Tag Archives: experience

On Being Unnerved – Get out your Velcro

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Athene Donald

Not infrequently I find myself having to give after dinner speeches in my College: to alumni as well as to different parts of the student body. The first time I had to talk to the Freshers, I suspect I was … Continue reading →

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The Fresher’s Balancing Act

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Athene Donald

It’s the start of another academic year. For some universities, students have been in residence for some time; for others, such as Cambridge, freshers (undergraduates and graduates) are only now arriving. That of course goes for ‘Heads of House’ too, … Continue reading →

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When Did You Decide to…..?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Athene Donald

People seem to think that life travels in straight, orderly lines, with everything mapped out from birth. I have never felt that my life was like that and it is always startling when I find other people assume that I … Continue reading →

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Why do I Always come away from Meetings Feeling a Fool?

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Athene Donald

That was the plaintive question I saw recently on Twitter (actually not from anyone I knew). There is of course the possibility the person is a fool, but my guess is that they were simply feeling that they weren’t doing … Continue reading →

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Climbing the Ladder

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Athene Donald

It has been a while since I wrote about the challenges facing those setting out on the academic ladder. Those who, having got past their PhD viva are now starting to progress through the ranks of an Early Career Researcher … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Science Culture | Tagged , , | 16 Comments