My post-doc, as rewarding as is was, is officially over. After much soul searching, I accepted (and recently started) a position with Cell as a scientific editor. Some of you may know Cell as the high impact journal that competes with Science and Nature for the most interesting studies in biology. To me, it has always been the most recent addition, but probably most important and well-respected member of the trinity – Science, Nature, and Cell. These the three journals comprise the top of any biologist must read list (or should I say, must skim list, since we are all so busy doing experiments and writing grants and supervising students and teaching classes and thinking about data and giving talks and presenting posters) to stay in the know about the newest and most important discoveries.
Cell was originally founded in the early 1970s by Benjamin Lewin, the Cambridge University trained molecular biologist who has been accused of intensifying the pressure and competition associated with scientific publishing, but who has also been praised for infusing scientific editing and publishing with high standards for production values and intellectual rigor that are now universally associated with cutting edge scientific papers. Cell is the mother of the Cell Press family of journals, including some that I used to read as regularly as I looked at Cell, Science, and Nature, such as Neuron, Molecular Cell, and Developmental Cell. Cell Press is now a subsidiary of the Dutch-based Elsevier, a long standing publishing house that takes it name from 16th century Elzevir family of booksellers and publishers.
What does this decision mean for my life? for my blog? Change. In a new city and in a new role, I have to figure out how to reconcile who I have been for the past 12 years with who I am now becoming. I miss the actual discovery process of bench research and I miss my friends and colleagues from lab, but I enjoy reading and thinking about science; I love learning about how to make decisions and how to put new discoveries in their appropriate context, and I feel nothing but satisfaction when I edit and write about cutting edge discoveries. Although this transition from scientist to writer/editor is challenging and a bit scary, I take comfort in the company motto, Non Solus. This latin phrase means “not alone”. In my new job and my new life, I am not alone. I have fantastic new colleagues who are helping me make this transition; I have the privilege of working with brilliant and kind-hearted scientists, and, as many grad school and post-doc friends can attest, I am not alone as I join the growing ranks of Ph.D.’s making a transition from academic research to different and exciting careers.
The Elzevir family’s mark, which graces the websites and documents published by Elsevier, shows that scientists and publishers are interdependent, leaning on each other to help promote the fruits of scientific research. The official Elsevier sentiments is that Non Solus highlights the mutual effort required for promoting scholarly (scientific) research. To me, the robed scholar examining the tree branches and those two simple words, non solus, go beyond science or publishing and say that no matter what, none of us is ever alone. And with that I must say adios and good-bye. I no longer can provide a post-doc perspective on science, and so, as all good things, this particular blog must come to an end. While londonkara is no more, stay tuned for a new web presence, cambridgekara. Thanks for reading.
Exciting and sad at the same time; sad to close a good book you love but exciting to begin the adventure of something new. Congratulations and much success!