Episode 7

SHOULD I STAY IN ACADEMIA?

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7: SHOULD I STAY IN ACADEMIA?

This episode is about me trying to figure out how I can stay in academia. This journal entry reminded me that I actually tried really hard to stay and, today, I actually feel good knowing I tried my best.

I revisit a journal entry I wrote in July 2014. This was just after the annual “Barn Seminar”, an annual tradition my boss used to host at his house. Leaving academia was not a straightforward decision. There was a lot of back and forth. In this entry, I was genuinely trying to figure out how to stay

I reflect on victim mentality, how I really didn’t want to apply for a grant, how being stuck in academia is like being stuck in a bad relationship, conflict between your gut feeling and your actions, the classic chicken and egg problem of needing a grant for research and needing research for a grant, a need for longer-term security, and how I feel about how hard I tried to stay in academia.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[03:10] Journal entry

[08:36] I wasn’t allowed to work for more than 2 years

[09:44] Victim mentality

[12:47] I didn’t want to apply for a grant

[14:40] Being stuck in academia is like being stuck in a bad relationship

[15:29] Conflict between your gut and your actions

[16:35] Chicken and egg problem with staying in academia

[17:38] Is a need for a long-term plan linked to age?

[18:42] I’m surprised I was trying to hard to stay in academia

[19:52] Outro