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2017 BOOK LIST
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” Daniel Kahneman
“What the Dog Knows” (Canine neuroscience) Cat Warren
“Getting to Yes” Roger Fisher & William Ury
“Advice for a Young Investigator” Santiago Ramón y Cajal
“Lab Girl” Hope Jahren
Snapshot of grant writing this week. Pool, baby, sunshine. It’s a pretty cool office! In saying that I want to discuss the reason why I have to complete a grant application while on mat leave. My fellowship is up in 2020 and that means that for funding beginning in 2020 I have to apply for grants in 2019, even though I will be including my career disruption. Firstly, this is because NHMRC and most other funding schemes in Australia are annual, so we only get one shot a year to apply. This is different to the US’ NIH and other places around the world who use a perpetual funding model. Secondly, many of the schemes we apply to set due dates in January. That means that a large portion of researchers need to spend their holiday breaks (especially in Australia when this is summer and therefore our main annual holiday), doing #work. For me it’s a double whammy because I also just had a baby, which is a real life example of why women fall behind men and the inherent inequities in the funding system. I really despise this system. The conversation regarding work/life balance has rapidly evolved in the last decade but how can it ever be achieved with timelines that force researchers to work when they should be resting? I hope this is something that is changed by grant agencies who indicate they are committed to improving researchers’ quality of life and mental wellbeing, but in many instances we are yet to see it put into practice. RANT OVER. On a positive note: I finished the first draft of my grant application 85% with a two month old baby of my breast and 15% by pulling 11pm to 2am work sessions (that’s not the positive part. This is 👉🏽). So despite all the obstacles I know I am trying my absolute best. I might fall through the cracks of academia like many women before me. But I’ll be proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, both on paper and off paper. #academicmama #academia #neuroscience #researcher #researcher #worklife #worklifebalance #womeninstem #womeninscience
Where are you headed in 2019?? I’m continuing to establish my own research direction focusing on refugee mental health. I want to understand how trauma changes the molecules in the brain to increase risk to mental illness. There’s a lot left to learn. Exciting times ahead. #academicmama #research #scientist #neuroscientist #worklife #workfromhome #december #womeninscience #womeninstem #followthatscientist
And it’s BS. So much pressure on women to wear so many hats. There’s no right or wrong way. Just the way that feels good for you. But science and academia really need to move towards a more sustainable model which supports families or #equality in the industry will never be achieved. #academicmama #science #neuroscience #womeninstem #womeninscience #bosslady #bosswoman #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged
Some days you got to make choices with what to do during nap time... today it was stay in pjs, use the time to proof read 😬BUT that didn’t work out 😂 I swear babies have a sixth sense for when you have stuff to do. It’s only then they sleep with one eye open 🤨 #honestmotherhood #academicmama #research #scientist #neuroscientist #worklife #workfromhome #december #womeninscience #womeninstem #followthatscientist
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