Job Changes

(I still need to catch up on the very important events that happened over July and August, but for now, here is a job-update post)

Today is the last day of my full-time contract at the University of Lausanne. After 3 years and 8 months, I am closing the door on one season, and opening the door to a new season with fresh challenges. From tomorrow, I start a new job at the University of Bern, and my contract here at the University of Lausanne changes. Here is what the last four months of this year will hold:

• I will be employed at 70% (so 3.5 days a week) at the University of Bern in the Department of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. My job there will involve some teaching, supervising students at the bachelor and master level, and doing research. 
• I will be employed at 30% (so 1.5 days a week) at the University of Lausanne. I will stay affiliated to the team I have worked with up until now and will continue to work on our data-set and do research. I will also be continuing my work as a Copy-Editor for one of the scientific journals in my field. Although my title changes from PhD Student to Responsible of Research  - my actual work stays the same. 
• (For Spring 2016, so February - July, I will be back at the University of Lausanne to teach at the Faculty of Management. Although I will be back, I will not be affiliated with my current team or department)

So this means quite a change in my weekly routine! I will most likely make the journey to Bern (1.5 hours door-to-door each way) 2 times per week (maybe more often in the beginning as I get settled), will come to the Lausanne office 1-2 days a week, and then may work from home too (if I can be focused enough). I am hoping to use the commute wisely to work or read, although I know it will be an adjustment in the beginning.

At the University of Bern I will assist the Head of the Department with some of the research he has in mind, provide support to a new project that is starting and to the new PhD student who will work in this project, do some teaching, and establish my own research projects. Students who need to do a thesis (either at the bachelor or master level) can elect to work on projects with me, and it is through this channel that I develop my own work.

I have met some of the team at the University of Bern, and they seem like a nice group of people, so I am sure I will enjoy getting to know them and build new relationships. The projects and research taking place there are in line with my own interests and expertise, so I am garetful to be continuing research in a field that I know.

Of course, there will be challenges - adjusting to a new environment, the commute, and new people will be tiring. I will also need to learn some new statistical software, new techniques, and work with new data sets. Not to mention of course that Bern is in the Swiss-German speaking part of Switzerland, so I think it may be time to invest in learning a new language (as long as it means I don't lose my french!).

I came to Switzerland to do a PhD at the University of Lausanne so it feels a bit strange to be leaving this behind. I have loved my time here and it has been a source of great personal and professional satisfaction. But the academic world is always evolving, and it was time for me to move on, and in this sense I am grateful to have found a new position that looks like it will be another great match for me. I am really glad too, that I have a couple of months left to transition before saying goodbyes to my friends and colleagues here at Lausanne.

I will sign off with two quotes that capture well how I feel at this moment:

"Transitions themselves are not the issue, but how well you respond to their challenges!"  Jim George

"Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them! They are an opportunity to purge, to rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want" Kristin Armstrong