I'm trying to get my priorities straight. Is doing my postdoc overseas the best choice?
I'm a fan of quality produce. So when I told my wife that oranges and other locally grown citrus fruits were reasons for staying in Israel to pursue a faculty position, she retorted: “Get your priorities straight!”
The truth is, I'm not that shallow. I moved to Israel to study genes controlling natural variation in tomatoes, and I thought we might stay for scientific and personal reasons. But now I realize I'm as American as the New England apple pie I grew up with. So when I recently committed to job hunt in both countries, I mulled over what might become a near literal 'apples versus oranges' decision.
How should I choose? The considerations are endless: institution, colleagues, funding, a partner's career, family and friends, children's education, and the political and social climate. And then there is the need to learn skills beyond the bench, such as becoming an effective teacher, marketer and collaborator.
How am I coping? I'm gathering as much information as possible. The key to making informed decisions is seeking advice from the right sources. Consulting former mentors and colleagues who also struggled through this transition is helping to lift the fog. Merging the best of both worlds is impossible. So now I'm stressing about the decision, and when I stress, I get hungry. A fruit salad of, say, apples and oranges would hit the spot.
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Lippman, Z. Fruit medley. Nature 451, 742 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7179-742c
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7179-742c