Over the past 20 years, I have observed a lot of scientists reaching their sixties, seventies and eighties. Each and every one seems to have handled his\/her own situation in an entirely different fashion.<\/p>\n
I have seen some who have managed to maintain highly successful laboratories and continue to be active in science, writing grants, papers, and mentoring students. The cycle, they say, keeps them feeling young. I don\u2019t disagree. But for each of these scientists, there are another ten whose situation radically differs.<\/p>\n
Many scientists reach an age where they can no longer keep up\u2014scientifically, with the new techniques and findings, with the technology, and with the grant funding. Some try hanging on for dear life, with a few dollars here and a few morsels there, anything to keep going. In many cases, laboratory space is a limiting issue, rationed out to researchers according to their level of funding. Once this has dried up, aging researchers may sometimes find themselves without laboratory space, relegated to an office and involved exclusively in teaching. Some thrive, enjoy the teaching and remain positive and active. Others become disenchanted, melancholic and disengage.<\/p>\n
Some researchers prepare for these stages in a very calculated manner; they plan ahead to that very last grant and retire as champions, who have never suffered defeat or gone unsuccessful. Other researchers drift or push their way into administrative positions, and are no longer required to run a lab and obtain funding to cover part (or all) of their salaries.<\/p>\n
So, you might ask\u2014what is the purpose of this commentary? I do not have an answer on the best track to take\u2014and I welcome comments from scientists of all ages\u2014I can barely envision my next grant submission. However, as time flows on, we would best be prepared to think ahead about our own careers and how we might like to envision our own progression along the career path in years from now. In doing so, we might also discover some empathy and compassion for those scientists who were busy at the bench long before us.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Paper mache sculpture by Dr. Naava Naslavsky, cell biologist and artist extraordinaire<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Inevitably, it happens to us all. Some of us succumb quietly, with crow\u2019s feet pulling on the corners of their eyes and \u2018love handles\u2019 attaching to our midsections. Others put up a valiant battle, sweating in the gym and avoiding … Continue reading