Second year of PhD is passing by.
Not much of the result, just hope... so, obviously, no serious conferences can be attended.
Let's hope for the next year.
But it is the best time for practical courses: I am familiar with the field and I want to know more about techniques. Let's ask to go for a practical course!
EMBO courses look really promising and interesting, fee is affordable.
Structural Characterization of Macromolecular Complexes
Solution Scattering from Biological Macromolecules
Sunday, February 26, 2012
words, words, words...
Knowledge of English language is necessary essential to be successful in science. So one of my aims during PhD studies is to improve my English skill.
One of the important points is vocabulary. When I am reading textbooks or scientific articles, I rarely find any "new" words. But as soon as I start to read anything less related to my work... situation changes drastically. That is the reason, why I am searching for "lazy" ways how to improve my vocabulary.
Recently, I have found really nice and useful webpage for enrichment of word knowledge:
http://www.vocabulary.com/
It gives 10 question quizzes, that gives you a lot of new information and words. If you register, it becomes even more useful!
One of the important points is vocabulary. When I am reading textbooks or scientific articles, I rarely find any "new" words. But as soon as I start to read anything less related to my work... situation changes drastically. That is the reason, why I am searching for "lazy" ways how to improve my vocabulary.
Recently, I have found really nice and useful webpage for enrichment of word knowledge:
http://www.vocabulary.com/
It gives 10 question quizzes, that gives you a lot of new information and words. If you register, it becomes even more useful!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
people around
For me science is always about people.
I got to this conclusion slowly... In the beginning I thought that science is about research and ideas. But staying in academical science and making career there is all about your abilities to connect with people around you.
People that I’ve met during my studies are fascinating: intelligent, passionate, curious, charming, smart, convincing, unbelievable! Each and everyone I was meeting and keep meeting are extremely strong and interesting personalities. People around made me always to choose work in science over all other career possibilities.
However, concentration of strong personalities in institutes creates another problem.Thou I enjoy every minute with my colleagues, sometimes I hate them all! People are not always able to communicate to each other in a decent way. They are so overconfident, selfish and ignorant, that creates very difficult situation.
I think, that to be successful in the scientific field, you should really master art of the diplomacy. Practice of which should start from the nearest colleagues.
It is extremely necessary to keep good spirits in everybody. I do not say, that you should please everybody but it is very important to be kind to your colleagues every day. It doesn’t matter if they stand over or below you on career ladder. Both your boss and your students need to be supported and encouraged.
The easiest way to encourage is to show an interest in other people’s work. The interest do not need to be deep but it should be sincere. Five minutes of attention to a current project can cheer up students and take them away from desperation.
Have you ever lost a motivation and passion after hearing skepticism and critics about your idea? PI’s generate tons of ideas, it is their daily work. Yes, ideas can be crazy... but it is still important to be careful criticizing offers. We all need hope, that “it will work”... and “it may work” if you give it a chance.
Balance between being strong and caring is really important. We are all very fragile.
I got to this conclusion slowly... In the beginning I thought that science is about research and ideas. But staying in academical science and making career there is all about your abilities to connect with people around you.
People that I’ve met during my studies are fascinating: intelligent, passionate, curious, charming, smart, convincing, unbelievable! Each and everyone I was meeting and keep meeting are extremely strong and interesting personalities. People around made me always to choose work in science over all other career possibilities.
However, concentration of strong personalities in institutes creates another problem.Thou I enjoy every minute with my colleagues, sometimes I hate them all! People are not always able to communicate to each other in a decent way. They are so overconfident, selfish and ignorant, that creates very difficult situation.
I think, that to be successful in the scientific field, you should really master art of the diplomacy. Practice of which should start from the nearest colleagues.
It is extremely necessary to keep good spirits in everybody. I do not say, that you should please everybody but it is very important to be kind to your colleagues every day. It doesn’t matter if they stand over or below you on career ladder. Both your boss and your students need to be supported and encouraged.
The easiest way to encourage is to show an interest in other people’s work. The interest do not need to be deep but it should be sincere. Five minutes of attention to a current project can cheer up students and take them away from desperation.
Have you ever lost a motivation and passion after hearing skepticism and critics about your idea? PI’s generate tons of ideas, it is their daily work. Yes, ideas can be crazy... but it is still important to be careful criticizing offers. We all need hope, that “it will work”... and “it may work” if you give it a chance.
Balance between being strong and caring is really important. We are all very fragile.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Provocative sentences
I do not like “general” questions that give a broad opportunity for an answer. I don’t like this type of questions because you might answer too fast and give away some information that will accidentally put you in a bad/unexpected position.
Question “what happened yesterday?”, that was asked without clear emotion in an intonation (anger, interest, excitement, dissatisfaction???) made me recall all possible sins from yesterday. I wasn’t sure how to react to this provocative sentence.
But I did my best, and responded really slowly, figuring out step by step... what my boss had in mind.
Next general question was “Is everything under control?”.
Because I had no idea, what boss is talking about, my strategy was to attack with some current problem. I didn’t give an opportunity to ask about things I’ve suppose to do... and haven’t really done yet.
Also I had an idea to make an innocent face and answer “under your or mine?” or “do you mean positive or negative control?”. But I will keep this version for the next time.
I will keep list of “general” questions. They can make even an overconfident student very confused.
UPD
few weeks later this PhD comics appeared... illustrating the whole situation :)
Question “what happened yesterday?”, that was asked without clear emotion in an intonation (anger, interest, excitement, dissatisfaction???) made me recall all possible sins from yesterday. I wasn’t sure how to react to this provocative sentence.
But I did my best, and responded really slowly, figuring out step by step... what my boss had in mind.
Next general question was “Is everything under control?”.
Because I had no idea, what boss is talking about, my strategy was to attack with some current problem. I didn’t give an opportunity to ask about things I’ve suppose to do... and haven’t really done yet.
Also I had an idea to make an innocent face and answer “under your or mine?” or “do you mean positive or negative control?”. But I will keep this version for the next time.
I will keep list of “general” questions. They can make even an overconfident student very confused.
UPD
few weeks later this PhD comics appeared... illustrating the whole situation :)
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
speed
Boss: - How is your writing? Is it fast enough?
Me: - You should know better then me, it is never fast enough...
Me: - You should know better then me, it is never fast enough...
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Miracle
Sometimes it seems that all work in molecular biology lab is attempt to produce a miracle*... and then you need to make the miracle reproducible**.
* You work hard, try everything and sometimes result (surprisingly) is successful and it is a MIRACLE
** better also publishable
* You work hard, try everything and sometimes result (surprisingly) is successful and it is a MIRACLE
** better also publishable
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