How not to succeed in academic research

Science : In an Issues & Perspectives column, guest contributor Kathy Weston looks back on her career as a molecular biologist and on her decision to leave a tenure-track position at the University of London. Weston frankly acknowledges her own failings, especially her lack of confidence. In retrospect, she wishes she had found a mentor, and “taken more scientific risks, gone for bigger stakes, and thought harder about direction.” As for the system, she writes,

It failed too, I think. Scientists are judged almost entirely on research output, measured by papers published in the most prominent journals, and grants are not awarded unless your work is competitive at the highest level. Trying to run a lab full time with small children at home is very likely to result in a drop in research productivity or quality, and yet little allowance is made for those of us, mostly women, who find ourselves in this situation.