To even think i could walk back into a career five years after leaving it before i even started it.

[brightlightsandpromises]

I was doing my PhD in biology when i had DD2, i alwas intended to go back to work. Lots of stuff happened, i got my PhD but i had a breakdown (not because of the phd) shortly after. I was a SAHM, but if i am honest it was because i wasn't confident enough to go back to work. I have been trying to get a job for a while now, i've not even looked at science jobs for over four years - i just never had the confidence, and science moves on quickly four years is a LONG time. I may as well not have my PhD. I have been applying for Admin jobs, Teaching assistant jobs, cleaning jobs, all at entry level, shit money etc.

Tonight, a throwaway comment by someone i chat to on facebook made me look at the new scientist website and i am sitting here shaking, i feel sick, almost at panic attack stage. WTF have i done, i am literally shaking. I saw two jobs that not only would i love to do, i'm qualified to do (but not directly) IF i were not out of the loop i would go for them, ignoring the fact that they are at the opposite end of the country! So in reality, even if i were looking for jobs like that i woudlnt go for those ones, but OMG, what is going on, im literally shaking.

Someone talk some sense into me, i've left it too long, ive no post doc experience, i should just go and get a job to help pay the mortgage and be done with it, but oh, if only................

I forgot that i loved science so much

Bright You're on the right track. Actions get results. Great too that DH is behind you. That is an immense help.

UPDATE: I Facebooked a friend and she runs the tissue culture unit at my old biology department. We thought there might be health and safety and legal issues, but no - i'm in. We might even be able to come up with a mini project or something. I am THAT excited

Genius! So pleased for you

Well done brightlights, I've found this thread heartening too as I'm in a similar field and am just about to take time off for DC1 after my PhD and a short postdoc, but have no idea how I'll get back into research afterwards at the moment- just takes a bit of drive and positivity I guess! Some publications might help too, must work on that :)

Yay! Congratulations brightlights really hope it works out for you!

brilliant brightlights. so pleased! enjoy

Oh, pfft, you've had a short career break to raise a child. Easily explainable.
I'm sure the world of rat-squeezers hasn't moved on that much in a few years; I hope not! as I'm hoping to get back into chemistry work in a couple of years.

Nice use of networking - will just mention the 'Women into Science, Engineering and Construction' website for anyone following the thread and looking to get back into science.

I'm not a rat squeezer, im a fly pusher!

Wow - what a lovely thread, hope it all works out for you brightlights and others! It's really inspiring!

In a similar sort of position - got my PhD (specialist field of engineering) in 2005. By then I was nearly hitting 30 as I had worked previously in industry after my first degree.

Went on to have my daughter in 2008 (took me a while to get her - but didn't really pursue a career as I was hoping to start a family). In the meantime, I've done a few courses (not science related or even remotely academic) and been self employed but nothing major.

I'm thinking ahead to the next few years when DD will be starting school and what to do next. I've sent xmas cards to my old supervisor and friends each year, but haven't spoken to them directly for years. Feel a little embarrassed thinking about getting in touch after all this time. Plus feel a little bit embarrassed about a lack of career as my old supervisor was a bit of a workaholic - didn't believe in relationships, marriage or kids as it would get in the way of his career. We got on very well at the time though.

Do other ex PhD's stay in touch with their supervisors etc or am I in the minority? Any advice?

redholly, there is a link on the first page to the Daphne Jackson Trust, where someone says look at this (sorry, im rubbish at links). This is an organisation for PhDs who have taken career breaks. Specifically for science and engineering.

Couldn't hurt to send some emails out to your old collegues. My observation is that your supervisor is mistaken - it was academics with families (male and female) that worked the most efficiently in our department. The others' days seem to be never ending because they would spend most of it procrastinating

I stayed in contact with my old supervisor, but not socially, sadly he has left science now :(

Thank you brightlights - that sounds fab, I'll have to have a serious think about it. Think my daughter is still a little young (2yrs) but maybe in a couple of years when she starts school....

Feel quite inspired now - even if shattered by staying up til 6am last night thinking about this and now back up at 9am - lol!

Any other success stories?

Just wanted to say good luck! This thread has cheered me up a bit. I also have a biology PhD and a couple of years postdoc experience but am now pregnant with dc1 and while I don't want to rush back to work immediately (and as I won't have a job to go back to this isn't an option anyway), I am a bit concerned that I won't be able to get back into science if I leave it too long.

Also check out the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship I would have applied for this this year (deadline last week) if I was organised enough, and then deferred it for as long as possible. It's designed specifically for women with children so they shouldn't penalise you for having taken some time out to have children.

I want to say good luck as well - I'm currently doing a science PhD (computational biology) and hoping to have a baby in the not too distant future, so obviously thinking about how that's all going to work.

I would say that your situation is not unusual (as you can see) - lots of women take time out at this stage of their career, because the early post-doc years do tend to correspond to the sort of age where you're likely to be starting a family (my now-supervisor actually did this).