Category Archives: Careers

In which things flow naturally forward

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

I’ve been pondering the impermanence of things lately. Maybe it all started with the departure of a well-liked clinical researcher from our lab, an OB/GYN with a sense of the absurd who never failed to make us laugh. Now when … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science | 8 Comments

In which I cling on

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Recently I was kindly invited by the University of Southampton’s branch of the University and College Union to give a talk about the casualization of research jobs. ‘Casualization’ refers to the state whereby workers are employed in a disposable fashion … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science | 7 Comments

In which we feel the estrogen love

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Yesterday was a mixed day for women in science. Bright and early in the morning, I sat plugged into Skype waiting for the BBC World Service to interview me about subconscious bias against female scientists. The news hook was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, The profession of science, Women in science | 1 Comment

In which I am not a science cheerleader

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

There is something seductive about the scientific profession: it exerts a gravity so powerful that it can hoover all of the surrounding universe into its warped perspective. If you have your heart set on being a scientist, you set off … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, LabLit, Scientific thinking, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science, Writing | 28 Comments

In which I prepare to be terminated – again

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

The afternoons are darkening, the leaves are scattering to the ground — and the usual seasonal missive from HR has arrived in my inbox. Actually, although I’m on rolling 3-monthly contracts, I haven’t received this kind of notice in writing … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Staring into the abyss | 16 Comments

In which the post-doctoral playing field is leveled – in one small corner

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

The British governmental body responsible for funding research and postgraduate training in engineering and the physical sciences, known as the EPSRC, has been getting some bad press recently. But I couldn’t help being impressed by their new fellowship policy, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Policy, The profession of science, Women in science | 8 Comments

In which we’d like to acknowledge what’s-his-name

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

It is human nature to feel that you’re at the center of the universe, with all of life and experience revolving around your fixed point of view like a lazy orbit of galaxies. On a larger scale, this biased perspective … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, Scientific thinking, The profession of science | 41 Comments

In which I sort it out

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

All of my professional life, I’ve worked in affluent labs – in academic groups bolstered by multiple sources of grant money, or in a biotech setting flush with investor capital. More recently, I’ve enjoyed a generous personal consumables budget courtesy … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, The profession of science | 24 Comments

In which I move on

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

I have always been fascinated by microorganisms and the many strategies they use to subvert the host cells that they parasitize. For me, the most interesting aspect of infection is the interface between the invader and its victim – the … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, The profession of science | 17 Comments

In which I offer one little reason

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

A certain impending – and exciting – move has left me with no time to blog. Tomorrow is my last day, and after a week of holiday, I’ll be flying North (but only about 3 km) to start up a … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, The profession of science | 22 Comments