Burning bridges

I loved the Hunt for Red October.

"When he reached the New World, Cortez burned his ships. As a result his men were well motivated." - Captain Ramius

It's about time I committed to not committing to a post-doc. It's time to burn some bridges.

I've turned down the offer from DK in Boston. It was a great opportunity, especially with doing the ABMG, but I'm in no mood to do it for three more years to get to it. I know any next step I take will still be a "means to an ends" in one way or another, but the means has to be something I'm enthusiastic about. And I'm just too darned bitter about it right now to go down that road. While I don't regret it, the dissappointment and frustration has still outweighed the triumphant times. With research, one has to really want it. It's too all-consuming. I think I would give up too much to sustain the life.

Although it wasn't yet an offer, I have also told JL in Boston that I am no longer doing a post doc and will be pursuing other interests. How generic, eh? I think the hardest ones to tell this to were the kind people with the ABMG program that were so accomodating with my visits and flexible with my acceptance.

So what to do with my life next? Perhaps a short post-doc with McDonalds. I've wanted to try something a bit different for a while now, so maybe a complete switch in career is what I need. That's shure different! And maybe now I can exercise the parts of myself that were not oft-used under my scientist-in-training hat.

I've always loved teaching. It's the greatest feeling to give someone the eureka moment when all becomes lucid. Still waiting on those CVs I sent out...

Communications would be cool. Along the same lines, but dealing with the public or investor relations. Media and advertising would be neat too, but how does one get into that?! Writing. So it'll be on the back burner for a few years, but I'll keep chipping away at it.

Intellectual property law is a popular lucrative choice. Considering the number of PFO letters so far, probably not likely it'll be easy to get my foot in.

Government is always a safe choice, but another foot in door barrier. I did apply for a couple jobs, but still waiting to hear about those. I'm sure it'd be nice to live in Ottawa.

Internship programs are available through AHFMR. Those would probably be the best way to get some relevant experience in this transition from the bench. The technology commercialization one would be great for IP law, business, etc., while the health technology assessment would lead well into health care and policy.

"Wow, looks like you have alot of choices there".

If only that were true.

It felt great to burn some bridges though...