OK, so an hour before Pennsylvania polls close might not be the best time to post this, but it is important to me and every person helps.
I am a post-doc. I received my degree in Genetics in 2006 and am now working at Harvard University. I have published roughly 30 peer-reviewed scholarly articles. My work has been in the journals Science and Nature and has been written up in the New York Times, Washington Post, and probably in your local paper via the Associated Press. I've received several awards and been asked to present at multiple national meetings. By all accounts I am an extremely successful young scientist. My career just about could not be going any better. And yet, like this diarist, I am likely going to be looking for a new job soon. One out of academia and the basic research that I love... Selling out to a big pharma company.
The reason why is simple. My employers, the American people, are not paying me very well and I can't afford to continue my work. I love my job and I know everyone's hurting. This is what we get when cut taxes for the rich and spend all of our money on militarism.