(no subject)
In the past few months' crazy-ness, I haven't had time for a proper update. I'm afraid you'll all have to deal with the Cliff-Notes edition (but with worse editing!), so let's get started with the highlights.
The hightlight of the past few months was Wench's pre-wedding retreat to Maine (of course, had I gone to the wedding, *that* would have been the brightest point... I digress). I ate so much up there, I really don't think I was able to eat a thing for the three days following. I developed a dangerous addiction to the freeze dried vegetable chips from Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck). I learned to rhumba & swing (seperately, not together) and of course, I hung out with some very cool people. I terribly miss seeing my fellow Tau's on a regular basis.
There have been some huge changes at work in the past few months. When I got hired at Wyeth, I knew my role would be unique. I didn't work for an official department (The ones in Cambridge: Cardiovascular & Metabolic diseases, Women's Health & Musculoskeltal Disorders, Inflammation, and Biological Technologies. In Princeton, there's also Neurosciences). I worked for a PhD scientist who directly reported to the Sr. VP of Discovery research. Our "group" was named after him, and we worked with an animal model of ALS. There were also three scientists in Princeton working in this "department". The nature of our project was neuroscience, but we operated outside of the department. Anywho. Fastforward to this past December where it's announced that Bossman has resigned, effictive immediately. Rampant speculation ensues. My biggest concern is remaining employed. I had a very warm lead in the CVMD group before Christmas break, but rec'd no contact from them after the holidays. I started getting very worried, when the Pfizer bomb dropped. We're getting acquired, forming the largest pharceutical company in the US (world?), with a combined workforce of over 120,000 people worldwide. That's before the 20% layoffs that will happen almost immediately (says speculation... who knows what will actually happen, but the situation looks grim for many). I spam my resume up and down the eastern seaboard almost immediately. The economy is lousy, and even though I'm at the most employable point in my career, finding a job won't be easy. The existing severance package that would have applied to me (based on the most recent Wyeth layoffs) would have only been 12 weeks. It took me about 3 months to find this job back in 2007, so that didn't really comfort me. Since the announcement, things have changed (for me) for the better. First, old Bossman's replacement turned out to be a very nice Greek man, who I'd met once before. VNGM contacted the head of the Inflammation regarding some open positions in the department. My boss and I get contacted by directors within the department. My director happens to be a very nice Greek woman, who grew up in the same city as my parents. The whole situation was kind of unique; hiring is technically frozen, so if they want anyone for these open positions, it'd have to be us, since we're existing headcount. My boss and I don't have inflammation experience (less of a big deal for me, since I'm more valuable technically, not intellectually) AND I don't have the relavant skill set for this position (that is a big deal). I guess it doesn't matter much, so my (now former) boss and I transfer to Inflamation department at the beginning of March. February was a crazy month of wrapping up our project, compiling the data, and tying it up with a neat bow... and sending it off to publication! March has been even more crazy from my perspective. I've been assigned to a project team where I'm supposed to run a cell based assay testing different compounds. I've never done cell based assays, I'm an in vivo person. I've also been charged with establishing some kind of B-cell assay from human blood. All this in vitro stuff is great for my resume. I'm basically doubling my skill set, thus making me more marketable if I do get "Pfired". Additionally, a special severance package has been released for this deal, giving me a 6 month severance in the case I get laid off. I'm more comfortable given these new circumstances (being in a real department and a decent severance), so I've suspended my job search for the time being. I love that I am learning new things everyday at work, though I hate feeling overwhelmed and stupid at the same time. I'm lucky that I have some good, patient mentors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this lasts.
Last month, I hosted a baby shower for a former co-worker from Genzyme. It was awesome seeing those guys again. Aside from my boss there, I worked with a great group of people. Perfect combination of goofy, cranky, improper, compassionate, and real. Nibedita (who actually had her baby boy Eamon last week) got some really cute stuff.... anything that tiny has to be adorable, right?
The hightlight of the past few months was Wench's pre-wedding retreat to Maine (of course, had I gone to the wedding, *that* would have been the brightest point... I digress). I ate so much up there, I really don't think I was able to eat a thing for the three days following. I developed a dangerous addiction to the freeze dried vegetable chips from Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck). I learned to rhumba & swing (seperately, not together) and of course, I hung out with some very cool people. I terribly miss seeing my fellow Tau's on a regular basis.
There have been some huge changes at work in the past few months. When I got hired at Wyeth, I knew my role would be unique. I didn't work for an official department (The ones in Cambridge: Cardiovascular & Metabolic diseases, Women's Health & Musculoskeltal Disorders, Inflammation, and Biological Technologies. In Princeton, there's also Neurosciences). I worked for a PhD scientist who directly reported to the Sr. VP of Discovery research. Our "group" was named after him, and we worked with an animal model of ALS. There were also three scientists in Princeton working in this "department". The nature of our project was neuroscience, but we operated outside of the department. Anywho. Fastforward to this past December where it's announced that Bossman has resigned, effictive immediately. Rampant speculation ensues. My biggest concern is remaining employed. I had a very warm lead in the CVMD group before Christmas break, but rec'd no contact from them after the holidays. I started getting very worried, when the Pfizer bomb dropped. We're getting acquired, forming the largest pharceutical company in the US (world?), with a combined workforce of over 120,000 people worldwide. That's before the 20% layoffs that will happen almost immediately (says speculation... who knows what will actually happen, but the situation looks grim for many). I spam my resume up and down the eastern seaboard almost immediately. The economy is lousy, and even though I'm at the most employable point in my career, finding a job won't be easy. The existing severance package that would have applied to me (based on the most recent Wyeth layoffs) would have only been 12 weeks. It took me about 3 months to find this job back in 2007, so that didn't really comfort me. Since the announcement, things have changed (for me) for the better. First, old Bossman's replacement turned out to be a very nice Greek man, who I'd met once before. VNGM contacted the head of the Inflammation regarding some open positions in the department. My boss and I get contacted by directors within the department. My director happens to be a very nice Greek woman, who grew up in the same city as my parents. The whole situation was kind of unique; hiring is technically frozen, so if they want anyone for these open positions, it'd have to be us, since we're existing headcount. My boss and I don't have inflammation experience (less of a big deal for me, since I'm more valuable technically, not intellectually) AND I don't have the relavant skill set for this position (that is a big deal). I guess it doesn't matter much, so my (now former) boss and I transfer to Inflamation department at the beginning of March. February was a crazy month of wrapping up our project, compiling the data, and tying it up with a neat bow... and sending it off to publication! March has been even more crazy from my perspective. I've been assigned to a project team where I'm supposed to run a cell based assay testing different compounds. I've never done cell based assays, I'm an in vivo person. I've also been charged with establishing some kind of B-cell assay from human blood. All this in vitro stuff is great for my resume. I'm basically doubling my skill set, thus making me more marketable if I do get "Pfired". Additionally, a special severance package has been released for this deal, giving me a 6 month severance in the case I get laid off. I'm more comfortable given these new circumstances (being in a real department and a decent severance), so I've suspended my job search for the time being. I love that I am learning new things everyday at work, though I hate feeling overwhelmed and stupid at the same time. I'm lucky that I have some good, patient mentors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this lasts.
Last month, I hosted a baby shower for a former co-worker from Genzyme. It was awesome seeing those guys again. Aside from my boss there, I worked with a great group of people. Perfect combination of goofy, cranky, improper, compassionate, and real. Nibedita (who actually had her baby boy Eamon last week) got some really cute stuff.... anything that tiny has to be adorable, right?