How have you been since your last post in The Female Scientist in 2021?

Life has been eventful since my last post. Briefly, personally, I became a parent, which has been a transformative experience, reshaping my perspective on both life and science. Professionally, I reached a milestone by completing the mid-term assessment of my tenure-track position. It was a moment to reflect on my progress so far in Norway and reaffirm my career goals for the future.

However, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges (as always!). After last year’s mid-term seminar, toward the end of the year, I experienced burnout. I couldn’t attend work regularly and had to take sick leave, spending much of the time simply sleeping. This forced me to reevaluate how I balance my responsibilities. Through rest, reflection, and building better habits — such as proactively caring for my mental health, maintaining clear boundaries, and prioritizing rest—I am learning learned how to navigate both my personal and professional roles more sustainably.

How has becoming a parent influenced your perspective as a scientist?

Becoming a parent has added a new dimension to my curiosity about human development. Observing how my child interprets the world and grows closely, every day, has given me a more personal appreciation for the complexity of life. At the same time, it has deepened my awareness of how important it is to create a nurturing environment—both for my child and for diverse students and colleagues I work with.

How do you manage the uncertainties and challenges of research?

Research is inherently uncertain, and I’ve learned to embrace that as part of the process. So far, I often found myself overly focused on each individual setback, such as a rejected paper or an unselected project. Now, I’ve just begun creating annual plans for my research to maintain a long-term perspective. I hope these plans help me stay focused on bigger goals and view each challenge as a stepping stone rather than a barrier.

You mentioned experiencing burnout. How have you recovered, and what changes have you made to prevent it in the future?

Recovery has been an ongoing process. I am trying to make small, sustainable changes to my daily routine. One of the most important shifts is to catch the early signs of exhaustion and act on them before they escalate, taking forced breaks, for example. I’ve realized that things will work out even if I rest, and if I let it get worse, recovery takes much, much longer. I’ve also started exercising to improve my overall stamina.

I’ve also learning how to set boundaries in both my personal and professional life. This is very challenging for me, but I’m experimenting with different methods—right now, I’ve put a daily checklist on the wall. Additionally, when unexpected situations arise and I feel overwhelmed, I often rely on ChatGPT as a conversation partner. I hope these changes will help me maintain balance and focus on what truly matters.

What are your goals for the next few years, both personally and professionally?

Professionally, I want to publish the results of the project that will conclude this year as a series of papers. I’m also committed to mentoring students effectively. It was incredibly rewarding to see a capable and friendly postdoc from South Korea, who worked with me, transition back to Korea and secure an assistant professor position. I hope we will continue collaborating.

In 2021, I was fortunate to secure major grant funding for my current project, which has been a cornerstone of my research. However, I’ve come to realize how challenging it is to consistently secure grants in such a competitive environment. My goal is to refine and strengthen research proposals to maintain my group. Over the past few years, due to health challenges, I haven’t been able to attend as many in-person meetings or seminars as I would like. I hope to reconnect with researchers and engage more actively in physical events again. Personally, my focus is on creating a nurturing environment for my family while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.  I also want to continue learning, growing, and making meaningful contributions to both my field and my community.