How a pit stop can refuel your science career

I graduated from a PhD programme in the United States intending to return to India and start an independent research group. It had been a bustling five years of research and publishing, and I also had a baby in the second year of the programme. As my husband and I planned the transition, I pondered over an interim career step.

Starting a postdoctoral position would have meant a long-term commitment, and I did not want to move cities for a short stint. I also did not want to take up an industry job. There were few roles aligned with my area of interest in the American city I lived in. Around this time, my university’s undergraduate biology department offered me a position to teach laboratory courses to undergraduate students three days a week. Though the position did not involve research, I decided to take it on as a career pit stop. Surprisingly, this transformed how my career and life progressed. Here’s what I learned.

Exploring alternative career steps

It didn’t seem like a perfect fit at first but an interim stop, I found teaching very fulfilling. It allowed me to engage with students, redesign curricula, and improve my content delivery, all while keeping my long-term research goals in mind.

Although the teaching role didn’t directly involve research, it provided valuable skills. I collaborated with teaching assistants, refined my teaching style through feedback, and created new learning exercises.

This experience deepened my understanding of pedagogy, which later helped me develop course content when I moved back to India. These non-research tasks expanded my skillset in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated, showing that such roles can be more impactful than they seem.

Continuing professional development

Career growth doesn’t have to follow a straight line and is not always about moving forward quickly. Pauses allow you to regroup, reflect, and prepare for the next big step.

Even while teaching, I never lost sight of my long-term goals. I used my non-teaching days to apply for grants and fellowships, develop ideas for a future research group, and plan the structure of my lab. This allowed me to maintain momentum in my scientific career, even during a non-traditional role. The research proposals I had worked on during this career pit stop was eventually funded. I even designed my future laboratory website and set up conversations with colleagues back home to better understand the life science landscape in the country.

By the time I returned to India, I had secured a re-entry fellowship and funding, which set me up to start my own research group.

Balancing personal life

One of the other benefits of my career pit stop was the chance to focus on my personal life. I had time to invest in my health, signing up for fitness training three days a week, something I hadn’t prioritized during my PhD. As a parent, I also got to be more present for my young child, participating in activities I had missed out on as a busy PhD mum.

My career pause opened the door to unexpected opportunities, like starting a small business. Together with our son’s nanny, who was an excellent cook, we launched a home-based Indian food enterprise. This gave me experience in entrepreneurship.

The work-life balance I cultivated during this time has had lasting effects. The fitness techniques I practiced continue to help me manage work stress, and my son’s adjustment to life in India was made easier because I had already begun teaching him Hindi during our time in the United States. The pit stop allowed me to invest in both my career and my personal life in meaningful, long-term ways.

Embracing doubts and concerns

I often questioned whether I was making the right decision. I wondered if I was wasting my degrees by not diving straight into a research role. At seminars, I felt pangs of regret that I wasn’t involved in cutting-edge work or publishing high-impact papers. These doubts are natural during any career pause, but I learned to trust that my interim work would pay off in the long run.

Growth isn’t just about moving forward quickly. Taking time to pause, reflect, and build up skills — both professional and personal — can lead to long-term success. My career pit stop helped me prepare for a major transition back to my home country, build a large research programme, and eventually move into leadership roles within my field.