Danielle Blog

Job interviews done

January 30, 2010 - Posted by danielle- 7 Comments

As the title suggests, my on-campus job interviews for actual tenure-track biology faculty positions are now done.

I can breathe a sigh of relief (sort of). I say sort of, because now I have to wait on their decisions.

I interviewed at 2 small liberal arts schools in TX, because I really really want to move down there to be closer to Texas Seestor, Trainwreck and my two nieces. Also, Mom and Dad are retiring there this summer. I’m ready to live closer than a plane flight away.

I also interviewed at my current school. I just did that on Tuesday, and it was my last one.

They are all having their meetings this coming week to make a decision. I may know about one of them as early as Monday/Tuesday. Of course, that is the one that I will likely turn down. They just don’t have what I need to do summer research, and if I’m being honest with myself, I would rather continue to adjunct at my current school and/or wait on a different school in TX than go there. My current school will be hiring again, because there is another faculty member retiring at Christmas of the 2010-2011 school year.

I really really like the one school in TX, BUT the school I’m at is offering start-up money for research! And this would be at least double or triple what I got to start my research last summer. They actually offered the chemistry hire 10 times what I managed to use to get my research started last year!
I’d love to get an offer at both schools and get the TX school to match my offer at my current school….
…. that would be an ideal situation.

I guess we’ll see.

So, now I’m trying to catch up on everything that got put on hold since the time that i started applying back before Thanksgiving. I had those 2 weeks off in TX over break, but I didn’t do any of the home stuff that I need to take care of.
For example, I’m planning on taking down and sorting the Christmas decorations today!
I told two profs at school and their comments were something to the effect that there is still snow on the ground (as will be the case until April or so), which means that I’m all good for a while yet.

This brought up the other prof who has been at the school for 20+ years to comment that one year for graduation (late May) he remembers there being a spot of lawn that still had snow on it. Granted, it was in a shady spot…
… He also had an interesting factoid that since MN has been keeping records, there has been snowfall in every single month of the year – except for ONE. We assume it is July, but we aren’t entirely certain.

yeah.

And people wonder why I’d want to leave a great job like the one I have currently…

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2010 - Posted by danielle- 2 Comments

This was one of my New Year’s Eve activities – playing playdough with the older of my two nieces.

And we’ve gone to the park for the past couple of days. Yesterday was really nice out, but today was a bit cold when we were there (it was in the 40s).

We’ve also played dress-up some. The sparkly shoes and skirt that I gave her last year are still a big hit too.

We’ve been playing blocks, fingerpainting, riding bikes (and tricycle), reading books, eating snacks, and playing with the bunny.

As for my newborn niece, I’ve held her for a chunk of time every day. And helped keep her awake or played with her when my sister felt like she needed to be awake.

And here is one of the good photos of my new baby niece.

There are a bunch of photos on Flickr.