I like having the freedom to explore data in new and exciting ways. The lab I work in is well-funded by multiple government agencies and private foundations, offering a lot of leeway to explore different scientific avenues.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had found this job sooner! I started out in a different postdoctoral position with another organization in town, and I had a really negative experience. After one year of working in a hostile environment, I moved on to UNMC. The people are great, the lab is productive, and I am in much better mental health because of the switch.
Advice
Keep your eyes open wide when looking for a job. Had I not bee so eager to just get a job lined up after graduation, I would have been more willing to see the problems that existed within the organization with my previous employer. Coming in to my current position, I did my research, ad I wasn't afraid to ask the people working here tough questions about what it is really like to be in this lab. People won't judge you for probing, so do your due diligence and avoid getting yourself into a bad situation!
