Published online 3 October 2007
Postdoc journal
Small advantages
Moira Sheehan
Moira Sheehan is a postdoc in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University.
As I search for the ideal job, I wonder if working at a small private college could be the right fit.
Since returning to work after having a child, I have been thinking a lot about what I will do after my fellowship. I am lucky to have friends in different career paths that I can talk to.
One of my friends had a baby the same week I did, and I asked her about how she will adjust in her job as a new mother. She is a tenured professor in environmental studies at a small private college. It offers flexibility, supportive colleagues and positive student interactions. Of course she faces some challenges, such as trying to do meaningful and successful research projects with undergraduates. At a small college one can't be too specialized, so she mentors thesis projects in a wide range of subjects, not necessarily in her area of expertise. Teaching institutions require a lot of grading, so over-scheduling is common. But hers is very family friendly, allowing her to take a full year off and work part-time when she returns.
For some, small private colleges are a perfect solution to the 'research versus teaching' quandary, as they provide healthy doses of both. Nice towns, small schools, long-term faculty and teaching opportunities await those who choose this path. It seems that small colleges afford you greater flexibility as long as you can remain flexible in your goals as well. It's good to know such opportunities exist, although I am still not sure I will follow that route.
Postdoc Journal Keepers 2007
-
Moira SheehanMoira Sheehan is a postdoc in plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University.
-
Peter JordanPeter Jordan is a visiting fellow at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland.
-
Maria Ocampo-HafallaMaria Thelma Ocampo-Hafalla is a research fellow at Cancer Research UK's London Research Institute.
-
Chris RowanChris Rowan is a postdoctoral student in the geology department at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
