1. Formation of urine
2. The defecation reflex
3. The menstrual cycle
We are covering the digestive system right now in my Physiology classes, and yes, today I told them about #2 (pun intended). While it is something we all do (as the saying goes, "everybody poops"), it is a little weird talking about pooping to a room full of 19-22 year olds.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
The 3 most important rules of graduate school...
As stated by my lab director:
1. Pick your advisor well.
2. Pick your advisor well.
3. Pick your advisor well.
I am now at the point where my own students, as well as younger graduate students in my lab, are coming to me for advice about pursuing education beyond the bachelors or masters degree. Often, the conversation turns to advisor-advisee dynamics.
Ben and I have both been through graduate school, as have the vast majority of our friends. We all come from diverse disciplines, although the majority are in the sciences. Most of us have had great relationships with our advisors. A couple of our friends have not. My relationship with my advisor is very good. Yes there have been times where we have not seen eye-to-eye or we have been angry with each other, but ultimately we are stronger for it. For the student just starting out on their own PhD journey, I would offer these tips on how to "Pick your advisor well." Some of these are tips that were passed down to me, and some are from my own experiences/observations. I list them in no particular order. I also recognize that not all disciplines operate the same way with regards to how much face time one might have with the advisor or how much of one's tuition/stipend the advisor would fund. Here they are nonetheless:
1. Does the prospective advisor have a definite means to fund your tuition/stipends for the duration of your PhD program?
In my field and at my university, the advisor is expected to bear the majority of the burden regarding funding a PhD student. You may have found the perfect advisor, but if they can't afford you, then you are likely out of luck.
2. Does the prospective advisor's line of research interest you?
This probably goes without saying, but if you're going to work with a particular faculty member, you should be interested in their research. For one thing, you will probably end up doing your dissertation on something that is related to their research line. Also, you will probably be expected to work on various projects with them throughout your time as a PhD student.
3. Where is the prospective advisor in his/her career?
For example, are they a tenured professor? Are they a pre-tenure assistant professor? Have they passed their third-year review This is an important consideration for a couple of reasons. First, pre-tenure faculty members are likely trying to maximize research productivity, so you may get the opportunity to work on several projects, which could bode well for getting your name on publications. On the other hand, if your advisor is pre-tenure, and for some reason they do not get tenure before you graduate, then you may also be out of luck unless another advisor is willing to take you on.
4. How much interaction will you have with the prospective advisor?
Will you get to have weekly meetings with your advisor? Does your advisor hold regular lab or group meetings? Or is your advisor too busy or too aloof to really interact with you much?
5. How many other graduate students are working under your prospective advisor?
Are you going to be the only PhD student under your advisor? Or will you be one of several? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Going along with this, has your advisor mentored many PhD students prior to you? Or are you their first one? Similarly, what sorts of careers have your advisor's former PhD students gone on to have?
6. What is your prospective advisor's personality?
This one is pretty important. You may have found an advisor who has all kind of funding, does research that interested you, etc. But if this person is an absolute jerk to their students, then you should think twice before joining their group.
1. Pick your advisor well.
2. Pick your advisor well.
3. Pick your advisor well.
I am now at the point where my own students, as well as younger graduate students in my lab, are coming to me for advice about pursuing education beyond the bachelors or masters degree. Often, the conversation turns to advisor-advisee dynamics.
Ben and I have both been through graduate school, as have the vast majority of our friends. We all come from diverse disciplines, although the majority are in the sciences. Most of us have had great relationships with our advisors. A couple of our friends have not. My relationship with my advisor is very good. Yes there have been times where we have not seen eye-to-eye or we have been angry with each other, but ultimately we are stronger for it. For the student just starting out on their own PhD journey, I would offer these tips on how to "Pick your advisor well." Some of these are tips that were passed down to me, and some are from my own experiences/observations. I list them in no particular order. I also recognize that not all disciplines operate the same way with regards to how much face time one might have with the advisor or how much of one's tuition/stipend the advisor would fund. Here they are nonetheless:
1. Does the prospective advisor have a definite means to fund your tuition/stipends for the duration of your PhD program?
In my field and at my university, the advisor is expected to bear the majority of the burden regarding funding a PhD student. You may have found the perfect advisor, but if they can't afford you, then you are likely out of luck.
2. Does the prospective advisor's line of research interest you?
This probably goes without saying, but if you're going to work with a particular faculty member, you should be interested in their research. For one thing, you will probably end up doing your dissertation on something that is related to their research line. Also, you will probably be expected to work on various projects with them throughout your time as a PhD student.
3. Where is the prospective advisor in his/her career?
For example, are they a tenured professor? Are they a pre-tenure assistant professor? Have they passed their third-year review This is an important consideration for a couple of reasons. First, pre-tenure faculty members are likely trying to maximize research productivity, so you may get the opportunity to work on several projects, which could bode well for getting your name on publications. On the other hand, if your advisor is pre-tenure, and for some reason they do not get tenure before you graduate, then you may also be out of luck unless another advisor is willing to take you on.
4. How much interaction will you have with the prospective advisor?
Will you get to have weekly meetings with your advisor? Does your advisor hold regular lab or group meetings? Or is your advisor too busy or too aloof to really interact with you much?
5. How many other graduate students are working under your prospective advisor?
Are you going to be the only PhD student under your advisor? Or will you be one of several? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Going along with this, has your advisor mentored many PhD students prior to you? Or are you their first one? Similarly, what sorts of careers have your advisor's former PhD students gone on to have?
6. What is your prospective advisor's personality?
This one is pretty important. You may have found an advisor who has all kind of funding, does research that interested you, etc. But if this person is an absolute jerk to their students, then you should think twice before joining their group.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Ten characteristics of the Mommy, PhD
Now that I'm done with the graduate school chapter of my life (cue the Hallelujah Chorus), I can be all reflective about the whole experience. I made this list one day during data collection when I had some time to kill during an incubation. I'm sure that my fellow mom academics have experienced some or all of these, and I'm sure you ladies have a few you could add! So here's my top 10 list for Characteristics of the Mommy, PhD, as they might pertain to someone in a science field (order is not particularly significant).
1. You read scientific literature by day and children's literature by night.
2. You pump breast milk during assay incubations.*
3. Your 3-year old talks about experiments and knows the word "dissertation."
4. You talk about keeping pumped breast milk at "4 degrees C" rather than "in the fridge."
5. While waiting for samples to centrifuge, you pass the time by humming children's songs.
6. You hide milk let-down stains by wearing a lab coat.
7. You do a lot of your work after your kids are in bed.**
8. Your kids have been to at least one lab or department meeting.
9. You have a play area set up in your office, or you've had another labmate watch or hold your kid while you do an experiment.***
10. You'd rather be with your family at home than working in the lab.
*I got really good at pumping in a bathroom stall while standing.
**There was one time recently I worked 8-5. And it wasn't 8am-5pm either!
***I have not actually done this, but Ben (a "Daddy, PhD") did this once with Amelia.
1. You read scientific literature by day and children's literature by night.
2. You pump breast milk during assay incubations.*
3. Your 3-year old talks about experiments and knows the word "dissertation."
4. You talk about keeping pumped breast milk at "4 degrees C" rather than "in the fridge."
5. While waiting for samples to centrifuge, you pass the time by humming children's songs.
6. You hide milk let-down stains by wearing a lab coat.
7. You do a lot of your work after your kids are in bed.**
8. Your kids have been to at least one lab or department meeting.
9. You have a play area set up in your office, or you've had another labmate watch or hold your kid while you do an experiment.***
10. You'd rather be with your family at home than working in the lab.
*I got really good at pumping in a bathroom stall while standing.
**There was one time recently I worked 8-5. And it wasn't 8am-5pm either!
***I have not actually done this, but Ben (a "Daddy, PhD") did this once with Amelia.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Successful defense!
It is done! Passed! Committee signed important forms! Now to make some revisions and submit to the Graduate School. Not tonight though, I am tired!
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Double D-Day is approaching!
Dissertation defense day is tomorrow! Yikes!
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, November 4, 2012
For next Halloween...
This year, Ally dressed up as a ghost for Halloween (pics to come later). She has already started thinking about what she wants to be next year. Here's what she's got so far:
1. Clown
2. Baby
3. Cookie Monster
4. God
When asked how she would dress up as God, Ally said she would dress up as Jesus. Ben and I thought that was a pretty good answer.
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1. Clown
2. Baby
3. Cookie Monster
4. God
When asked how she would dress up as God, Ally said she would dress up as Jesus. Ben and I thought that was a pretty good answer.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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