Recent literature on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected scientists has highlighted three categories of scientists whose careers have been most negatively impacted: women, bench scientists, and those with young children.  As a member of all three groups, reading these reports fills me with a simultaneous sense of frustration and relief, since managing my career through a global pandemic has been one of the most mentally challenging things I have done.  The head-on collision of family and professional responsibilities as childcare and schools were shut down, and the continuing uncertainties of variable remote schooling schedules and increased professional responsibilities, especially for teaching and service, make time management and flexibility vital tools for success.  Understanding and communicating my and others’ responsibilities and perspectives has allowed me to show compassion for the struggles that my colleagues and students are experiencing and to directly address topics such as mental health and managing expectations.  Effects of this pandemic on scientific careers will resonate for many years, highlighting the need for continued perspective-taking and communication across boundaries such as age, job type, career stage, and professional responsibilities to ensure the success of those impacted most.

Professional effects of a global pandemic: The importance of perspective taking and communication

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.