Author: Alex Callen
I have terrible imposter syndrome. I’m no psychologist but I think academia is one of the worst professions for it. So, when one of my amazing PhD students corralled us into writing blogs for the research group’s website she had just designed, I was panic-stricken about what could possibly be so interesting about my career/research/life that someone would want to read about it.
But – it was a good idea, and I was keen to encourage everyone to have a go as I believe there are many ways to effectively communicate science outside of our traditional academic publication process. Just look at Dr Karl. I brain dumped a heap of potential topics students could blog about based on the awesome research stories and special interests they regaled me with. But I still had nothing to write about. Then, at the best possible time, I received the most wonderful email from a colleague who had used an omnipotent AI platform to summarise my life, profession and science into a list of blog topics. I was simultaneously touched and relieved. But, by the time I had reached the bottom of the AI generated blog list, I was somewhat confronted.
It read: Being Lab Mum: An Overtime Job.
It was a moniker I had been desperately trying to ditch as I transitioned from my PhD into a post-doc scientist and then into a Lecturer. I began my research journey late in life, having worked professionally as an environmental scientist for more than a decade after completing my undergraduate degree. I started my PhD the same day that my eldest child started his first day at school. I also had a 3 year old at home and was full of compassion for anyone who routinely didn’t get enough sleep to function effectively. That meant there were a lot of research students in the lab I could sympathise with – most of them were researching frogs in the field into the wee hours of the morning.
Despite my most valiant attempts, I am now surrendering to the lab mum nickname. And judging by the recommendations made by AI, I have an awful lot to blog about. So, by way of introduction, I am Dr Alex Callen, mother of two, or mother of many, depending on whether I am wearing my personal or professional hat, it seems. My research interests are in habitat manipulations to allow biodiversity to persist in human landscapes given we have so few truly wild spaces left in Australia. I teach undergraduate students how to identify and conserve Australian native flora, and I am lucky to have a bunch of incredibly enthusiastic, talented and above all, committed research students who keep me grounded and remind me every day of the importance of our conservation science research through their energy and good humour. Research is a roller coaster ride. Stay tuned for the Chronicles of a Lab Mum.
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