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Going to California   

Sean at 6:08 pm, April 6th, 2006

Some of you may know that I’ve been on the job market. The good news is that I’ve officially accepted a position at Caltech, starting in September. It’s a fantastic research environment, and they are building up in cosmology at the moment. Also I understand the weather is pretty nice, so I’m excited about the move.

The job itself requires a little explication: I’ll be a Senior Research Associate in Physics. According to Caltech’s classification system, this is a faculty job (”Caltech’s equivalent of a research full professor,” as they put it to me) but not actually a “professor” job. Basically I get to concentrate on doing research — no teaching required, although I’m allowed to volunteer — and can apply for grants and hire postdocs (and even serve on committees!) just like any other faculty member. The downside is that there is no tenure, although it’s not a term-limited job; I can in principle stay forever if the money holds out and they don’t want to fire me. In the meantime, I’ll have the freedom to work on some of the more ambitious cosmology ideas that have been percolating in the back of my mind for a while.

I have to express my gratitude to everyone who has been incredibly supportive during the entire process, from my close friends to strangers on the internet to famous scientists around the world to Marc Kamionkowski and the others who did such a good job recruiting me to Caltech. I’m sure I will miss Chicago at times, but the future looks really bright, and I can’t wait to get it started.

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68 Comments on “Going to California”   rss feed

  1. PK on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:18 pm

    Congratulations! I have had the pleasure of working at JPL in Pasadena for two years, and I’m sure you’ll like it there. (I certainly did; I met my wife there…)

  2. Moshe on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:23 pm

    Congratulation Sean, and welcome to the better coast.

  3. Clifford on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:24 pm

    Excellent! So now you’ve signed on the dotted line I can drop the fascade I’ve been maintaining about life in LA as a means of attracting you here, and go back to blogging about folding bikes, burritos, and misunderstandings of electricity in Australian newspapers.

    It’ll be such a relief.

    -cvj

  4. Clifford on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:25 pm

    Oh, and congratulations on making the right choice!

    -cvj

  5. Andre on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:35 pm

    Congratulations! That’s great to hear, although I was hoping things would work out at Penn since my plan was to finally learn GR. :)

  6. Scott H. on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:45 pm

    Hey Sean — glad to hear that you wound up somewhere you’re excited about! My years at Caltech were great ones, both in terms of science and lifestyle. I’ll envy you when I’m clearing snow out of my driveway here near Boston ….

  7. Dumb Biologist on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:45 pm

    Congrats! Sounds like a fantastic sort of position.

  8. Jennifer Ouellette on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:47 pm

    Almost no need for me to chime in here with congratulations, so instead I will simply say that I am seething with jealousy. :) Soon you’ll be awash in sunshine and fabulousness, at least when not unlocking the secrets of the universe…

  9. Anthony A. on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:49 pm

    Congratulations, Sean — I wondered which institution would be lucky enough to snag you!

    Sounds like a great opportunity and I look forward to having you closer by, and to seeing some of the percolating ideas come to life.

    Anthony

  10. Wolfgang on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:56 pm

    Congratulations!

    I read that Caltech just lost a cannon to MIT, but I guess this should not affect you.

  11. Eugene on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:21 pm

    Congratulations Sean! Go get em! In better weather to boot.

  12. Phil Plait, aka The Bad Astronomer on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:23 pm

    Hooray!

    Though SoCal is not maybe as nice as NorCal, but it’s fun down there too. :-)

  13. Samantha on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:24 pm

    FANTASTIC! It will be just great to have you in LA!

  14. Brunsli on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:29 pm

    Congratulations!!

    Excellent choice!

  15. Cynthia on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:30 pm

    As long as you are simply exiting Chicago, all is fine in the Universe. I wish you all the California happiness in the world.

  16. Abbas Raza on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:31 pm

    Warmest, heartiest congratulations, Sean!!! What wonderful news! As a young man it was my dream to attend Caltech, now shall I take vicarious pride in your teaching there. Best wishes from all of us at 3QD…

  17. hack on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:33 pm

    You will be about as far geographically from Lubos as you can be within the continental US. What could be better?

    And the fact that you won’t have tenure means your brain will not rot away for a while.

  18. A.J. on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:50 pm

    Congratulations Sean!

    I hope you won’t give up on teaching. Your lectures were always quite interesting!

  19. JoAnne on Apr 6th, 2006 at 7:57 pm

    Ah - it’s a Cosmic (Variance) alignment in California!

    Congratulations Sean and welcome to California! I’m glad it’s all settled and you can move on. Now you can shine even brighter and show Chicago what they are missing.

  20. jay on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:20 pm

    Now, it’s time for Risa and Mark to look for some places in California, making Cosmic Variance a lot less than the current value. Or, Clifford (or JoAnne) may move to the east coast to retain what we have for now. ;-)Congratulations, Sean!!! Hope you flourish there!

  21. Arun on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:28 pm

    Good for Caltech! Congratulations! The best, which was yet to come, is now a little closer!

  22. Mark on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:28 pm

    Congratulations Sean. Yes, you may miss Chicago at times, but it will miss you far more frequently.

  23. Athena on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:37 pm

    Congratulations! I’m very happy to hear the news. Mark is right, Chicago will be missing you.

  24. Plato on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:39 pm

    I wonder if you will be working with Kip Thorne? If he was borne 1940 that makes him 66. Do people of science actually retire?

    Getting paid to do something you love doing, is this not a reward for the culmination of the time and energy spent? :) Well done Sean.

  25. Tim D on Apr 6th, 2006 at 8:58 pm

    Congrats, Sean! Lucky for Caltech!

    I hope for the sake of the Caltech student-body that you don’t leave teaching behind for good. I guess they can always read the blog…

  26. Zeno on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:00 pm

    Congratulations! I spent two years at Caltech as an undergraduate (having transferred as a junior after two years at a community college) and it was an amazing place to be. You should be very happy there (and I’m glad they were smart enough to snatch you up).

  27. twaters on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:12 pm

    This is the shiznick, as I didn’t want to apply to Chicago! I have time to take one course at Caltech next semester through Oxy’s exchange program…please consider teaching GR at the level of your book. At the least, I’ll be looking for you so I can have a signed copy. You’re the man!

  28. Nicholas on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:14 pm

    Congratulations!!

    I cannot wait to see what is waiting to percolate up…

    NM

  29. Spatulated on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:14 pm

    KICK @SS! i dont know if this is considerd a family blog, and i usualy dont swear, but somethings are just to exciting to use words any less powerful.

  30. Hiranya on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

    Congratulations Sean! Chicago will certainly miss you…

  31. Elliot on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:41 pm

    Sean,

    Let me add my best wishes to you. You will now be that much closer to the movie capitol of the world ;) as well as some major league poker rooms.

    Sorry to see you leave Chicago however. Are you hanging here for the summer or headed out there soon?

    Regards,

    Elliot

  32. Matt B. on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:42 pm

    How exciting… this means more time for blogging… right?

    /selfish

  33. graviton383 on Apr 6th, 2006 at 9:56 pm

    That’s great news! Welcome to California where it’s always sunny and…let me stop right there. Chicago really seems to be screwed up.

  34. Dragan on Apr 6th, 2006 at 10:14 pm

    Congratulations Sean, that’s a big catch for Caltech and a loss
    for us in Chicago. We will miss you.

  35. eszter on Apr 6th, 2006 at 10:44 pm

    Congrats, this is wonderful news! A close friend from grad school is also just moving there, I’ll put you two in touch.

  36. Sam Gralla on Apr 6th, 2006 at 11:01 pm

    Congratulations, Sean. Caltech is a wonderful environment and you will love it. I also can’t wait for your new cosmological ideas.

    You will be dearly missed in Chicago!

    -Sam

  37. Robin on Apr 6th, 2006 at 11:01 pm

    My most sincere congratulations, Sean. Caltech is lucky.

  38. as on Apr 7th, 2006 at 12:37 am

    Congrats and goodluck.

  39. Abi on Apr 7th, 2006 at 1:52 am

    Congratulations, Sean! Thanks for sharing this (long-awaited) news with your readers. I wish you all the best.

  40. Garrett on Apr 7th, 2006 at 3:22 am

    Right on!

    Consider joining Hike the Geek — a Sunday morning hiking group chock full of atheists from the LA area. Good people. Good food after the hikes too.

  41. Chaz on Apr 7th, 2006 at 8:29 am

    Nice! Sorry to see you go.

  42. Nick Halmagyi on Apr 7th, 2006 at 8:44 am

    right on dude! you’ll be totally needing this

    http://www.surfline.com/surfline/livecams/report.cfm?alias=malibucam

    this

    http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav.jsp?region=SD&program=Maps

    and this

    http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?catid=295

    No seriously, congratulations, glad things worked out

    nick

  43. Urbano on Apr 7th, 2006 at 8:55 am

    Congratulations for your new position :-)!

  44. Aaron Bergman on Apr 7th, 2006 at 9:06 am

    Congrats

  45. Belizean on Apr 7th, 2006 at 9:44 am

    Congratulations! Best of luck at my alma mater. Now CV will have the right balance — 60% California bloggers.

  46. weichi on Apr 7th, 2006 at 10:00 am

    I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
    on a bed of california stars

  47. Asher on Apr 7th, 2006 at 10:29 am

    Congratulations and good luck!

    I hope you do continue to teach, at least sometimes, as your class was one of the best-taught of my undergraduate career.

  48. citrine on Apr 7th, 2006 at 10:41 am

    Sean, sounds like you have the best of many worlds.

    Congratulations and keep us informed of your change of State!!

  49. Maire on Apr 7th, 2006 at 10:59 am

    Congrats, Sean! You’ll love Pasadena; they’re lucky to have you!

  50. Steinn Sigurdsson on Apr 7th, 2006 at 11:14 am

    You are mistaken, the weather sucks.
    Hot and sunny all the time, except when it is warm and sunny.
    It Never Snows!

    Otherwise, not a bad place scientifically…

  51. Jeff on Apr 7th, 2006 at 12:54 pm

    Congratulations Sean. I’m a JPLer (and hence, associated with Caltech), and really love it out here. I recently met Clifford and it’s good to add more CVers out here!

  52. Aaron on Apr 7th, 2006 at 1:18 pm

    Congrats!!! :)

    <phantom-planet>
    californiaaaaaaaaaa,
    californiaaaaaaaaaa,
    here we cooooooooooooooooome!
    </phantom-planet>

  53. wamba on Apr 7th, 2006 at 2:09 pm

    Also I understand the weather is pretty nice, so I’m excited about the move.

    Weather? What weather? As an added bonus, you can see the air you’re breathing.

  54. ed hessler on Apr 7th, 2006 at 2:18 pm

    What great news.

    Congratulations and may the wind be at your back.

    Cheers.

  55. Sean on Apr 7th, 2006 at 2:59 pm

    Thanks, everybody! I am looking forward to sunshine and fabulousness while unlocking the secrets of the universe.

  56. spyder on Apr 7th, 2006 at 4:54 pm

    Congrats and wow. Both you and Caltech are blessed by this.

  57. CapitalistImperialistPig on Apr 7th, 2006 at 7:14 pm

    Fired by hell and sent to heaven as punishment. No doubt due to your strong religious beliefs.

    Congratulations!

    And do teach - they could use some teachers!

  58. CanuckRob on Apr 8th, 2006 at 3:46 pm

    Congratualtions, the new position sounds wonderful and I amsure you will find the weather more to your (or any humans)liking.

  59. AndyS on Apr 8th, 2006 at 6:39 pm

    Apparently they don’t mind your blogging!

  60. Gordon Watts on Apr 9th, 2006 at 4:52 am

    Sean! That is fantastic! Congrats! And good luck. It may be diffrent out there, but I definately missed Chicago when I left (but I get to go back every few weeks, so that has helped!).

  61. Armi on Apr 10th, 2006 at 1:55 am

    Welcome to Caltech. We’ll be glad to have you here.

  62. Caolionn on Apr 10th, 2006 at 11:29 am

    Congrats and welcome to the party!

  63. bitchphd on Apr 10th, 2006 at 12:06 pm

    Congratulations!!!!

    We will have to meet up for lunch sometimes. It’s nice to know there’ll be someone I know around.

  64. Risa on Apr 10th, 2006 at 9:55 pm

    Many congrats, Sean. Caltech will never be the same… and Chicago (the city, the institution, the department) will be much the worse without you. So glad I won’t be sticking around to see the decline! (to those few fans I have left after months of not blogging who are waiting to hear where I’m going… just a bit longer, and all will be revealed)

  65. Cheryl on Apr 11th, 2006 at 9:00 am

    Congrats, Sean! As others have said, what is Chicago’s loss is CalTech’s gain (and yours). Jeff & I will have to catch up with you before you leave Chicago.

    Watch out, SoCal, Sean’s back!

  66. chimpanzee on Apr 13th, 2006 at 10:31 am

    “May your travels be prosperous”

  67. Pingback from The Westward Shift of Cosmic Variance | Cosmic Variance on Jun 29th, 2006 at 10:11 am

    [...] It is rather too bad that Cosmic Variance will be losing its carefully-planned geographic diversity, and will soon be 80 percent Californian… but then again, Sean and I will both be trading wind and winter for ocean and sunshine, so it’s not really too bad for us. [...]

  68. Pingback from Vacation | Cosmic Variance on Aug 9th, 2006 at 4:29 pm

    [...] After nearly two and a half years of practically non-stop blogging (with a nap here and there, I admit), it’s time for me to take a short break and leave CV in the capable hands of my co-bloggers for a bit. I need to focus on some other things for the next month or so, like moving to Los Angeles. A scary prospect, to be sure, but don’t worry about me. Despite the impression that the satellite view from Google Maps might give you, the 777 Tower is not about to topple over and collapse onto Figueroa Street, reducing my new neighborhood to rubble. [...]



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