good work life balance. It’s hard letting go of something that was all-consuming for several years of my life. I still have regrets, and i’m still not sure of my place in the world. It might seem a little dramatic to some of you, but science really was all-consuming in my life. Just walking away from it was never going to be easy. But i’m better now, in myself, and I cannot put a value on that, no matter how hard I find it sometimes.

I think one of the most difficult moments came when I recently resigned from my position on the SfAM early career scientist committee. The guys at the ECS and SfAM in general are an amazing bunch, who treated me like family. They pushed me to succeed, gave me so many opportunities, celebrated my successes, and supported me through bad health. I left my position on the committee because I couldn’t maintain the workload, and I wanted to allow somebody else a chance to have the experience I was so fortunate for. But it was sad, and broke me a little. If any of you are reading, I just want to give the biggest, heartiest thanks to you all, and good luck taking the committee and society forwards

And as such, I have had only fleeting periods on Twitter since (Yet I’ve still somehow retained over 1000 followers?). Part of me really misses it. I miss talking to people, I miss being on the cutting edge of research news, I’ve said before, and will probably say again, it was (and hopefully still is) a lovely community. The other part of me struggles to see the relevance of yet another time-sapping social media platform. Especially in light of my photography escapades on Facebook and Instagram now, which keeps me busy!

And a lot’s happened since. I mean it’s practically a dirty word now, but Brexit. And no don’t worry, this isn’t going to turn into a political angst post. But seriously, the potential impact of the referendum result could be monumental to Science. In hindsight, past me would have been all over that on Twitter, every day, and it still seems a bit weird that I wasn’t, but I was busy and tired, and had bigger fish to fry.

So what’s next then?

Not a clue. I’ve been working in admin, with involvement in communications, and that’s something I would really love to pursue a long-term career in. I’ll keep you all posted! But I don’t want to end this post thinking it is negative, far from it. I have regrets, true, but I made the right decision. It’s now a year since I last worked in a lab, and it still feels like just yesterday. But my head is in such a better place now, I actually feel like myself again!

Sorry, not very science-y, but as always, I appreciate you taking the time to read this!

Much love,

Microbe Stew