My postdoctoral experience is about to come to an end. After an intense half-year of interviews and negotiations, I have accepted a position as an assistant professor back home in the United States. I'm glad that all the travelling, seminar preparations and in-depth scientific conversations have paid off. But I loathe transitions: research growing pains can be painful. Settling into my postdoc three years ago took time and effort, not only because of the culture shock of being in Israel, but because my new direction, studying the effects of genes on an entire plant, required a rewiring in the way I approach science.

Now I must rewire again. I will be managing a lab, doing less hands-on work. Some say that the postdoc is the best time of a scientist's career. I can see why: there is freedom of research without the stresses of grant writing; mentoring is more fun and less business; there's less politics and bureaucracy.

Is it all downhill from here? How high will the stress level climb now that I am responsible for grant writing, teaching, thesis committees, extensive mentoring and striving for the long-term goal of tenure? I'm trying not to obsess too much about these issues, because I fear it may prevent me from making that first step onto the plane back home. But the reality is that I am excited in so many ways, and this new energy has already started to dull the pain of the transition.