I am in my dream lab and working on a project that has basically been my baby for 3 years. I am dedicated to seeing it through and am confident it can be a CNS paper.
However, I just found out that my funding has been cut due to the ongoing NIH cuts. I will be unemployed very soon but I do not want to find some temp teaching job to cover while I look for something more permanent.
The only option I see that makes sense is literally going on unemployment to finish my projects. These projects have the potential to massively boost my career and throwing them away will be years of work gone to waste. Also, working part time will be similar to taking unemployment. Curious to see what others think.
Comments
Keep in mind that any part-time work might be counted against what you would receive for unemployment.
It’s a good idea! I did something similar and it worked out for me.
Not sure what state you’re in, but you should definitely check with the unemployment office before you do this.
Each week I filed an unemployment claim, I had to certify that I was ‘available and willing to work’. Even though you aren’t getting paid for it, continuing to fulfill the duties of your previous job might invalidate your eligibility for benefits.
It seems Illogical. Do you have a deadline or a plan? Or a contingency? Rather than indefinitely being in this situation. An ending?
I don’t know where you are but where I am you have to be looking for work, and available and willing to work, in order to collect unemployment. If your employment ends you have the right to apply for unemployment, but you’ll have to convince them that doing a PhD doesn’t interfere with your work availability.
I’d say do it. The federal gov is fucking science in this country, the least it can do is pay you unemployment while you wrap things up. Be discreet obviously.
Good luck op.
Do you not need to be formally affiliated with the university to conduct research on campus?
This is pretty much what every doctoral candidate does in France. You get funding for 3 years, but you’re expected to work on your dissertation for 4 years at least, so a lot of people apply to unemployment and use it to finish their dissertation while they look for postdocs. Legally, it’s a grey area, at least in France. The ethics are for you to figure out.