Published online 21 February 2007
Postdoc journal
Smart moves
Moira Sheehan
Moira Sheehan is a postdoc in plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University.
Balancing work and family has made me a better scientist.
'Work smarter, not harder.' This is my mantra. I'm a postdoc in a meiotic recombination lab at Cornell University and the mother of 1.5 children. I've found that balancing work and family takes more coordination, organization and time-management skill than I ever needed before starting a family.
Sounds awful, right? Actually it's been the best thing to happen to me. It has made me a better scientist because I carefully plan experiments and maximize output with minimal input. After my son was born, I completed my graduate work, wrote a thesis, graduated, wrote a grant (awarded), wrote a manuscript (accepted), and got a postdoc position. That's not bad for 20 months' work.
With that said, this year brings many new challenges: a new project in an unfamiliar field, several technically difficult project goals and a new baby on the way. Can I still be productive and competitive with all this on my plate? Is the tenured professor track the right career path for me, or should I look to industry?
This year, through conferences and Cornell University's postdoc advisory resources, I plan to talk to women in industry, in faculty and in postdoc positions, and to women scientists who have left science, to hear all sides and garner advice. I'll ask my spouse for more flexibility and support to ease my home life. As for managing research and life, I will rely on my mantra to work smarter, not harder, in all that I do.
Postdoc Journal Keepers 2007
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Moira SheehanMoira Sheehan is a postdoc in plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University.
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Peter JordanPeter Jordan is a visiting fellow at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland.
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Maria Ocampo-HafallaMaria Thelma Ocampo-Hafalla is a research fellow at Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute.
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Chris RowanChris Rowan is a postdoctoral student in the geology department at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
