u/Hateorade_

I’m freaking out right now. Im a research coordinator and I had sent out a request to obtain a blood spot card from a state department. I was told that even after providing a form signed by our IRB for its study release, I had to obtain an authorization from the parents. I told my supervisor this, and she said to put the state blood spot card on our study authorization form.

This is where I screwed up big time. I printed out our existing study authorization form (which has been signed by the parents and notarized) and wrote out the state blood spot card after biospecimens, copied it, and sent it to the state to obtain the blood spot card.

Afterwards, I let my boss know and she said that this was considered fraud and it is illegal. I don’t know what possessed me to think this was the right thing to do, but I’m freaking out right now and I really think I’m going to get fired tomorrow. I have since emailed the state department to shred the existing request, and they did so. I will be obtaining the updated authorization the correct way by going through the parents.

I’m freaking out. Absolutely freaking out. I absolutely give permission to be let go.

Hi everyone!

I was blessed to go to Oahu as my first solo trip in April, and had such an amazing time.

Next summer, I would love to travel to Maui. Any recommendations on hotels and things to do/places to eat? I love being on the beach, to hike, food, doing not so touristy things. I appreciate all your advice, as well as what to stay away from!

Need advice on if I should be doing more at my age, as I am hoping to be financially secure when I am older.

I currently make 69k a year (take home pay is 1890) and am trying to find a better paying job.

This is what I have so far:

-$8917 in job's 403b with 4% taken from my paycheck/employer contributions, employer contributes 6%

-$4822 in ROTH IRA ( I try to make contributions every month but tend to prioritize my student loan payments). I try to put 500 a month towards this.

-$6416 in high yield savings account at 3% APY (am shopping around to see if there are any HYSA's with a higher APY). I try to put 500 a month towards this.

Things holding me back:

-69k in student loans, I have been doing the debt snowball tactic where I am trying my hardest to pay down the cheaper loans and making my way towards the bigger ones. On an income driven plan too.

-Combined 5k in credit card debt (I have two credit cards), typically pay about 600.00 a month.

Is there anymore that I should be doing?

Edit: to include 403b contributions from me and employer

I am approaching two years as a research coordinator (verbal commitment of two years) and will be ending in August. I don’t want to stay a day more, because I truly just don’t like coordination. Last year, the data associate that was working with us got “terminated” due to lack of funding so it’s been just me. It has been so stressful, I wake up every single day with stomach pain, and I truly don’t know the difference between making a mistake or being held at gun point. I do majority administrative work, and for the past month I’ve been constantly dealing with FedEx and their bs.

I’ve come to realize that I truly enjoy being behind the lab bench, and have been looking at assistant research scientist jobs (I have a masters with 3 years lab bench work, and a first author publication), hoping to get somewhere. I have also been applying internally too.

My question is, when is it the right time to put in my two weeks? It is just me and my boss, and I truly don’t know when the right time is or to even mention that I’m looking for jobs at the moment. Any advice will be more than appreciated.