When putting these sorts of extra-curricular interests on application forms, I've always been told that it's wise to give real examples, rather than just listing generic pass times. For example, what type of reading do you do, are there particular areas of art that you're interested in, what forms of theatre do you enjoy? By fleshing it out a bit (even just a sentence or two) can make it reflect you more, so it doesn't sound like you're just putting down things that you think look good on a form (which people do, and those looking at the app forms are aware of).

Hi Betty,
I don't think insomnia is an uncommon side effect to a PhD! I suffer from it when I'm going through particulary stressful times (when is it not stressful doing a PhD though, eh?!). A few sleeping tablets to help get you back into a sleep routine is helpful(but obviously, not too often!), and if you feel you can give yourself the time, take a day off to do something completely unrelated to your work. I go shopping, for lunch with non-work related friends, or out for a few drinks, anything to make me feel "normal" again. It's too easy to get caught up in the stress of a PhD and even just a day away from it can really help. Hope you feel better soon.

With all the time I spend hunched over my bench in the lab, and then over my desk and computer, I've had some awful problems with my neck and back. The osteopath I saw suggested stretching frequently as well as trying to maintain good posture and take breaks etc.

I've found that if I take a couple of minutes every hour or so to stretch my neck and shoulder muscles amd move around a bit it really helps.

Hey sjo4,

Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it. It will be next year I start applying for jobs, but if you're still about I'll put a post up.

Thanks
A

Hey sjo4,

Thanks for the info, it's very encouraging to hear. It's definitely the experience not the money I'm after, otherwise I wouldn't be wanting to work in science or universities!

Do I find a job somewhere and then worry about a visa, or does getting a visa sorted first make it easier to get a job? I've noticed in some job adverts that the right to work in the USA is one of the requirements.

I'm glad to hear that spouses can come too...I'm sure you'll be glad your wife is there with you once you're there!

Thanks
Amy

Hi jouri,

Thanks for your reply, I thought that would be the case. I'm British, so I don't know whether that makes any difference to the green card thing? Does anyone know if getting a job means the employer can sponsor the applicant making the immigration less of a problem?

Perhaps it's worth contacting the human resources dept at a uni I'm interested in to see what their policy is.

Hi,

I'm in my second year of my PhD in Biochemistry and starting to think about what I want to do when I finish. I'd really like to get a postdoc position, and I'd also like to spend some time working in America. Does anyone know if it's possible to get a postdoc position in America with a UK PhD (I know the American PhDs are much longer than the UK ones) and whether the competition is too high to make this likely?

Also, for UK post doc vacancies there are websites like findapostdoc.com and jobs.ac.uk. but these don't really have jobs in the US, does anyone know of any similar websites listing vacancies in the US?

Thanks

Hi, my experience is a bit out of date as I got my mortgage in Dec 06, but that was on my stipend and my boyfriend's salary. As long as I had written proof of a guaranteed income for a fixed period of time from the university or research council, the mortgage company were happy to treat it like a fixed contract in a normal job.
As you say, it may be different now with all that's going on with mortgage companies, but it must be worth a chat with a mortgage advisor.