I feel your pain. So much is due to your own placement. In
   watching those John Ellis lectures at one point he mentioned
   young Russian undergrads, 19-20 yrs old, who didn't get the
   recognition they deserved because the higher ups thought nothing
   that good could come out of someone so young. Same age + rank
   prejudice happens today in every field. Too young, too old, not
   an official - many barriers, not enough of the right ears
   listening broadly and specifically for the signal.