Post doc for my daughter...
 

It looks like my daughter has to make a choice shortly between three universities for her post doc(in the med faculty in research not MD). She has a choice between Oxford Univ. in the UK, a univ. in Australia and Cornell NY State.

Do any of you have any experiences of life in Cornell Univ. or the surrounding area. Looking at the pics it looks like a beautiful area. Also how are transportation connections? I see that it is fairly close to Buffalo NY. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks, Guy

Wow, super cool, congrats. Cornell or Oxford. I'm not really up on those sorts of schools, but they both sound like they'd be pretty swanky to have on a CV. If I had the opportunity, I think I'd want to go to Oxford for several reasons.

For convenience Cornell would be better for her as it is not so far from us or her husband(married one year). I used to live near Oxford UK so am familiar with that part of the world. However the post doc in Oz is only six months and is the shortest in terms of time but the furthest in terms of flying time.:eek:

Yes we are very proud of her. She works hard and is a great student.

Cornell is pretty isolated. I knew people in grad school who went to Ithaca College which is proximal and they said it is beautiful, isolated, and snows a ton in the winter (but probably not that different than Edmonton ;)). Higher than average suicide rate.

Oxford probably has the best resume fodder, and that's a big part of what a postdoc is about. But it really is a time to get a bunch of research done, publish, and make connections. A 6-month postdoc doesn't really give you enough time to do the above. Typically postdocs are 2-3 years these days, though at med schools maybe they are shorter.

Is she going to be away from her husband during the postdoc? While I know people who have successfully done that, it didn't work for me or others I know. Depends on the details.

Thanks for your concern Nostatic. She has been published 14 times so she is ahead of the races in that regard. I agree that it will be hard on the marriage but that is a decision they have to make. So far Oxford sounds to be the better choice according to two of you....

Ah, well, distance from the parents, while not inconsequential, is, not a huge deal, but distance from the new hubby is probably pretty huge.

I would choose based on the reputation and the quality of the degree, nothing else.

A degree from Australia probably does not carry the same gravitas as the other two...

Talk to people who hire people in her field.

I have nothing to add other than my congratulations for your daughter. From the pride in which you write about her, what a fine person she must be.

My only post doc experience is working with the front office folks to set up my next appointment.

*rimshot*

Thanks ladies and gents, I'll be here all week. Try the veal...

You were afraid to be so lame...admit it:)

That made no sense. What I meant to type was sooo much something or the other.

Carry on.

Cornel is a first tier university. It is Ivy League, but it is the land grant institution if the Ivy League. Nothing will open the doors and provide the career opportunities that Oxford will. If she's going to be teaching community college and doing a low intensity career path, Cornell will be overkill. If she's at all ambitious in her career, or even wants to have that oportunity, there is no substitute for Oxford and neither of the other two on her list are even in the same league. They just don't compare. If it were my daughter, she wouldn't even consider anything but Oxford.

Thanks for all the input. My daughter Jill finally found out about the job offer of Director of Research. She accepted the position starting this September after she completes her Phd. The post doc in Oxford was subject to funding and was not available until later to apply for. The Cornell post doc was available for her but there was no guarantee of a job after that.

So she decided on the Director position with the faculty of Medicine at the Univ. of Alberta. It is for two years and has full benefits. Job could be extended at their option.
We could not be happier for her. She has been working 6 days a week for so long. Her hard work has finally been rewarded.

Cheers, Guy

I have been to Ithaca numerous times - fairly recently too. I have a strong opinion on it. Coming from California I find it a horrible place. There isn't a good restaurant in the whole town. It is small, very isolated and has crap weather. We are talking no leaves and cold for a felt 8 months out of the year. Flying into it will be harder than into London. Campus life may be okay, but don't attempt to get off campus and experience much but countryside and country folks. Only thing that must be good is deer hunting.

My choice, would be Oxford UK. Mix it up a little, assuming that she already has time under her belt in Northern America. AUS may be interesting too, but I do think Oxford UK will be the better address academically.

Cheers,

G

Well, should read all posts, shouldn't I before posting. Glad she landed in Alberta - I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than live in Ithaca ...

G