Has anyone out there started a new job like me as of late? Any tips on how to balance life during this crazy first month? So far, I am having a BLAST and happily striving to find my new routine… I would love to see other people’s comments on this blog about shifting careers, finding a new path, transitioning from academia into other sectors, etc. Signing off – I have work to do!
Fall Travel Time
Late in the summer and throughout the autumn, a large number of research conferences are held and, with them, career fairs. It is a time when many young engineers and scientists are traveling, reporting their research progress, networking, and looking for the first, or next, job. It is also a beautiful time to couple that work-related travel with a little vacation to see different parts of the world…in the upper hemisphere, temperatures cool and trees change color as the season turns toward winter, while spring blooms in the lower hemisphere. And, it is pretty amazing how many different places one can see just by attending IEEE meetings. Participating in IEEE conferences over the past 15 years has taken me to Hong Kong, France, Italy, Argentina, Hawai’i, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand. (Of course, those are just a small fraction of the meetings IEEE sponsors.) And, while visiting or working in less-familiar places can be a bit intimidating, it is particularly comforting to know that wherever you go, the IEEE network is there to help you.
Buenos Aires!
Greetings from Argentina!
The flights were long but the city looks amazing…The EMBS Administrative Committee is already meeting and will do so for the next few days. Again, looking forward to exploring BA, attending the conference, and meeting you all! FYI: The weather is a little chilly – so dress warm, and travel safe.
Lisa
August Query…
What brings you to the EMBS?
Time for EMBC’10!
Dear All,
Only a few more days to go until we are welcomed to Argentina for EMBC’10 - can’t wait to see you all there! Obviously, there are a million things to do before the travelling begins…at least, however, the FANTASTIC student activities have **ALREADY** been arranged (one less thing to worry about 
. Check out the activities here: http://embc2010.embs.org/students-activities.html Also, sign-up for more social events, like the 5-a-side football/soccer match and tours of Buenos Aires, through the IEEE Student Branch Favoloro University: http://embc2010.embs.org/students-activities.html
Really looking forward to seeing new and old faces at the Conference – and WATCH THIS SPACE!! We will be advertising this new Blog at the Conference – so we anticipate much more activity on this Blog…and SOON!
Travel safe! 
Lisa
Working on the other side of the day
Ok, what is the other side of the day. Let’s divide the world into 3 time zone regions: The Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. As the Earth is turning, Asia Pacific is always ahead of Europe and the Americas – at least time wise. For the last 3 years I was living in the USA and always had to work when the rest of the world had stopped working. It was still day when it was night everywhere else. But now, I live in Australia. Thus, on the other side of the day. And it is fantastic. I love it. My Mondays are quieter because while the rest of the world is still sleeping, I start my week slowly. It is fantastic. You can send e-mails out knowing that you are ahead of time compared to everyone else. That does feel good. The other nice thing is that the weekend seems to be much closer and coming quicker than before. While most people still have a whole day work ahead, I already start my weekend. How nice is that?
Trying to be creative but faced with a block
I am just trying to be creative putting together a workshop on high performance computing. So far it has been going well. We got the program together and even the title is pretty cool. But while the outline is all set, putting meat to the structure is causing me trouble.
So this is pretty much what I was talking about in the “Scientific writing” session at EMBC 2009. By the way, we will also host the same session in Argentina during EMBC 2010!!! Mike Neuman and Bruce Wheeler, both editors in chief of IEEE EMB Magazine and the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, respectively, will be joining the session again. Lisa Lazareck will be giving the talk that I held last year. So what was I talking about? Well, I was trying to give advice on how to overcome writers block and how to get started writing. Now, I am trying to put together a lecture using slides. But I am faced with pretty much the same problem. Where do I start? Just as with writing, I did my brainstorming and created an outline. I put some keywords down – now I am stuck. I really would like to be creative and continue putting things together but BLOCK!
So this is a very interesting situation for me. The question is: can I follow my own advice? There was the idea of clustering and mind mapping; the idea about creative writing; the idea of going for a run or a coffee; reading other peoples work. Anything that gets you going is allowed. Pretty much anyway. So what do I do? I blog. It gets me writing. Does it help? I guess I will find out. Maybe a combination of all the above is a good strategy. So, guys, if you would excuse me. A coffee is what I will try next. Tata!
Volunteering work – a chore or rewarding?
Hi Folks,
I am sitting here in my office right now. It is 3:36 pm and the working day is turing to an end. What better excuse is there than to blog at this time of the day. It is part of my work – or is it not?
Well, here is a thought. Volunteering does involve work and sometimes, you spend a significant amount of your spare time working on projects for your Club or Society or in general for your community. You set yourself goals. You want to achieve them. But then, work does at times get stressful and your volunteering work gets put to the side. But still, keep pushing yourself. That is what I do right now. I have a transition period behind me or I am still rather transitioning. Organizing a move half way around the world, finishing the old job, starting the new job and having a baby soon can take a lot of attention off the work you committed to in your volunteering work. The great think is, that EMBS is like a family and instead of everyone hammering down on my door, I got support from all sides. Everyone understands my situation and everyone offered support. I was put in contact with local people and someone in our Society knows someone that can help. This makes transition so much easier. Wherever you go, you will find someone in EMBS that will offer his or her help. You will not be alone. While this might sound cheesy, it is a great comfort when you do actually move. You do not have to take advantage of the help but it is there if you need it.
But I actually did not want to talk about transitions again but of volunteering work. Is it a pain and a chore? Or is it rewarding? I spend many if not countless weekends working for our Society or other volunteering activities. At times, it does feel like work and it does take away some of my precious free time. But, when you are all done and have achieved your goal, you simply feel great. It is a great feeling of having succeeded in putting something together. It definitely is more rewarding than the pain you might go through sacrificing some of your spare time. But what is even more rewarding than the feeling of having succeeded is that you are building your family. Volunteering in EMBS involved to be in contact with our peers. You work with professionals that are interested in the same things that you are. In fact, you build relationships and friends. The EMBS community offers this great opportunity. This is the ultimate reward for the volunteering work that I do.
Not to mention that I am developing myself. I learn and take big strides in personal development. As a GOLD member, EMBS offers you to be creative and to pursue your ideas and projects within EMBS. Working on these projects will develop your skills and gives you tons of experience. That is a reward beyond the time you have to spend working for it.
So the question whether volunteering work is a chore or rewarding can only be answered this way: Yes, it can be a chore but it is more rewarding than anything.
Argentina is waiting
Argentina is waiting to host you in Buenos Aires at the EMBC 2010 conference in August/September. This will be a great opportunity to meet your peers and we have created an amazing student and GOLD activities track again. Of course we will have the student paper competition going on during the conference as well as lunch with leaders and the GOLD networking reception. The program includes also sessions on how to present effectively, how to negotiate your first BME job and a session on technical writing and manuscript preparation. These sessions will be complemented by the EMBS Women in Engineering Luncheon, and afternoon sessions on Diversity: Career Paths and Work/Life balance and Innovation and Entrepreneurship in BME. Apart from all these great events, you will have the opportunity to show your sporting skills in a 5-a-side football tournament. So while the World Cup is still going on, think about practicing your skills and plan to join a team for this great sporting event!
Transitions – moving to R10
Hi everyone,
I just moved to Melbourne, Australia a couple of weeks ago. It was in that process that I realized that we GOLDies are in a phase of our life where we will probably face the most transitions in our lives. My friends used to make fun of me that I had moved house and country about 12 times in maybe 5 years in my undergraduate degree. But that was not all too difficult. I just had to pack a suitcase and backpack and off I went. Now, it seems to be a more difficult operation. Three years ago I moved from Germany to the USA. My household had filled up and it was not just me moving but me and my wife. A container and shipping company had to do the trick. You actually do feel homeless at times before your belongings arrive in the new place. So this time, I thought I am more clever. Moving from the USA to Australia also requires a container and shipping company. It is pretty sweet if your contract has an allowance for it so you do not need to pay for it. You are looking at 15 – 20k USD for a small container and some air shippment. That is an out of pocket expense that you really do not like to have. In my air shippment I put some personal belongings like the most important toys I used to have in my office and my favorite coffee mug. It so happened that the shippment arrived before I did in Melbourne. So on day one I had coffee from my mug and the transition seemed so much easier. It is interesting how we fool ourselves ;o).
But I would very much like to hear what you will have to say. What were your transitions? What are your experiences? It is a lot of trouble moving to a different place leave alone a different country and continent. But is it really worth while? I assume you know what my answer is ;o) I already did it several times in my life. So there are tips and tricks to share. But I would really like to hear from you about your experiences!
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