Interview tip

If you expect inclement weather, bring an extra pair of socks.

This morning, I had a job with with Cell, which is located in the same building as Virtual Text (two floors above, to be exact). It was such a pleasure to walk to the bus, take the bus to Cambridge, and walk among the Harvard dorms - all while practicing my music for Gospel Night. Infinitely better than getting stuck in traffic in a car. However, I got caught in a torrential downpour - my umbrella did not keep my shoes and pants. Since I was super early, I stopped in at a "cafe" (Au Bon Pain) to warm up with some tea and insert a paper napkin in between my feet and socks (thank goodness they weren't cotton!).

The interview went well - at least according to my friend Ilana, with whom I had lunch after the interview. Time flew by, and I don't remember being asked that many questions. I probably talked a lot (Ilana feigned suprise at this), but I think I was just better prepared for this meeting than I was for the phone interview. The result of "studying" the other top biology journals (Nature and Science - plus PLoS which I got a number of tips from) over the hot and humid weekend (without AC!).

The "informal meeting" was an odd mixture of an interview and a social occassion because I was already acquainted with a number of people there. During a roundtable discussion with the scientific editors, one of them said her first vision of me was of me partying and dancing with Igor at the MIT Biology retreat! I replied that having a baby dampens that.