Going to California

Made up my mind to make a new start,
Going to California with an aching in my heart.

In the last two months of Elissa's pregnancy, I spent an inordinate amount of time shopping around for a post-doctoral research position. A good fraction of science and engineering Ph.D.'s, especially those interested in an academic or research careers, conduct one or two post-doc stints (I'm hoping for the former) to round out their research experiences and to put them in a better position to get a faculty position and research grants down the road. Initially, my search was focused on post-doc research positions in labs around Boston, but then expanded to include labs in other places at the recommendations of my current research advisors. I ended up deciding on a post-doctoral training program in molecular imaging at Stanford University in California. The position will start in the beginning of 2009, so I have until the end of the year to finish up my Ph.D. (hurry, Ben, hurry!). If all goes to plan, we'll be headed out to California in December or January, and then I'll start my post-doc position, Elissa plans to finish her Ph.D. remotely, and my baby Ansel will go roaming on his own for some sort of child care.

That aching on our hearts will be due to the fact that we really love it here in Boston and will miss it greatly when we have to leave.

(This post was dedicated to my Uncle John, the biggest Zeppelin fan I know. Keep on recovering!)