Anne Birkeholm Jensen: “I should have said yes to that stay in Kenya, but I don’t have any regrets.”

“My family life often hampers my working life. And vice versa. Not in a big way but in small, every day ways. Research life is demanding. It’s con amore work that you really want to put all your time and effort into. My research takes up so much of my life, even outside working hours, in a way that being a dentist in private practice never did. I feel like it’s hard to find enough time, especially because I have three young children. It rankles a bit every day but my private life always wins.

My husband is far more tolerant than I was during his PhD It makes a difference that he knows the demands placed on early-career researchers and understands my situation and my priorities. I’m also surrounded by many female role models at the department. Women who are both researchers and managers, and who make me see that it’s possible to have a career and a family at the same time. Role models make a difference.

Accepting a research stay abroad would probably have looked good on my CV. But I don’t regret declining a project in Kenya. I was in the early stages of pregnancy, and it just didn’t fit into our family life at the time. A longer study abroad period still isn’t on the table because now we have two school-aged children.

I collaborate with many international researchers every week, even though I'm in Aarhus. A stay abroad is a road block for many early career researchers, and I would like to see other forms of international research collaboration on the CV be acknowledged just as much when permanent positions need to be filled. There’s no doubt that I’m focused on a career in research. Competences and quality rather than quantitative goals.

I’m practicing saying no. I can see that other people get away with using that word. I don’t have to skip a day working from home for a not-so-important meeting or to take on extra teaching. Saying no will probably also give me more time for research, which is often pushed aside because teaching always has a deadline. But I do like teaching and I wouldn't want to do without it. It’s all about balance.

I’ve discovered a life hack that has improved our everyday life. Every Thursday evening I make a meal plan for the week and order all groceries online, so they are ready to be picked up on Friday afternoon. This also means I have to leave on time one day a week.