WISE sponsors Parenting in the Academy panel

An audience of about 60 graduate students and post doctorial research fellows attended this year's Parenting in the Academy panel, an annual WISE event.

Panelists included Ashley Brant, a second-year PhD student in chemistry, Trachette Jackson, Professor of Mathematics, Laura Nejedlik, a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine - Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Lin Van Nieuwstadt, a fourth-year PhD student in electrical engineering, Stephanie Preston, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Erin Purcell, a post-doctoral research fellow in biomedical engineering, and Rosalynn Quiñones, a post-doctoral research fellow in chemistry.

The seven panelists ranged from a 2nd year PhD student who unexpectedly became pregnant as a first year graduate student, to a full professor who had one child as a post doc and another child before earning tenure.

"No one will ever want you to have a baby," started one panelist. "Your PhD advisor won't want you to have one. Your post doc advisor won't want you to have. Your department chair won't want you to have one. No one will say, 'Now, is the best time for you to have a baby.'" Panelists agreed that parenting should come when you're ready for it.

Nevertheless, panelists cautioned that graduate study is stressful, parenting is stressful, and the two combined is a very stressful situation. Take steps to make sure your mental health is intact. Ask for teaching reduction. Plan, even if you're not a planner by nature. And, of course, plan with your spouse or partner.

One panelist also expressed anxiety surrounding incomplete work and her desire to see projects through. Another took a year off, but asked if she could grade for advisor, make up lesson plans, and edit articles. She makes it to group meetings with baby in tow.

Another panelist stated that she keep her priorities very clear. Her first priority is her marriage, followed closely by her children. Third is everyone else, including her PhD work. She has two passions, her family and electrical engineering. Her fellowship allows her to spend more time out of the lab, and yet she is very productive and publishes papers.

Of course it's not all bad, panelists shared; one found having children very motivating. She was very focused at work. Her partner is also a faculty member who understands pressures, which are many and varied. One panelist thought things would ease up once she got tenure, but her plate is fuller than it ever was. "The work never stops."

Another panelist had a baby while a grad student. Her son was born a week early; he was born on a Sunday and she was in the lab on Friday to finish her experiments. She also took him to the lab and to lectures: "If you don't teach, you don't get paid."

Through their experiences, the panelists have gained a lot of insight, including the importance of having a sense of humor, keeping perspective, and having a great support network. On the practical side of things, it's important to inform advisors or supervisors of the pregnancy early on. It's important to lay out plan of how the work will get done - that is an advisor's or supervisor's biggest concern. You also have to be proactive about legal rights, like exercising the provisions of the Family Leave Act.

Full professors have the option of stopping the tenure clock, but the panelist in this situation, who finds herself in a male dominated field, chose not to. She felt others would think it is not what a serious mathematician would do, and also was motivated to focus and be very efficient when she had children.

February 2009 eNews

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