Setting the sails to the wind

A couple days ago, I wrote of the winds of change. This morning, I wrote up an "initial contact" email to the director of the corporate research lab I found over the weekend. I did a bit more web research regarding the field and job opportunities. Of course, it's not like I wasn't aware of the technologies. They're being developed, sure. They've been in development for a long time. And frankly, I don't fit quite it would seem, since the areas I'm most interested are not really focused on. And what's more, I'm coming at this from a rather different angle, with markedly different training and background. But then, hey, isn't that the point? That I might have something to contribute that's unique, different.

I sent the email, with my resume, and a description of my [Longitudinal Project] which in my mind has a lot to do with my interest in getting involved with this field of research. This is the real-world practical application of my research. I just hadn't really thought of it as a career path before. But, hey, why not? I mean, my hope is not simply to wallow away in a classroom somewhere, talking about irrelevancies.

I would be quite willing to take even an entry-level position working in this area of research, as long as I could get corporate support for continued training in whatever areas I might need to develop additional skills. From what I can tell, an entry-level corporate job would be comparable in pay and benefits to what I might likely expect in most entry-level assistant professor posts. This may just be a direction I'd prefer to head. Can't quite say yet.

Meantime, I will still be sending out more applications for faculty posts, and inquiries for adjuncting. But the Rocket Scientist and I are coming closer to understanding our hopes and dreams, where we might like to live, what sort of work environments we would ideally seek. A house, some land, a garden, meaningful work that contributes positively to society, appreciation, and little or no commute! We're setting up targets. Now, to develop those archery skills.