Dissertation proposal date!

Thursday, May 5th, 8am.  Successful coordination of dissertation committee schedules achieved on the first try!

I could eat that

One of the shows that Ben and I are enjoying on our Netflix "watch it instantly" queue is Bizarre Foods.  It is hosted by a chef named Andrew Zimmern, and he travels all over the world to sample local cuisine.  He is definitely right when he says that what is common in one country is quite exotic in another.  I think I was a little taken aback when I first started watching the show, but then again, one of the first episodes I saw was people in southeast Asia eating fried tarantulas.  Apparently though, they taste really good, and you eat them like a crab.  The kids were flocking to them.  I, however, would probably pass, as I am afraid of large spiders.  But now after watching a bunch of episodes, I'm starting to think that some of the previously bizarre eats are looking kind of appetizing.  Crickets sauteed with spices and vegetables?  I think I could eat that.  Crispy fried mealworms for a snack?  They look just like little french fries, I think I could eat that too.  Eyeballs, brains, heart, lungs, and digestive system parts? Hmm, I think I'll pass and stick with regular muscle tissue.

So many great things about Spring

I love this time of year. The flowers are starting to bloom, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, the semester is half over, and Easter is approaching (i.e., good music making opportunities at church).  But I think one of the best things about this time of year (and I believe my siblings-in-law will agree with me here) is NCAA basketball!  March Madness is underway, and UNC just won its first ACC tournament game against Miami.  Go Heels!

10 lessons I am reminded of. . .

as I develop my dissertation project and about research in general:

1. Everything always takes way longer than you initially think.
2. You are often at the mercy of other people's schedules.
3. Your project is the most important thing. . to you (i.e., not necessarily to others).
4. You will read many articles. Then you will re-read them multiple times.
5. The literature summary table will save you an incredible amount of time when constructing your lit review.
6. Don't re-invent the wheel; looking at other people's dissertations is very helpful when organizing your chapters.
7. Consult with a statistician.
8. Your advisor and committee members know a lot, but they don't know everything. You may end up having to educate them on a thing or two. In my case, that thing is using flow cytometry to measure NK cell counts and activity.
9. It is incredibly important to have very clear research questions, as they will drive the formulation of your hypotheses, study variables, and design.
10. Sometimes a figure is a great way to go when describing a concept.

I'm sure I'll think of more as I continue chipping away at this beast!

New home and office furniture

Last weekend, Ben and I purchased a new dining table. It replaces the 38-year old table that my parents got when they first got married, but got passed to us when we got married (they also had a new dining table and did not need it anymore). The old table new lives under our guest bed, to be brought out when we have the whole family over like at last year's Thanksgiving. Ben and I are loving our new table, as we can comfortably seat 8 people around it, and if people have especially small backsides, it might even seat 10.

I also acquired a new piece of office furniture; a nice big whiteboard. It is awesome. I have already used a good bit of it to write out my conceptual models for my dissertation. I feel so scientific now, as every good (and slightly nerdy) scientist needs access to a personal whiteboard.

Offensive behavior

Apparently, it is quite offensive to assist a toddler with an activity (i.e., putting on shoes, buckling the top part of the carseat, walking up or down stairs, etc.) if she has not explicitly asked for your help. The toddler considers this assistance even more offensive if she is tired, and her response will be quite emotional in nature. Additionally, the toddler must often be given a few minutes to "emotionally prepare" for some activities, such as mealtime, bathtime or leaving a friend's house. To not allow her that period of preparation could also be taken as offensive.

Lab happenings

Just a little while ago, the professors and most of the grad students in my lab left for a regional conference. I decided to stay behind, 1) because I am not presenting anything this year, and 2) to get some schoolwork done. It is going to be a VERY quiet next couple days in the lab, which will hopefully be conducive to productivity on my part.

Considering the figurative sense of the word "quiet", things are also quieting down in our lab because we just finished a faculty search. Over the past 3 weeks, a lot of us have been busy with giving tours to the candidates, going to their teaching and research presentations, and sharing meals with them. Hopefully we'll find out soon which of them is accepting the job.

My time this semester so far has been spent starting on the literature review chapter of my dissertation, investigating prices of ELISA assays that I might end up using (one word: EXPENSIVE), looking for small dissertation grants to apply for to fund said ELISA assays, and meeting with dissertation committee members to discuss my project ideas with them. I have the last of those meetings on Monday, so after that, I anticipate that I'll be able to solidify my research questions and proceed from there.