回复Lilac2003的评论:
Of course if I have opportunity once I can not hold this job. About 3 years ago, with friends' help, I had an offer from Novartis, and also possible offers from BMS if I told them I was available. However, I like my current position too much--flexible working hours, easy going boss, and my dreaming job on drug screening. So I turned down all of these offers and decided to stay. ( I left my current position for about 2 years to take a job in a small local company when my boss ran out of funding. Eventually he got new funding after my work got published.)
Great that your daughter found her dream job. I am still waiting for my daughter's good new on her job search. For my son, I don't mind if he decides to attend the college I am in, though we do not have such a generous tuition plan for employee's kids. The engineering college of this university is highly ranked. So if I am still here, and he wants to come, it would be great.
Have a nice day!
Lilac2003 发表评论于
Hi A Mao,
Sounds you and your family have a good plan.We have same concern about job security. Good thing is that my daughter already accepted a job offer she likes .My son can attend the college where we work (if he could get in or like to attend,it will be tuition free).However,we have to work on paying mortgage and saving RRSP. Have you ever thought to switch career? Even though I know it is not easy at this age,but just don't want to give up.As my daughter encouraged me "It is never too late to become what you might have been"( by George Eliot), I might have a try.
Let us stay positive way,and just believe God closes a door will open a window.
A-mao 发表评论于
回复Lilac2003的评论:
My pleasure. With the government budget getting smaller, NIH is going to suffer, and the funding from NIH is going to drop dramatically in next few years.
I am still focusing on my personal finance planning. If everything goes as planned, I should be able to pay off my mortgage in 2 years. By then if my wife or myself hold a job, we should have enough to survive. My retirement saving is a little bit ahead than I planned, so hopefully with 2-3 more year job for me, I can get my retirement saving done. The only thing I am not sure at this moment is the college cost for my son.
Life is tough. However, there is always hope!
Lilac2003 发表评论于
Hi A-Mao,
Thank you so much for sharing.I am in same boat with you.Having been research field so many years and feel current years are really tough. I am in NIH training grant. A PhD student at our lab just dropped and will switch to health care field (goes to nurse school)because she could not see her future in scientific field.She is smart.Cancer research should be easier to get funded than basic research. Good luck !
A-mao 发表评论于
回复suanliao的评论:
Yeah, tough year comes for dad and mom.:).
With humor, you will find a lot of fun to deal with teenager boy about money. I tease my kids all the time, and they fight me back. :(.
Enjoy!
A-mao 发表评论于
回复Lilac2003的评论:
Thanks! Wish you and your family a Happy 2012!
We have 2 more years funding from NIH. A DOD grant is going to expire soon. One RO1 is enough to cover me. My boss told me that I am his priority, and he doesn't have to take his summer pay if necessary. Students can take TA position if necessary.
I worry more about the longer future. After this 2 years, we must got new funding. On breast cancer front, we have one compound, which is in the stage for animal test. The mechanism about how this compound works is still not clear. If it works as we thought, we should have no problem to get another round of NIH funding. At the same time, I am starting a new research project, which I worked 5 years ago. At that time, the technology and science are not available for me to go deeper, and NIH did not give us the funding we applied. Now, we have solved a few technical issues, and the science in the field goes very well. We are hoping we have a better chance to get NIH funding. I am currently working on assay development, and hope by Feb. I have enough data for a high throughput screening proposal.
Life is tough, so enjoy whatever I can. Cheers!:).
suanliao 发表评论于
very interesting. my son will be 12 yrs after a few months - he is looking forward to his birthday party.
Lilac2003 发表评论于
like your articles. Have a daughter and a son,they are same age with yours.working as researcher also.How is your boss's funds? Hope everything is going well.
