Good news
Hello! My, it has been awhile. I'm not sure whether it's good anymore that this journal is separate to my main one - initially I thought most LJ friends wouldn't want to read lengthy tracts about science so I separated my work stuff over here. But occasionally I have some generally good news that happens to be related to work, and I end up wanting to cross post it here and at the other one. I'll start here, though:
I submitted a manuscript today! Yay!
This is a big deal, since it implies that I did some work that is worth communicating to my scientific peers :) I haven't submitted a manuscript in a little over two years, when I was in my first postdoc. I haven't published a paper in almost three years! Of course this manuscript is still to be reviewed, but it's submitted, with a list of good authors and with me as first author. I think the work is novel and is of a good standard. We'll see what the reviewers have to say.
Another good thing is that my application for a conjoint lecturer position in the Medicine faculty at the university was accepted, which means I have an official link to the university, an opportunity to teach and some small perks like a library card and a car parking space. I say small since the majority of library material I need is already available from the full online university library access through the institute where I work, but the card allows me to borrow books and access document delivery. I probably won't use the car park much but it's great to know it's there. Not least, while the appointment is really a sort of name-only position - I'm not a faculty member per se and may not teach unless they require someone with my expertise - in 2009 I'll need anything I can put on my CV since I really want to get some kind of independent research funding, even if it's an equipment or travel grant for a small sum. Obviously the paper above, if published, will be a big step towards that as well, though I need a few more to be really competitive.
In general, I like this workplace. It's taken me two and a half postdoc years to get to that point, but I feel comfortable - the right mix of ambition/casualness and scientific/social interest about the people, a good office space shared with others, and excellent facilities and collaborators. Let's see how it continues.
And now - a beer before hopping on the plane to Meredith.
I submitted a manuscript today! Yay!
This is a big deal, since it implies that I did some work that is worth communicating to my scientific peers :) I haven't submitted a manuscript in a little over two years, when I was in my first postdoc. I haven't published a paper in almost three years! Of course this manuscript is still to be reviewed, but it's submitted, with a list of good authors and with me as first author. I think the work is novel and is of a good standard. We'll see what the reviewers have to say.
Another good thing is that my application for a conjoint lecturer position in the Medicine faculty at the university was accepted, which means I have an official link to the university, an opportunity to teach and some small perks like a library card and a car parking space. I say small since the majority of library material I need is already available from the full online university library access through the institute where I work, but the card allows me to borrow books and access document delivery. I probably won't use the car park much but it's great to know it's there. Not least, while the appointment is really a sort of name-only position - I'm not a faculty member per se and may not teach unless they require someone with my expertise - in 2009 I'll need anything I can put on my CV since I really want to get some kind of independent research funding, even if it's an equipment or travel grant for a small sum. Obviously the paper above, if published, will be a big step towards that as well, though I need a few more to be really competitive.
In general, I like this workplace. It's taken me two and a half postdoc years to get to that point, but I feel comfortable - the right mix of ambition/casualness and scientific/social interest about the people, a good office space shared with others, and excellent facilities and collaborators. Let's see how it continues.
And now - a beer before hopping on the plane to Meredith.