Ryan Bodenstein is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Physics Department at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on the development and design of future linear colliders based at CERN in Geneva and KEK in Japan. Previous to this position, he was a Research Fellow at the Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP); part of the Institute for Basic Science based in Daejeon, South Korea. He did his PhD at the University of Virginia while based at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Virginia, USA.
In 2015, after working for nearly two years in Daejeon, South Korea, I sought work elsewhere. In
response to my application, a group in the University of Oxford Physics Department asked me to
interview. In order to prepare for my interview, I researched the group’s publications, as well as
their current and former members. I noticed that one of the former members attended a university
which several of my Korean team members also attended, so I asked my team members if they knew her. It turns out, they did, and she was now working for the same institution where I worked, but in a different sub-organization.
In order to have a better idea of the group with which I was interviewing, I decided to contact her
with the help of my colleagues. We spoke on the phone for a short time, and I described my situation.
She gave me some basic advice which helped for the interview. We also agreed to meet up if I
received an offer so that we could further elaborate on the details of the group and position.
With my experience (and recalling her advice during my interview), I was offered a position. Before I decided to accept the position, I met with their former group member one more time so that I could gain further knowledge as to the nature of the group. She told me both the good and the bad parts of the group, and with that, I made an informed decision when I decided to accept the position.
If you have a networking story to share, please send it to archerengcon@gmail.com.
In 2015, after working for nearly two years in Daejeon, South Korea, I sought work elsewhere. In
response to my application, a group in the University of Oxford Physics Department asked me to
interview. In order to prepare for my interview, I researched the group’s publications, as well as
their current and former members. I noticed that one of the former members attended a university
which several of my Korean team members also attended, so I asked my team members if they knew her. It turns out, they did, and she was now working for the same institution where I worked, but in a different sub-organization.
In order to have a better idea of the group with which I was interviewing, I decided to contact her
with the help of my colleagues. We spoke on the phone for a short time, and I described my situation.
She gave me some basic advice which helped for the interview. We also agreed to meet up if I
received an offer so that we could further elaborate on the details of the group and position.
With my experience (and recalling her advice during my interview), I was offered a position. Before I decided to accept the position, I met with their former group member one more time so that I could gain further knowledge as to the nature of the group. She told me both the good and the bad parts of the group, and with that, I made an informed decision when I decided to accept the position.
If you have a networking story to share, please send it to archerengcon@gmail.com.
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