I thought science hinged on prestige. Moving abroad made me reassess my priorities

From ScienceMag:

I still remember the first morning I biked to university in Copenhagen, the February air reddening my cheeks. I was thrilled to be on an exchange semester overseas, but I saw it as just a detour from my imagined career path. I didn’t realize I was already pedaling toward a different life—one that would make me reassess how to achieve a fulfilling research career.

I grew up in the United States with a clear sense of what a “successful” science career should look like. I might not have admitted it openly, but I believed that the right pedigree—a well-known university, a prestigious Ph.D. program, a respected adviser—was what determined whether someone would be taken seriously as a scientist.

But everything changed during my time as an undergraduate in Denmark. Here, I fell in love. First with the country. The cobbled streets. The bike lanes. The quiet confidence of a society that seemed to trust its institutions. Later, with a man I met by chance—who will soon be my husband. A Fulbright grant allowed me to return to Denmark after my exchange. The official goal was to broaden my academic horizons and learn new scientific skills. But unofficially it was a chance to see whether this relationship might become something lasting.

As the months passed, the idea of returning to the U.S. to pursue a “big name” Ph.D. program felt less compelling. I began to seriously consider staying in Denmark for a doctoral position that would allow me to build a life with someone I loved.

I found myself fixating on how this choice might look on a CV. Would colleagues back home see a Danish Ph.D. as a step down? Would I be taken less seriously without North American training? Would I regret prioritizing my personal life over a more conventional path? In hindsight, these anxieties seem ludicrous. But at the time, they felt very real. In the end, I chose to stay.

The adjustment wasn’t always easy. It can be hard for a foreigner to live in Denmark, where many friendships are formed early in life and social circles can be slow to open. But I had my relationship to lean on, and gradually I built a community.

As I started my academic life here, Danish culture began to transform my mindset. Danish society is guided by Janteloven, an unwritten code that says you are no better than anyone else. Growing up, I would have said I believed in this ideal. But subconsciously I probably felt otherwise. In the U.S., an unspoken hierarchy is attached to certain professions. Scientists and doctors often enjoy a higher social standing than, say, electricians. In Denmark, this distinction is far less pronounced.

The same ideals pervade academia. There is no Danish university that is considered “better” than others, and prestige plays a smaller role in people’s decisions. Even within universities, there is very little hierarchy. Everyone addresses each other by first name, and talking to a senior professor feels like chatting with a colleague.

In Denmark, I also discovered a new type of work culture: one that insists on work-life balance, expects people to leave the office at a reasonable hour, and treats evenings and weekends as personal time. In the U.S., long hours are worn like badges of honor. But after my time in Denmark, that way of life no longer appeals to me. I feel fortunate to work in a place where I have more space for hobbies, relationships, and simply living.

Gradually, I have come to adopt the Danish perspective. I now see that the value of a scientific career isn’t measured only by the institution on your diploma, but by whether your work feels meaningful, whether you’re growing as a researcher, and whether you can sustain the curiosity that brought you into science in the first place. I now question why I ever felt a degree from Denmark would somehow be worth less than one from North America.

I still sometimes wonder how my life might have unfolded had I returned to the U.S. I might have gained more recognizable credentials. But I would have missed the chance to build a life here, to invest in a relationship with someone I love, and to discover a work culture that aligns with my values. For me, staying in Denmark has brought not just a different way to approach science, but also a sense of belonging I didn’t know I was missing.

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