It is now mid-March, and despite sending off a hundred or so emails and spending countless hours searching for jobs online, I am still unemployed. There are lots of job ads in Biotech, lots of ads for senior researchers (>1 year post-doc experience), but hardly anything for post-docs. Those positions that are available are often so narrowly defined in the requested skills set, it reminds me of my days in I.T. One example was a position studying nanocomposites. I've synthesized nanocomposites, and they are not particularly special as to require a specific research focus, but that's what this one associate professor wanted: someone with a lot of experience just on nanocomposites. I've actually started applying for I.T. jobs here in Canada, just to improve my odds of becoming employed again. Additionally, I've started applying for post-docs in USA. Maybe the only way I can launch my career as a scientist will be to go back to USA for a couple of years, then permanently settle in Canada. I've also been considering alternate careers completely outside I.T. and science, but I have no idea what I should pursue.
Getting to spend each day taking care of Chloe has been the one thing really lifting me up. She's now 10.5 months old, very close to walking on her own, and her precocious personality is really coming out. She's got two teeth, and a couple more following. I usually put her in the stroller and go for a walk mid-afternoon, so as to time it with her afternoon nap. Even though it's been a bit cold until now, I've found it therapeutic to get out of the house.
Living with Michelle's parents has been a very draining experience at times. They seem to get offended by the slightest thing, so each day we have to be extra careful with what we say and do. And they have no clue about baby-proofing. We've had to force the issue with them on several things so far. The basement is still at least another couple months from being done.
Regarding my thesis, the report from the second examiner has arrived, but I won't get the details until 6 April, as that's when the next university thesis committee meets. No rush, guys, not like I'm trying to get my life started again. So I'm losing a month in which I could be doing the revisions.
It's times like this when I really wish I was independently wealthy, as then I could just spend my time studying whatever interests me and getting involved with charities (maybe even mentoring high school students...I'd tell them not to bother trying to get a PhD!).
