If you are going to be working with someone that you haven't met before, then it's important to arrange a visit to get to know them and to see what the lab is like. I was fortunate that my host offered to have his institution fly my over to Belgium to give a seminar. We planned a 4 day trip with one day spent at the Institute, where I would meet with him and the director of the Institute. I would give a seminar there and also meet the other scientists that I would be working with.
It was a great trip and I really enjoyed meeting everyone there. They were very generous hosts and I got a great tour of Brussels. I even got to see how beautiful the city is during a rare snowfall. I saw the Institute and the lab space and was very pleased with the facilities. After my seminar we discussed, with the director, the specifics of my visit. I made it clear that my salary would be covered by my home institution but that I did not think that I would be able to provide any funds for the research supplies that I might use during my visit. We plan on trying to get a grant in Belgium to help pay for those supplies, but even without that they felt that it would be fine for me to work on an ongoing project within the lab.
Another important discussion was about the timing of my visit. They pointed out that things are pretty quiet in the lab for the month of August and suggested that I start in September. That should work out perfectly because it will give my family time to get settled and to visit Belgium and some other European countries before I start work.
Another important goal for this trip was to visit schools for my son ... more on that in my next post!
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