PlasmonOwl

It's fascinating. Some more critical observers are very disappointed with performance like this. I've seen comments about how dumb it seems. I don't think it does, I think you are bang on. It seems somewhat like a conversation with a child.

Small talk is difficult, it feels awkward. I used to have massive problems with it. But I stress this, you will get there. It's as simple as asking questions. You need to learn the difference between being overly probing and showing an interest. For example, ask what a colleague did over the weekend. They tell you they went to the local zoo, you say wow amazing did you see any red pandas I love red pandas.

Admittedly, small talk is only part of the problem. There are other aspects such as eye contact, tone of speech and so on. Read a book like 'The Charisma Myth'. Practice on 'peripheral' strangers, those who you encounter regularly but are not close to. You'll be anxious, you'll feel awkward but I promise you that you will get better. Quite often now it's natural to me, but I can always fall back on learned patterns when I'm feeling awkward. People now tell me I'm very easy to speak to. 6 years ago I would have been described as awkward.

I recently was diagnosed with ADHD, primarily in attentive. Honestly, this explains my 'naturally' poor social skills. But I learned anyway. You can too!

I'm in the UK and am a PDRA in polymer chemistry. Desperate to get out. Would like to transfer to some type of coding. Pay and job security is far better. Just trying to work if I can manage with pay cut to a more junior role. It's not that I'm unsuccessful, I published plenty and work at a top institute. It's just that the jump from PDRA to permanent is impossible and I'm not interested in industrial chemistry

I mean it doesn't. Speaking to a VC the other day as I'm involved in the materials chemistry startup scene. He stated he was in contact with a company that's pegs about $1/g.