Queen of the Bench

PhD candidate

PhD candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology

Knowing when to go down the rabbit hole

One of the things I’ve found challenging in graduate school is the sheer number of things I need to know, and also, how much to know about each thing. My dilemma is: do I learn just enough to do what I have to do for my specific project, or should I spend more time making sure I completely understand everything?

What making friends in grad school is really like

What has your experience been so far with making friends in grad school? Do you have friends outside of your lab? Your department? Your program? My grad program is pretty social, but my actual cohort is not.

The first meeting with my grad student support group

I went to the first meeting of my graduate student support group yesterday. It’s a themed support group that offers a place for graduate students to discuss their experiences in a safe place. In order to get in, I had to do an in-person consultation with the group leader so that he could see if I fit the group dynamic. It was a bit more than I was expecting, but I was curious to try it out! 

Academic work schedule: Early bird or night owl?

Lately I’ve been getting up really early and heading into lab a few hours before I normally would. Aside from the feeling dead part, it’s been pretty great. Having a few hours of solitude before any of my other lab-mates and PI get in allows me to be more productive and have some “me time” at the bench.