Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year arrive in rapid succession during what is undoubtedly my favourite time of the year. I often reflect and appreciate the opportunities I've been given, while looking ahead to what the next year holds. Yet the end of this year is different. I stand at a pivotal point in my career.

I've had a good year professionally. I had a presentation at a national meeting in New Orleans in April. Later, I wrote a review article about gene transcription, was second author on a submitted manuscript and I'm currently preparing another manuscript. All of this took place in a fun, stimulating lab environment. My adviser has taught me how to wear the many hats of science, from public speaker to writer to manager. I've marvelled at his enthusiasm for unearthing the secrets buried in the depths of the molecular biology of the cell.

Just a year ago, as a newly minted postdoc, I faced that well-known dilemma: academia or industry? And although I had some time before I had to decide, I wanted to take steps towards one path or the other. At conferences in New Orleans and Cold Spring Harbor, New York, I made contacts that may open up future academic opportunities. I also attended career-development workshops on the biotechnology industry and military science. Both had their upside, I found. Yet, the proverbial fork in the road still lies before me.

On the one hand, academia offers more flexibility to pursue nearly any research subject. But garnering financial support for biomedical research from the US National Institutes of Health is more challenging than ever. And with the US economy reeling, job opportunities in industry are meagre — even if I landed an industry job, how secure would it be?

I like the focus on applied research in industry, the access to cutting-edge technology and the team environment that industry fosters. And academia would require more time: to be competitive for a tenure-track academic position I would need at least 3–4 years at another postdoc position. Even then, working towards tenure would take another 5–6 years. It would be nearly 10 years before I had a stable job in academia.

Taking family concerns and these pros and cons into account, I am leaning towards industry. In 2010 I'll start my search for a position in the biotech sector or perhaps in government research. I dread the thought of leaving my current postdoc position. I don't like changing jobs, as I often form strong loyalties to my employers even when moving on makes sense.

Still, although my job position will change in the coming years, I expect that my passion for science will not. After all, I've had it for most of my life. And perhaps I'll find new reasons to exalt in my work, even as I look towards a new career horizon.