Hmm…As an American, I don’t think “golden glow” is the same as “luck,” not in that context. I can’t see into this guy’s head, but it sounds a little more as if he is accusing you of being arrogant or superior, and it could be that he is a bit jealous of your early success, which he is, yes, attributing to “good luck.” It was an inappropriate thing for him to say, and likely he realized it and tried to defuse the situation by giving you a slightly alternate interpretation of what he said. That in itself was a bit insulting, in my opinion.
As to what to do about it, I would first wait a while and see if this becomes a pattern in his behavior. How long have you been there, and is this the first time you have felt put-down? Does he treat other post-docs/students this way? Any other female post-docs in particular? Hopefully, he scared himself a bit (got flustered) and might be more careful in what he says next time. In American universities there are policies against harassment, and he should be worried about triggering an official complaint. If he makes similar comments again, or especially, starts saying them in front of other postdocs, students, or faculty, then it is time to have a quiet private meeting it before it gets any worse. If that doesn’t help, the last resort in an official complaint.
Universities also have counseling services for students having problems including "imposter syndrome." They are confidential and it is worth talking to someone and see if they can help you deal with false feelings of inadequacy.
Edited by OldCloner, 02 November 2018 - 05:59 AM.
