Today marks the end of my first month in my new lab and so a chance to take stock of the move. Working with great new colleagues and having the chance to gain experience in experimental techniques complementary to those I’ve used previously is giving me a great opportunity to broaden my horizons. With my research, that’s bridging from work on fundamental surface systems used to benchmark calculations, to semiconductor-based systems with potential nanotech applications.
In many ways I’m lucky to have been able to achieve this by moving only 55 miles down the road but my new commute and adjusting to the rhythm and outlook of a new institution have still taken more energy than I’d expected. As a result, I’ve made disappointingly slow progress this month with writing up papers form my old lab. Although I’ve only just arrived, I’ve also had to start to look beyond the end of this funding, with applications already underway.
Moving has given me a chance to widen my perspective, accelerated by the challenge of writing a fellowship application based in a department I’m only just getting to know. Now, I’m hoping next month will start to feel a little more settled and though probably tempting fate, with a little luck we’ll see data starting to come out of my new work.
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