Category Archives: Work

My Post-PhD Story

It’s a common question. What can you do with a Ph.D.? Why get one? Why not just get a Master’s Degree? Or a Bachelor’s?

Most folks think of the Ph.D. as a degree that dooms its recipient to a career in academia. But that’s not necessarily true.

Jacquelyn Gill is interested in knowing the answer to that first question, too. As such, she’s started a blog-carnival in which Ph.D.-bearers are encouraged to tell their story. Some have succeeded in getting that tenured job that is perceived as the only possible option for a person with a Ph.D. Many have left academia.

Others  (like myself) have remained in academia, but definitely not on the tenure track.

I’ll tell you my story.Continue reading “My Post-PhD Story”

Camp Chili – Recipe

I may have mentioned before that I hate to cook. I really hate to cook.

But in the last week, I’ve discovered the joys of the mini Crock Pot I just got. I have it in my office and put a meal-sized portion in it in the morning, so I have a warm, delicious meal at lunch time.

So I made an old favorite recipe for chili, one that I often make when I’m camping because it’s easy. Continue reading “Camp Chili – Recipe”

Darn Those Lazy Professors

There’s a link bouncing around Facebook about what exactly it is the people who hold the title of “Professor” actually do. The gist of it is that someone who should have known better but that was in an influential position suggested that professors only work about 200 hours a year. The rest of the post goes on to outline what professors actually do.

But there’s even more to this, which is why I’m writing this. I’m not a “Professor,” but like a professor, I teach at a university, and I spend way more than 200 hours a year working.

I have the title of ‘Research Associate,’ which necessarily means that my list is a little different from those holding the title of ‘Professor.’ However, the differences are subtle (yet the difference between paychecks is significant. Grumble.).Continue reading “Darn Those Lazy Professors”

So this is 2014

It doesn’t feel any different.

The first day of January is always a bit of a slap in the face. It’s always so sudden to me. Maybe because November and December are always really stressful, what with the holidays, one very important professional meeting, the onset of winter, and wrapping up my big introductory geology class.

And then suddenly, it’s over.Continue reading “So this is 2014”