Since last November, I have been reflecting on my research career. I started my second postdoc, and I didn't want to stay postdoc for too long. I see postdoc as some sort of limbo. You gain experience, improve your publication record and try to check all the boxes necessary for the next step while staying on short-term contracts and most probably relocating to have international experience.
I work as a postdoc, but how did I come to this? How does one become a postdoc? Here is the second part of the answer to this question; please, see the first part here: How does one become a postdoc? My story (part 1). Towards the end of the PhD, everyone starts thinking of “what’s next”. There are different paths one can take after adding a Dr to their title. In computer science, you are often asked whether you want to stay in academia or switch to industry…
I am a postdoc in human-computer interaction and digital health, but how did I come to this? How does one become a postdoc?
Short answer: "You get your PhD and stay to work in academia," but here is my long(er) answer. I share it to show that a path leading to academic research in human-computer interaction (HCI) can be very different, and mine wasn’t straight and smooth.
Since March 2020, I started thinking of what happens after my current postdoc position at Trinity College Dublin. I want to share my search experience and reasoning to reveal what happens before social media messages, starting with "I am happy to announce that I join...". For me, it was a long and tiring process, complicated by the pandemic and almost an existential crisis and re-evaluation of life priorities that it caused.
My work in computer science research is closely related to social factors and, ultimately, people. All my research projects involve participants and stakeholders to learn their experiences and views on various technology and health-related topics and issues. A big part of my academic work is being involved in a variety of activities designed to engage the wider community and broaden participation. These activities also contribute to "Education and Public Engagement (EPE)", which includes many and varied ways university staff and students engage with others outside the institution. While I am used to some EPE activities, I am still learning to use other ways and channels, like radio.
Almost 3,5 years of research work, 5 countries where it was conducted, 230 pages of the doctoral dissertation, 40 mins of defence presentation, many sleepless nights but also gratitude that is impossible to quantify to everyone who supported me along the way and participated in my studies! In this post I briefly (less than 230 pages) discuss what I have been working on, how was this unique experience for me, and what I have learned and obtained during those years. Of course, there is also a “future work” section.
