At the same time I am sad because he will be missed. But it would be selfish to try to keep him from leaving because I cannot offer him what he needs to take the next step in his career.
Back in Cambridge, I had started work on a physics PhD, in a great group, with a fantastic supervisor. And because Mete is such a great supervisor, he let me go when I realized that I wanted to work on something with more tangible impact, that I wanted to study what makes human organizations work rather than what keeps metal atoms organized.
Like my department, Mete’s group does work that is demanding, interesting and variied. In both settings there is plenty of room for development. But there are limits to every role and sometimes you just outgrow what a particular place can offer you.
As a leader, sometimes you can help find a next role in a different department. But still, it will be a goodbye – or rather (as you always meet twice) – a see you later.
Dr. Eva-Maria Hempe 