Jennifer M Heemstra

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Emory University

BS (Chemistry); PhD (Chemistry); Associate Professor of Chemistry, Emory University

Forum Engagements

Career choices and motivation: Why am I here and not elsewhere?

I started writing this story because I wanted to think about why I’m in this career and not a different one. I read an interesting article written by a personal trainer last year, in which he described the first conversation they have with potential clients who are thinking of signing up for coaching, i.e. why do you want to do this? I applied this to myself and tried to answer why I chose the career that I did, and what motivates me through the tough days.

Jennifer M Heemstra
Apr 25, 2019

How I learned to let go of career barriers and burdens

In our careers, we often carry around burdens that slow us down, but we keep carrying them because they’re not quite heavy enough to get our attention. And, one of the best things that can happen is when the burden gets big enough to make us realize that we need to let it go.

Jennifer M Heemstra
Apr 25, 2019

My colleagues often say, “Tenure is no big deal.” I respectfully disagree.

I've had several people tell me that "tenure is no big deal," both pre- and post-tenure. I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree. I know that tenure is not some magical pass to stop working and spend every day rock climbing. But, that doesn't mean that it's not a game-changer in many other ways. From my viewpoint, tenure changes everything!

Jennifer M Heemstra
Apr 19, 2019

Academic career barriers: Dismantling the brick wall of self-doubt

When people asked me about my career goals, I would lie and say “I don’t know.” But that wasn’t my story. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I desperately wanted to be a professor at a major research university, but I couldn’t bring myself to say this because I was convinced that my goal was completely unattainable.

Jennifer M Heemstra
Feb 4, 2019

Jennifer M Heemstra

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Emory University

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Career choices and motivation: Why am I here and not elsewhere?

How I learned to let go of career barriers and burdens

My colleagues often say, “Tenure is no big deal.” I respectfully disagree.

Academic career barriers: Dismantling the brick wall of self-doubt

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Jennifer M Heemstra

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Emory University

Bio

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