Published online 16 July 2008
Postdoc journal
Taking steps
Jon Yearsley
Jon Yearsley is a senior postdoc in evolutionary genetics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
The random walk of my career.
One step forward, one step back — let's do the random walk. I'm the DJ of my evolution computer simulations. I make the rules, I set the parameters, and the individuals in my simulated landscapes dance. The number of individuals of each species jumps up and down as time passes, performing a dance that's technically known as a random walk. Ultimately this mix of procreation and chance leads to the ascendance of one species, which I record before moving on to the next parameter set. And so it has been for the past month. Simulation, watch them dance, result. Adjust parameters, watch them dance ...
The success of my simulated individuals is not completely random. Yes, chance is a large component, but individuals differ ever so slightly and, given time, these differences become apparent. They underlie Darwin's insights into the wonderful diversity of life and, I suspect, the long-term trend in my stochastic daily life. For every ascendant idea that I have there are countless flops, just as each working computer program hides a trail of error-strewn code. Academic jobs appear and I apply with no result. How many applications does it take to make a career step? A quick survey of my colleagues suggests more than five. I now have six under my belt. Last week I achieved the next step in my career path. Just one step and I'm becoming a lecturer. Now let me dance.
Postdoc Journal Keepers 2008
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Jon YearsleyJon Yearsley is a senior postdoc in evolutionary genetics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
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Zachary LippmanZachary Lippman is a postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's faculty of agriculture.
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Amanda GohAmanda Goh is a postdoctoral fellow in cell biology under the Agency of Science, Technology and Research in Singapore.
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Aliza le RouxAliza le Roux is a postdoctoral fellow in animal behaviour at the University of Michigan.
