From US Scientist to Lithuanian Contentment: A Better Work-Life Balance Keeps Me Stayed

• Stephen Knox Jones Jr. never felt he could take a break while pursuing a science career in the US.
• He felt guilty taking a vacation and his work-life balance wasn't ideal.
• All that changed after he moved to Lithuania. And the quality of his research is better for it.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen Knox Jones Jr., a 37-year-old scientist who lives in Vilnius, Lithuania. It's been edited for length and clarity.

Growing up in New Hampshire , I never questioned the strenuous 16 years it would take me to pursue my passion for biotechnology.

I earned my PhD in Rhode Island and completed my postdoctoral research in Texas. Between those different career stages, I never took a vacation because I felt guilty about taking time off.

I would always be at the next position within a week of leaving the previous role because that was the expectation.

No matter how good you're doing, there's always this push to do more and be more. That's not to say that this pressure is everywhere in the US, but that's been my personal experience.

After Texas, I moved to Europe, and have significantly less stress.

I'm a full-time biotech research group leader and principal investigator living and working in Lithuania. Here, people recognize the value of having time away from work for well-being — and now I don't feel guilty anymore when I take time off.

People often ask me, "When are you moving back to the US ?"

I just don't even consider that right now. I've had great experiences in the US, but I feel like this fits my lifestyle better.

I get to take my dog to work and I have a guitar in my office that I play nearly every morning. Spending some time writing and playing music helps me get into a creative space for my research. I appreciate being able to do that here.

I could probably do these things in the US too, but I think the difference is that here, it's understood as part of maintaining my well-being, rather than just being the weird guy.

Stephen decided to move to Europe during the 2020 US election

When the 2020 US election When this happened, it caused my spouse and me to deeply reflect on our individual principles concerning societal structure, the valuation of individuals, and the availablesupport systems.

That's when our focus shifted towards Europe.

We recognized that our values were more in sync with those of Europe rather than the US concerning this issue. society-wide healthcare , food quality, policies focused on welfare rather than profits, public transportation systems, and emphasis on privacy with restrictions on data sharing.

We settled on Lithuania Since the institution where I am employed collaborates with a prominent research entity known as the European Molecular Biology Laboratories, a name I was quite familiar with due to its stellar reputation in scientific circles and its long history of contributions to my area of study, gene editing.

Stephen believes that the caliber of his work is superior compared to what it might have been had he conducted his research in the U.S.

As I explored full-time positions in academia within the U.S., these roles often entailed significant teaching responsibilities alongside an emphasis on scientific research and consistent publication. Let’s clear something up: teaching holds considerable value, yet excelling across all areas can be quite challenging.

A positive aspect of academic positions here is that although many opt for a combination of teaching and research, you also have the choice to concentrate solely on one area.

Like me, for example, I'm more focused on research. That's why I think the quality of my research is better in Lithuania than it might be in the US.

Because I'm less stressed I now have some breathing space to ensure my research is headed in the right direction and that my team has everything they need, helping us elevate our scientific efforts to new heights.

It matters significantly to me since ultimately, my work relies on taxpayers' money, and this comes with an unspoken commitment that we will utilize these funds effectively to enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Occasionally, obtaining specific items can prove somewhat difficult in this region. The bureaucratic process involved in purchasing scientific equipment from different areas might lead companies to question whether the effort is worthwhile.

I similarly struggle with locating corn masa flour for homemade tortillas and specific vegetarian items such as seitan.

I might not be around indefinitely, but right now, things are quite excellent for me.

Jessica Orwig is covering topics related to professional journeys within the scientific field. Whether you've pursued or considered pursuing such a career trajectory yourself—perhaps even shifting paths due to your core beliefs or other reasons—I would be keen to hear from you. Feel free to reach out via email at jorwig@.

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