u/Razkolnik_ova

I never truly understood what it actually means to be shared first author but placed in second place. Is there actually a difference between shared first and first and second author, if the order is pretty much still as if the first author were one?

I have just started my first postdoc where a couple of papers will likely have my PI as first first, and I will be co-first placed in second place. I am wondering about the value of these authorships. For context, the data are already there and I will be doing all the remaining work on the respective projects.

Thank you!

I will be heading to the area for the first time this weekend.

I was researching options for potential trail runs spanning easy, moderate, and difficult runs, but as a first-comer am struggling to find good routes that would be between around 12 and 16k in terms of distance, and not too far from Auberge de Jeunesse HI Chamonix as a starting point.

For harder ones, I thought about La Jonction and the 23k Mont Blanc route. We will be a mixed ability group though and I am having a harder time finding easier trails that would suit someone who can manage around 12-16 without too much elevation.

Can anyone recommend any slightly shorter routes they have done in the area with the GPX routes?

Thanks folks! :)

Thinking up to 25k.

Thank you :).

.. And how have you navigated the politics around that in case you were at a research group/lab where these were complicated.

Giving a 20-minute talk at an important consortium meeting this fall. I am reusing some of the slides from previous presentations made during my PhD but also adding new content.

Been literally working on it for 2 days now. Two full work days.

It's one of those days where I'm questioning if I'm slow or this is pretty normal, alongside my existence.

Fellow postdocs and more senior academics, how long does it take you to finish presentations these days?

I believe they are still among the best in Europe but, based on my first two payslips (I am a new postdoc at HUG) and looking at all the deductions and the high Impôt à la source, I still feel like the gross salary is super close to the minimum for the city.

What is your perception?

Fairly new to Geneva and really keen to explore trails in the area. I've already been to Chamonix and a few spots close to Lausanne but would love to hear from local and more experienced folk who've been here for longer (thinking 15 to 30k trails in terms of distance).

Thank you!

PS: Reachable by car is also fine but preference would be for train.

Thinking about trail runs (15 to 30k) that can be done in a day in relatively close proximity to Geneva by train (car is also possible).

What are your favourite ones? :)

My sibling and I will be visiting in September for work, but will have a few days off. We will be staying at the Banff International Hostel for the days before work and we'd like to explore some trails around. Sadly, neither of us drives. We do see there are plenty of options to hike around Banff even without a car but I'm wondering if anyone has got any recommendations specifically for people staying in this part of Banff, around the International hostel.

Thanks a lot in advance folks :)

I know HUG in particular is very much French speaking and dominated by French speakers, but it's still a hospital that employs international staff and researchers. As a new postdoc, I've been very surprised that each time a correspondence is kept in English because one or several parties don't speak French, everyone from the HUG keeps emailing back in French, completely ignoring the original email and thread of communication.

I've worked at other institutions where the local language was not English, but they'd always stick to English as the language of internal communication (as well as the language of research and science).

Why do you think that's the case? What has your experience been?

It is for a van shipment service.

Thanks folks!

Fellow postdocs in Geneva, how much are you able to save up roughly with your current lifestyle?

I am a first year postdoc, so still paid the lower end of the postdoc pay band. This is my first year living in Geneva and I will have significant expenses towards housing since the only place that responded to me positively, which I ended up getting, costs me 1900 CHF per month. Ideally, I would be paying around 1400 or so living by myself.

Based on my first salary and month here, I was still able to put a good amount of money away but cannot help it but think that my monthly housing expenses perhaps suit someone who makes closer to 120k per year better, and how I should try to find a cheaper place next year.

Fellow postdocs, if you don't mind sharing, how much are you able to save up per month/year living in Geneva with your usual spending?

I am a first year postdoc, so still paid the lower end of the postdoc pay band. This is my first year living in Geneva and I will have significant expenses towards housing since the only place that responded to me positively, which I ended up getting, costs me 1900 CHF per month. Ideally, I would be paying around 1400 or so living by myself.

Based on my first salary and month here, I was still able to put a good amount of money away but cannot help it but think that my monthly housing expenses perhaps suit someone who makes closer to 120k per year better, and how I should try to find a cheaper place next year.

Fellow postdocs, if you don't mind sharing, how much are you able to save up per month/year living in Geneva with your usual spending?

Really want to watch Scotland Morocco tonight and wondering if that pub might be a good bet!

Thank you!

Edit: show* in the title, was too late to correct.

Recently moved from the UK to Switzerland for my first postdoc and the ethics approval protocols and procedures here seem very, very rigorous and extensive.

Curious to hear from others!

Internationals in Geneva and people from abroad always talk about how Geneva is super expensive to live in, and how housing has become inaccessible and very pricey.

As a local, do you find your city expensive? How has it changed in the last couple of years?

Only been here for a couple weeks as a new postdoc and still gauging it all.

I am currently trying to find a shipping service that won't request the residence permit. Got a quote from Eurosender but they said they'd need my residence permit for customs. However, I still don't have it (B) and have no idea how long it's going to take before I do have it.

I am a EU national and was hoping that with a work contract, lease agreement, and proof of application for the permit, I should be able to order a shipment (I myself don't drive hence the need for a van service). However, if every company will require it, then I'm clearly lost, at least for the time being.

Have you been able to find a relatively affordable shipping company that didn't request your residence permit?

Thank you!

https://preview.redd.it/zt4y11mv7j6h1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=297ff21765563a87e594ba61cdb88dd607f8df54

New to the city. Cycled past the other day and curious to know the name. Wondering if it's acceptable to go to a place like that by oneself also, to grab a drink and just read my book. I am a newcomer so still finding my feet.

Thank you!

I genuinely don't want to be negative but: I moved to Geneva a few weeks ago to start a postdoc at HUG. I have been a bit shocked with how unfriendly people here seem to be so far. I already had a traumatising experience with my neighbour whom I said hello to politely, after which they cursed as to why I don't speak French and left.

At the hospital, my colleagues were also very dry and completely uninterested in getting to know me during the first lunch that I joined. I had never seen so many dead serious faces staring at me, with so little banter or friendliness to respond to. I have been part of numerous research groups over the years, this was truly something else. People were listening into my chat with the only person who dared talk to me - the only other non-Swiss person.

I honestly find people rude so far and it makes me wonder why the attitude seems to be a bit hostile.

Geneva locals, is that how people in Geneva are amongst each other as well? Why is the attitude towards people who don't speak French (yet) so negative? I mean, I am sorry but it is an international city. I get that locals are frustrated with that for their own reasons, but if the strategy is to take it out on friendly newcomers who don't speak the language yet, that's not great. But also, if one were to put themselves into my shoes, it's not easy for me either. I've moved here hoping to create a new life and be met with some empathy and openness as well.

I know my experience is anecdotal but I am starting to think about whether I should just accept that people in Geneva are like that. And I mean the French speakers. A bit more serious and to themselves, and not amused to have to speak English.

Internationals in Geneva, how has your experience been? But also, those of you who have had very positive experiences, please share them!

I have posted on this sub several times about related topics. I recently moved from the UK back to Europe to start my first postdoc. My field is clinical neurology. The group that I joined is new to me, I know the PI from before a little bit but am mostly getting to know them better now. They are a new PI, I am their first postdoc, and our team is fairly small.

The PI got a grant to establish a new cohort study with several partners across the world and recruitment will start in the fall. A lot of the outcome data will only be available at the 2-year follow-up, which is the timeline of the project (and objectives for that matter). Until then, data collection needs to be done, and all the work components included within the proposal have to be delivered on.

I am starting to realise that there will be many admin and project management tasks, which I will have to work on and deliver. I had a chat with the PI where I said it will be important for me to have some output too, as I don't want a big gap of no publications. I only started 2 weeks ago, so I was careful to not seem combative or unhappy already, but I basically wanted to make it clear that scientific output is important for me and I'd want to work towards 1st author papers in addition to all else.

However, seeing just how much work there is, and about to get even more in the fall after recruitment starts, and then knowing how long the processing of all data components will take, I am starting to worry a bit that many of my tasks might be to deliver towards the establishment of this new cohort study. It will be a valuable resource for the future, and the project is really interesting and I'm sure will grow on me even more, but I do have some concerns around the workload, messines due to the many moving parts and collaborators involved, inexperience of my PI as a new PI, and then desire to still be producing papers as I'd like to start applying for fellowships.

Also, as a separate issue, where I am currently, there is no formal recognition for any teaching and supervision that I will be doing ad hoc on the side. I worry that this might become a problem later on too, when I start applying for fellowships, especially should I decide to make a move again.

I know it's early days but do you feel I have reasons to worry? How would you navigate this new dynamic if you were in my place?

Any thoughts and advice much appreciated!