Got A Lab Rotation

I found an associate professor who works at a small biotech company that agreed to take me on for a lab rotation this quarter. Unfortunately, I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before we could talk in detail about the project, so I can’t legally tell you about it. 😦 What I can say is that it involves finding novel bio-markers for cancer treatment drugs. Fun fun!

 

Selling myself

Your Soul Is Mine!

I’m trying to get into a lab for the coming semester in grad school. I NEED this to graduate remotely on time and not set my med school plans back by about 2 years(give or take). 😦 I’m writing out a lot of emails and inquiries to lab heads in the hope that they will give me the chance to come in and start working with them. This is the part I hated about the PhD application process as well, this trying to sell yourself to someone you really don’t know. The polishing up your good points and trying to stuff your weaknesses into a closet so no one can see them until you’re accepted. And I know, I know you’re gonna say everyone has to do it and that you’ll do it all over again to get into med school too. That doesn’t make it any less distasteful. Why can’t I be honest without the fear of not getting anything? It would make me feel so much less like I’m trying to sell myself as the poster boy, savior of the world, awesome guy when I’m really a slightly neurotic and, at times, insecure about everything and anything in my life kind of person. End of rant.

If you’ve been through this process and would care to share how you survived without selling your soul, please share them with me in the comments. Have a great weekend!

 

Conferences: The many characters who attend

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It has come to my attention that there are several classifications of the attendees at academic conferences in the sciences. I have had the distinct pleasure to come into contact with several of these people, and will attempt to produce something akin to a field identification guide for the layperson(read: conference newbie).*

Category 1: The Fashion Deviants

This seems to most often be the professor/advisor who feels cargo pants and t-shirts constitute conference attire. They are found sporting water bottles stuffed into the side of their large backpacks. Often, when viewing this sort, the image of a 1800’s frontier’s man comes to mind. They can, and often do, sport the full growth of facial hair to complete the look of rugged adventurer. Under no circumstances are you to disagree with their opinions, or offer a different

 

Graduation and Conference Preperation

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Working, traveling, and finishing off research this June to be ready for the conferences (my first national and international conferences attended…and I’m presenting at both. *gulp*) at the beginning and end of June. Hopefully, if all goes well, the two presentations will go off without a hitch and I can officially close off a chapter in my life as an undergraduate student. I will post updates on the two conferences as they unfold in June!

Happy Memorial Day!! 🙂