tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post3903656690835530540..comments2024-03-19T00:11:46.679-07:00Comments on The Prodigal Academic: Life at a National Lab as a young scientistprodigal academichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00433167641213112052noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-87514986587676010452011-05-18T18:34:06.974-07:002011-05-18T18:34:06.974-07:00I was on staff at National Lab for several years b...I was on staff at National Lab for several years before I joined the TT, so I can't comment on moving directly to the TT. I have several colleagues who did it--how easy it is all depends on your productivity as a postdoc. A National Lab can be an awesome place to establish yourself as an independent scientist, because you have access to equipment of all kinds. <br /><br />Life at a National Lab is very similar to academia (no students, but there are service requirements, and you do more of your own benchwork). My time as a staff member was very helpful in making the jump to the TT (I had experience writing proposals, administering grants, budgeting, and knew how much stuff cost from my staff job), but I had to figure a lot of stuff out about the application and interview process on my own. It took me two hiring seasons to get a job--I bombed the first time through (2 interviews), but had a lot of success the next year after applying what I learned.prodigal academichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00433167641213112052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2068615175426357203.post-43052032468630913852011-05-18T11:13:35.844-07:002011-05-18T11:13:35.844-07:00As you are an assistant professor now, I am curiou...As you are an assistant professor now, I am curious, how rough was the transition to landing that TT job after postdoc-ing at a NL?Slightly_Riftedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02216846073655989831noreply@blogger.com