Working with doctoral students has its own set of challenges. The closest analogy is to having teenagers who are moving out and starting their own life. What to do you say to make everything okay? How can you love and support them while letting them go? The uncertainties of which path to take will soon become a past memory, but at the moment those uncertainties loom, casting self-doubt and creating uncomfortable decisions.
Here's an example, from PhD student who will graduate this summer. A bright student, quiet and determined.
Student Question: I have been offered a NRSA Primary Care Research post-doc fellowship at Nameless University and I am also being considered (flyout this Friday) for a Sr. Researcher position at Famous Company in DC leading the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for AHRQ. While the post-doc would provide me with additional skills, training, and publication opportunities with the strong mentoring team they have in place, I am eager to enter the workforce and start earning a salary again in a position that has a balanced work/life schedule. Also, I am not sure that I want a long-term career in academia because of the high expectations and immense pressure to publish or perish. In addition, I would love to be immersed in the health policy world of DC and I cannot see myself staying for an extended period in Texas. Thus, it would be an opportunity cost and tiresome to keep moving locations. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
My reply: First, post-docs aren't for everyone. It's got to fit with long-term goals and having a strong mentor as part of the post-doc. Don't feel bad about turning it down. I understand about not being set on an academic future. The publish or perish mindset does vary by institution, so it IS possible to find an academic job that would have less pressure. But, I'm not sure you'd be happy in such a university.
Second, always go with your passion! It is impossible to predict where your passion will take you, but you'll be doing what you love along the way. That counts for a LOT. Also, following your passion is likely to have a theme, and you'll build your expertise around that theme. Which is good scholarship, wherever the scholarship is practiced. Remember, life tends to be "better" when we move toward what we want, rather than when we try to avoid something.
Third, moving has gotten harder over the years. No doubt about it. We have more stuff; there are more new number sequences to memorize; and, building new place-bound friendships is harder. In short, I emphasize with the desire to minimize the moving.
No comment on Texas, except to say that everything is big in Texas ~ big belt buckles, big hair, and big egos.
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