Prof Graham Edgar
The adage that one’s journey through life is never straight was exemplified by our panellists’ routes from their doctorates to their current positions. Dr. Edgar was quick to volunteer that he has never had a permanent job, rather bouncing between fellowships and contract positions. This path was not without its downsides including a lack of job security; however, he enjoys the freedom it allows to shift between different interesting ideas. Dr. Dornelas’s career has also followed a winding path including a series of postdocs, a child, and multiple moves before her position at the University of St. Andrews. Dr. Yasuhara moved to the U.S. from Japan as a postdoc before moving back to East Asia to take up his current position in Hong Kong. This multi-national journey was shared by Dr. van Oppen who moved between the Netherlands, England, and Australia for various opportunities before ultimately negotiating her current Australian position.