Something I hear often from grad students (and say often myself) is “When I have a real job…” followed by some fantasy about the future like saving for a house downpayment or going on a big vacation or not being in the lab after midnight.   Since these sentiments come out of my mouth, too, I obviously understand where they’re coming from.  In grad school, like in college, during an engagement, or just before starting a family, there is a sense of now-but-not-yet.  I have this life and it’s not quite what I want it to be because there is a waiting period, a working period until I can achieve something that will usher my life into its next stage.   But the fact is that just because I don’t have a real job … Read entire article »