Updates

[ultranos]

On July 25th, I ended my appointment at the MIT Media Lab after 3 years working there. I'd been searching for a new job for approximately the last two months.

I do have a new job. I did not actually escape the Institute, as I'm now working with two labs. I'm hoping I get the paperwork done next week so I can start getting paid and back in the system, although I think I started on Wednesday. If nothing else, one of the professors handed me the textbook of the class he's teaching in the fall and asked me to read and understand it within the next two weeks. So there's that.

This time, it looks like everything is already on the table for all parties involved as to what each of us expects out of this. Since it's pretty unilaterally "grad school", hopefully this time around I'll get in. It helps that I'm totally psyched for one of the labs' areas of expertise (microfluidics! Yes, I am insane.).

Looking back at all the interviews I went on (I spent how much in Zipcar rentals?!), I wonder if I gave off the impression subconsciously that I'm happier on the bleeding edge of research and development. It's true, no matter how much I tried to say it wasn't important. I wonder if despite my efforts, the impression got through anyway. I don't think I regret this.

Comments

[havocthecat]

Oh, congratulations! Having a job, or two jobs, or whatever, sounds much better than none. And honestly, I think grad school would do great things for you - as would being on the bleeding edge of research. I'm just glad you have something settled.

[ultranos]

It's such a relief to have something settled. My back is fixing itself from being a massive amount of pain and stiffness from that knowledge alone. (And things look to have been at least papered-over with the parental units.)

It's kinda funny: I was driving to an interview 2 hours away last week Thursday and using it as some thinking time. And I realized that there's a part of me that desperately wants to go to grad school, and it has always been terrible when I've ignored that part of myself. Seriously, no good has ever come of it, so why the hell was I doing that?

[anon_jrpg_fangirl]

Congrats! Sounds like you landed a job in something you're excited about.

[ultranos]

Thanks! The project I was hired on for is pretty interesting in and of itself, but the knowledge that once my part in that is done, I have the full support and blessing of the researchers I'm working with to go pursue my own interests is the thing I'm most excited and astounded about. :)