Comments on: Full-time Scientist VS. Stay-at-home Mom

By: simon3d.com

simon3d.com — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:29:53 +0000

I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering problems with your site. It appears as though some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This could be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Kudos

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:12:04 +0000

Hi, sorry just saw this now! I was just discussing this with a professor at UMass, who went through all of this years ago. I think it would take some willingness of research university admin to think about how they could offer and benefit from part-time faculty. What that would look like, and whether it would be permanent, for a few years etc. Or if there is a way to set up job-sharing between two faculty who are colleagues, not necessarily partners. But, that all said I am an outsider to academia and so it’s easy for me to dream up ideas. The reality of them is something else. Sorry I can’t offer more. Good luck!

By: Exhausted faculty

Exhausted faculty — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:20:23 +0000

Hello, I have a tenured position at a research 1 university. Between managing work and 2 kids (5 and 2 yr) I feel drained and never seem to have time to relax. Yeah they say a job like mine has flexibility but with so much to do grants, publications, teaching, advising….how do you manage it all. Its not all bad though with people appreciating the good work but are there ways to go part time? I would love to watch my kids grow and enjoy my time with them.

By: npazder

npazder — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:04:52 +0000

Don’t think you will never work again! I know how you probably feel, since I spent almost 10 years as a SAHM. Surprisingly,I have successfully moved back into the research world after such a long hiatus. I was able to rejoin a lab doing basic research, but this was not an advertised opportunity. I just decided to research the various professors at the university, and sent an e-mail to one doing interesting research. Although he was not hiring, he passed my CV off to another professor that was, and I was offered a post-doctoral position. Although this opportunity is not part-time, I am happy to move back into my career. I would suggest trying to network… you never know what is available! There could be someone wanting someone to work part-time, but won’t advertise an official opening. You just might be the perfect fit!

By: Stay At Home Scientist Mom

Stay At Home Scientist Mom — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:54:06 +0000

Thank you, Emily! I have been looking into community colleges for chem instructor openings but so far nothing available yet. Are there any consulting agency sites that you know of? Any websites I can search for review work? That would be an ideal job for a SAHM. I am in CA. I also have experience in formulations, drug and cosmetic. I will check out the AAAS site. Thanks!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:08:31 +0000

Hi SAHM, do you have any local colleges or community colleges who might be looking for instructors or lab-instructors? Sometimes they offer night classes so that might work (I did that for a year, taught at night – was like a night out when the kids were little!) How about consulting agencies? You may want to look around, some actually like part-timers (don’t have to pay benefits) and often those kinds of jobs can be done from afar (like review work etc.) You may want to check out the AAAS site for young scientists and for jobs. They have a very good and broad site. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/.

Hope some of this helps. I do know how you feel – I’ve been there (just about every two or three years it seems), but I think if you chip away at it, you’ll find something!

By: Stay At Home Scientist Mom

Stay At Home Scientist Mom — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:07:20 +0000

Hello,
I am in the same boat and feeling the same way as many of you scientist moms out there. Finding a part-time job has been weighing heavily on my mind since my kids started school full-time. I was so sure back then I was doing the right thing when I left my pretty lucrative career as a chemist to be a SAHM but now, I am wishing I had tried harder to work out something part-time with my former employer. Financially, we are doing OK and I probably don’t need to work, but I do miss having a career in science. I have an M.S. degree in Chem and oftentimes, I feel like I am capable of so much more and that I am not making the most out of my degree. It has been hard finding part-time work in science. I have looked into tutoring jobs but they require after school commitment. I need a morning job when my kids are in school. Anyone have any other ideas for part-time work? It is depressing at times when I start to feel that I may never work again especially when I know for sure I could never go full time again.

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:38:03 +0000

Hi Emily,

I can only speak from my experience because everyone’s is so different — in part depending on the field. But I’d say stay active in science and up to date. So key is maintaining a connection with an institution (locally, or your alma mater etc.) so that you’ve got access to the journals and literature that you need. Then maintain some visibility – are there papers you can write? Reviews? Even a blog if that keeps you going – summarizing the literature or whatever is of interest – so that when you are ready you can point a potential employer to those things.

As for work at home – I think it really depends. I’ve been fortunate as a toxicologist that there is a need for consultants or subcontractors. All work that I can do from home. Is there the same kind of thing in the science that is of most interest to you? Etc.

Or teaching. At least when the kids were really young, I taught one class a semester at night. I considered it a little vacation (…it was great to get out and just talk science with students!)

Also, let people know you are looking and keep in touch with your science network. Drop an email. Let them know you’re out there – and looking for work from home etc.

Hope that helps. I’m no expert, and though I’ve keep busy and my head in science the caveat (in my case) is that it’s no way to make a living — but that hasn’t been my goal. Fortunately I have a partner with job and benefits – and so have been able to work and keep active this way.

By: Emily R.

Emily R. — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:41:30 +0000

So glad to read this blog. I have a PhD in molecular bio. and I have three kids and recently decided to be a full time mom. It is nice to know others are struggling with the same issues. I have been thinking about trying to do some science work from home but I have no idea where to even start looking. Any suggestions?

By: Mark "Work At Home Jobs For Moms" Heras

Mark "Work At Home Jobs For Moms" Heras — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:07:41 +0000

Well, i think time management is important with this kind of situation. We have a saing that if you want, you can find a way.. if not, you have a reason. But, we should know what to prioritize, and for me, Family is the most important of all.