By the way..I have a job!

I received an email today from a family member, which reminded me that I have never posted the outcome of my crazy year on the faculty candidate circuit.  After many ups and downs in the process of applying for faculty positions and interviewing, I have accepted a job at Washington University in St. Louis.  I could not be happier with my decision and the outcome.  I was struck by the openness of the department, the top-notch science, and a very family-friendly attitude.  During the process, at a particularly low point, my mother pointed out that sometimes things work out the way they're supposed to, even if it wasn't how we envisioned it.  So although we won't be moving closer to family as we had hoped, I think that John and I feel very comfortable that St. Louis is a place we can call home.  My feelings have only been reconfirmed since I have communicated to my future chair and colleagues that we'll be the lucky recipients of twins just before I start there as a junior faculty member!  I cannot begin to describe how wonderfully supportive the department has been.

In short, John and I think that we can move to St. Louis in March, if all things go well with the birth, I will begin my position in April!  I am really looking forward to this next step in my career, although wrapping up the current step is sometimes daunting and especially now that there is a hard-stop sometime in December/January.  I am trying to enjoy the relatively little responsibility I have now before I shoulder the burden of a new lab and teaching responsibilities.