MetaChat - Just when I thought things were looking up.

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21 November 2008

Just when I thought things were looking up. →[More:]Some of you know that I have been looking for a postdoc for almost a year. The most promising interview thus far has been at Madison. I phone interviewed twice. They really liked me. I was due to go for a 3 day visit this weekend mostly as a formality and we had even agreed on a start date of Jan 1.

So my plan was to turn in my dissertation on Dec 15, enjoy the holidays, and then move to Madison post Christmas. Yesterday my future boss emailed to say how excited everyone was for my visit and that he would pick me up at the airport on Sunday night.

This morning he called to "catch up on things". When I called back, he said //grant agency// pulled the funding on the project and now there is no position.
WTF??? How does one respond to that on the spot?

I feel crushed. I simply don't know what to do.

post by: special-k at: 15:24 | 19 comments

So sorry to hear that! *hug*

posted by mdonley 21 November | 15:43

:(

This happened to MuddDude once, although it was for an MS assistanceship, rather than a post-doc. He ended up at another institution, but he had to take a semester off.

posted by muddgirl 21 November | 15:45

I'm so sorry special-k.

I still haven't received official paperwork from BigPharmaCo, one week on from my boss telling me I had the job. So although they say HR is exceedingly slow in this place, it still makes me feel very hinky.

I hate this economic climate. Screw 2008 and the horse it rode in on.

posted by lonefrontranger 21 November | 16:08

Oh man, k, that really sucks.

Things are going to be okay, though. They really are. It'll all fall into place.

posted by mudpuppie 21 November | 16:10

ppppppppppppppppbbbbt. boo on them! Good luck in your search, I know acamedic job hunts aren't much fun, even when they go smoothly. Have a whuffle.

posted by Joe Invisible 21 November | 16:40

Oh, gah! That hurts, I know. Nothing worse than exhaling, only to find IT'S NOT SAFE AFTER ALL. I'm sorry, kiddo.

posted by taz 21 November | 16:48

My sympathies. The job market has gotten seriously weird, everyone here seems to be saying that they either don't have the money to hire anyone or that they're too scared to spend it.

posted by octothorpe 21 November | 17:05

Oh, man! Talk about having the rug yanked right out from under your feet. So sorry, special-k... that really sucks.

posted by BoringPostcards 21 November | 17:18

I'm so sorry, and empathising totally with your crushed feelings.

posted by essexjan 21 November | 17:19

Having it yanked away at the last moment really sucks. So very sorry special-k.

posted by arse_hat 21 November | 17:29

*hugs*

So sorry to hear this major suckage :(
Here's to better things not far over the horizon.

posted by goshling 21 November | 17:48

Special-k, I know that this prolly ain't gonna make you feel any better, but have you ever been to Madison in January? I have. It is devastatingly cold.
I am very sorry to hear that, though.

posted by msali 21 November | 17:53

Ooh, that sucks. :(

posted by sperose 21 November | 18:20

Grrr that does suck indeed.

posted by gomichild 21 November | 18:59

That sucks! I'm so sorry.

posted by joannemerriam 21 November | 19:08

Wheeeew. Sucks much. So sorry, special-k. And msali has a point - when I was interviewing for grad schools I went to Madison totally unprepared for the weather in February. Yipes. Something will come along for a smart guy like yourself - timing is a bitch, for sure, though. Dag.

posted by rainbaby 21 November | 20:13

That way totally sucks - I'm sorry to hear it. Is there any chance you can offer to look for your own grant money and once you've found it start working there to get the project going?

I don't know exactly what you're doing but I've seen this approach work a bit - people showing up with their own funding greases wheels no one knows exist.

posted by oreonax 21 November | 22:07

Ouch, that really hurts. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this.

posted by redvixen 22 November | 19:39

OH! They are obviously complete idiots, and you deserve better than working with such stupid people.

*hugs*

posted by jonathanstrange 22 November | 20:52

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