I think tech represents a good implementation of a meritocracy. You are welcomed to be weird and yourself, as long as you get your work done. Think about your coworkers-- you've got some weird ones. Dyed hair? Check. Burlesque dancing? Check. Gender non-conforming? Check. Goes to Burning Man? Check, check, self-check. Any of these things could get you fired from teaching kindergarten.
Let's keep tech inclusive and accepting and weird.
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Before switching to software, I was a Research Associate at the Fred Hutch. At one point my Principal Investigator told me point-blank: "I don't expect to help you or motivate you, the other Research Associate, or the PostDocs much, because you all get paid far more than the Grad Students."
Being a manager and giving a bit of excitement and motivation is so easy. It's free! It's free to have a positive attitude and be excited for your work and let that be infectious. Yet my boss just decided not to do it. Academia biology research is so fucked.
Let's keep tech inclusive and accepting and weird.
---
Before switching to software, I was a Research Associate at the Fred Hutch. At one point my Principal Investigator told me point-blank: "I don't expect to help you or motivate you, the other Research Associate, or the PostDocs much, because you all get paid far more than the Grad Students."
Being a manager and giving a bit of excitement and motivation is so easy. It's free! It's free to have a positive attitude and be excited for your work and let that be infectious. Yet my boss just decided not to do it. Academia biology research is so fucked.