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Enjoy the View

Take some time to get involved in local activi-

ties so that you can mingle with your

European community. Most of all, enjoy your

European life. Sports, dance, singing groups,

and community or neighborhood events pro-

vide easy access to your European hosts.

While you might initially feel overwhelmed

by differences in simple things like food choic-

es or shop schedules, adaptation doesn’t take

long; you may ultimately celebrate the differ-

ences and miss them dearly once you leave. It

can be refreshing to see the value Europeans

put on their free time and on nature. The atti-

tude that you can only work effectively if you

also take time out for other activities seems

much more healthy than the U.S. attitude of

work, work, work (regardless of how mind-

less it becomes). Europeans also tend to gravi-

tate toward nonsynthetic foods and some level

of self-propulsion (walking/biking) instead of

the American penchants for fast food and

driving everywhere.^4

The Transition Home

An easy transition back to the United States is

a second postdoc. This allows a less stressful

return to the United States and a more

leisurely search for an independent position.

But if you are ready for independence and are

a competitive candidate with an impressive

CV and publications record, you will succeed

in the U.S. job market. If not, then applying to

endless ads in Scienceand Natureis definitely

not the route. Creating contacts is the most

important step either in small meetings or by

going on your own “job tour.” Contact a few

of the world experts in your field, ask to visit

their labs and give a seminar, and mention

that if there are positions available, you

would be interested in applying.^5

Or Settling in Europe?

The European experience can be especially

attractive to women scientists with children.

There is an idea in the United States that the

European lifestyle does not support a woman

working. Rather the opposite may be the case.

For example, because you don’t have the com-

muting lifestyle in Europe, life is simpler. One

can take their child by bike to school. The

European lifestyle is by nature very support-

ive.^6 People may be offered independence and

promotion to tenure earlier in the U.K. than

they would have been in the United States.^7

And Finally...

Faculty who served as Eurodocs often tell stu-

dents that if they have the slightest inkling to

do a postdoc abroad, they should. They can

find a superb mentor and it would likely be a

broadening experience. The postdoc years are

often the ideal time in someone’s life and career

to spend a significant amount of time abroad.^8

While a European postdoc is sure to

expand your mind and your horizons, one

otherwise fabulously successful Eurodoc

came away disappointed on one front:

“I thought I would get to hang out with

cool Italians, but they wanted nothing to do

with me....” ■

CHAPTER 5 • POSTDOC ISSUES 171

While you might initially feel

overwhelmed by differences in

simple things like food choices

or shop schedules, adaptation

doesn’t take long.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CELL BIOLOGY

The postdoc years are often the

ideal time in someone’s life and

career to spend a significant

amount of time abroad.