Contributed in Recognition of National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week
Submitted by Chris Banks
In hindsight, my transition from a postdoc to a government toxicologist felt pretty unremarkable, despite a moment of genuine panic along the way. At the time, I honestly had no intentions of leaving my position at the university. I had just received a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) training grant guaranteeing me a position for the next two years, and I really liked the research I was doing. My work environment was pleasant, and I got along with everyone in the lab. It felt like an ideal situation, so it was quite a difficult decision to leave.
I had initially applied to be a toxicologist for the state of California right out of grad school, but there were no available positions at the time (or so I was told). However, I did get on the state eligibility list, so if any future toxicologist vacancies became available, I would be notified. I became a postdoc shortly afterwards, and proceeded to focus all my energy on my research. Thus, it was a surprise when a letter from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) arrived to inquire whether I was interested in an open position, nearly 18 months after I first applied. I sent back the letter saying I was interested, but I really had no expectations of getting the job. I was called in for an interview shortly after, and I thought it went pretty well.
Of course, there were a few bumps along the way. I had planned to tell my Principal Investigator (PI) that I was being recruited by the state, but only if I was seriously being considered for the position. When I submitted my references during the interview, I asked that they inform me before they contacted them, so I could inform my PI of the situation myself, out of professional courtesy. I think my heart stopped for a few seconds when she walked into my office one morning and said she had just received a call from the CalEPA, asking about my capabilities as a scientist. She was very professional despite the huge faux pas on my part, but this lead to a good discussion about career goals afterwards.
Following this incident, I actually started to believe that I might get the job. This raised a lot of internal questions: Am I ready to leave my stable (yet temporary) postdoc position? Would I be able to handle working in an area of toxicology in which I had minimal experience (risk assessment)? Would I be limiting my earning potential by accepting a government job? There was a rush to fill the position, so when I was offered the job, I had to make my decision quickly.
After weighing the pros and cons of taking the job, I decided that the immediate stability and salary that came with the government job was more appealing than the potential (and uncertainty) of landing a more lucrative job in industry or academia in the distant future. Furthermore, the government job afforded a better work-life balance, and would give me more time to pursue nonwork-related interests. I understood that I would be moving from the frontlines of science into an office, and that I would be venturing into a totally different branch of toxicology, but I accepted that outcome. Colleagues at the university have questioned my decision, but when I look back, changing careers was the impetus that allowed me to begin a new phase of my life (both personally and professionally), and for that I have no regrets.