Author Archive
Existential crisis of a post-doc appointment (updated)
by noel on Jun 15 2009 (1479 Views)This month has been exceptionally busy around my group. My PI is currently on a 2-week trip to Norway and Germany[1] and before that, we were trying to get a ton of hiring business out of the way. My experience in the past couple weeks actually had quite an eye-opening effect on me.
A little back-story on my current work situation, I have been working at this lab full time (40h/wk) since last May. We are an engineering support facility with a few side chemistry and material projects. Because of the corporate nature of the facility, my work has been both well compensated and intellectually fulfilling.
The nature with this facility means that we hardly ever get grad students. 15% of the employees here are temporary (i.e. post-doc and interns). Ten percents are summer interns with employment of about ten weeks. The direct consequence of a lab that is not attached to a university has the need to constantly replenish its labor supply. While this means we gets fresh takes on things from all the new people, I also see the struggle of Ph.D.s in job market played out frequently. And as someone who is just dipping her toes in the idea of graduate school, this is quite daunting.
Anyway, I guess we have room for yet another post-doc.
Last Monday, I was sitting in the back of the conference room during a technical seminar on the grad school research of a post-doc candidate while sipping on my morning tea. The candidate was visibly nervous, frequently stuttering and wiping the beads of sweat at his forehead. In the next three days, the same thing took place. The seminar, the lab tour, the lunch, the non-stop interviews; as I did my best to be hospitable, my mind wanders, and I couldn’t help but keep coming back to the same thoughts:
- I wonder if he knew that his voice was cracking and shaking
- Does he need more water? It looks like he’s out of water
- Everything sounds more interesting in a southern accent, even pchem
- Isn’t it sad that you can summarize the past 4 to 6 years of your life in a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation?
- It’s her third post-doc? Really?
- I guess it doesn’t matter how well qualified you are, the guy that went to the most well ranked school will probably get the job
- I wonder if they understand that they are constantly judged, when we walk them between buildings, when we take them out to lunch, by anyone and everyone
- All for two more years of being replaceable, is it worth it?
Is it?
Noel
[1] It’s been a known fact that my PI forgot/failed/was too lazy to renew his training so he lose his access to our lab room. We were all happy that he had to knock and wave to get someone’s attention to be let in. Recently, he realize that we often leave the back door open to get solvents from the dock. Now he ambush us from the back door. Anyway my point of the story is that we always feel the need to fidget (more likely on unproductive tasks) when he’s around. I guess I can finally relax/be productive now. Like writing this blog post.
(edit)
After re-reading it, I realized I failed to address my point here. My point: what is really the goal of a post-doc? As I have been told in the past 5 years, it is the rite of passage to the world of academia. But what does one hope to accomplish in a two-year appointment at a topic that is possibly unrelated to his expertise and past experience? It seems like the new guy is just picking up whatever the last guy has done in his two years.
It seems like an interesting role, to be contributing somewhat at a higher realm of science than the regulate graduate student, but for about half to a quarter amount of time. I ask again, what is the goal here? Is it to diversify one’s research interest? Is it to network in the community? Is it to push more papers out? Is it the parallel universe to dispense unemployed Ph.D.s? Or is it simply the awkward phase where the community thinks one should be while little professional and intellectual developments take place?
That is all.
Subscribe to the comments for this postWelcome back, Atlantis!
by noel on May 27 2009 (622 Views)
This is not completely relevant to chemistry, but is definitely of interest to the scientific community. On May 11, 2009, some of us astronomy fans and zealots gathered around to watch the launch of Atlantis STS-125. For those who are unfamiliar with it, this was a servicing mission in attempt to extend the Hubble ST’s life for the one last time. After all the amazing images Hubble was able to capture, this one last stretch seemed well worth the try. The team completed 5 space walks while orbiting 350 miles (Really? Miles? We’ll talk about the unit system another day) above Earth.
The mission will entail five spacewalks and aims to increase the telescope’s capabilities by a factor of 90, according to panelist Sandra Faber, an astronomer at UC Santa Cruz. After the repairs and upgrades, “it’ll have the capability of 100 Hubbles,” said panelist and NASA Chief Scientist Alan Stern.[1]
Over the past two weeks, we followed their mission closely, whether it is at the comfort of our own home or out in the field with our makeshift telescope. We envy their opportunity to take the ride of a lifetime and amazed at their epic fine-motor skill inside a space bunny-suit (I can’t even do that in a glove box, whoops).
On Sunday, May 24, the crew of 7 touched down at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, after a 13-day mission. The astronauts, in my opinion, are heroes in every way that one would defines any other American heroes–firefighters, soldiers, teachers, etc. Their contribution to scientific advancements is clear, and the risks they take is significant and very real. Their dedication and enthusiasm are beautifully put by one of the astronauts:
When asked about the risks posed by the Hubble service mission, Astronaut Grunsfeld told Earth & Sky that, “I think the cause of science is something worth risking my life for. I’ve spent almost my entire adult life and most of my young life,” Grunsfeld added, “in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. And Hubble is almost an icon for the quest of scientific knowledge.”
Yep. We’ll toast to that. And welcome back to Earth!!
Noel
[1] Hubble worth the risk, says NASA astronaut
We’re done!
by noel on May 23 2009 (831 Views)Today we traded in our acid-burned, grease-stained lab coats for nice looking rental gowns. It was really an ugly day–we’ve been having beautiful sunny days in the 80s all month–until now, that is. Today was a whooping 55 degree with dark grey clouds hovering over the beautiful Berkeley landscape. Just about everything was out of the ordinary.
Today the College of Chemistry @Cal held its 137th commencement ceremony.
The two hours was reasonably pleasant to sit through. The whole ceremony was rather casual and humorous. We didn’t have much of any rehearsal. People were sitting when they were supposed to stand, speakers forgot their spots during the speech, the dean returned to his seat before he handed out the last of the scrolls… but it was an intimate, light-hearted ceremony.
The most unforgettable moment for me was the reaction of the grad students. During the ceremony, Ph.D. candidates were seated on stage with the rest of the professors. After they all walked across the staged, got hooded, received a scroll and walked back to their seats, the dean officially granted them their degrees. Across rows of sleepy professors and their hoods of various colors, I saw the genuine happiness beaming from behind. They hugged each other, celebrating their accomplishments (and the 6-10 years they might have spent in this hole in the wall). It was just a really wonderful moment, since graduate students really don’t show much of any emotion. 
It was also something special for the Chemistry Blog, though. Today, Mitch, Maz and I walked across the same stage. So… PARTY TIME!!! (doesn’t Mitch look legit? That’s because you haven’t seen his shoes)!!!
So, cheers and many congratulations. And peace out, Berkeley.
Noel
“That’s why we love you guys. We ask you to do the impossible, and you ask us when it’s due.” – prof
Exciting! Safe! My childhood dreams come true
by noel on Apr 16 2009 (823 Views)My discovery of this awesome toy kit posted on Retro Thing (via: Boing Boing/via: Oak Ridge Associated University) is motivation enough for me to drain my budding IRA account just to afford it.
This kit pretty much sums up everything a young, aspiring nuclear chemist could ever want. According to these sources, it contains: FOUR types of uranium ore (must be a deluxe kit, right?), a couple alpha, beta, and gamma sources, a cloud chamber, an electroscope, a spinthariscope, a Geiger counter, a comic book, and get this, a government manuel titled “Prospecting for Uranium.” Sweet.
Despite its awesomeness and foresight, it was only available for purchase between 1950 and 1951. The company explains its short lived glory by the rather high price tag at the time ($50.00). Today, the rarity of this kit means that the it can go for about 100x of the original price on the collectables market!
Now, if you would excuse me, I need to pick up and retry my failed could chamber project.
Noel
Social networking fun for the scientific community
by noel on Apr 15 2009 (534 Views)Happy Tax Day! Hope everyone’s done their taxes and committed to a graduate school. Most of my friends got by alright, but a couple in particular struggled with making a decision (paritcular when it has something to do with turning down a certain pretigeous institution in Massachusetts). A close friend of mine decided that it’s a good idea to put all the cards back on the table (i.e. reconsidering EVERY SCHOOL he had eliminated, probably half a dozen) with T minus 12 hours to commit. I think he is suffering a panic attack.
Anyway, Sam at Everyday Scientist recently talked about Epernicus, the science-y version of Linkedin. It’s a pretty cool idea. The professional-social-networking website with a science twist offers many features tailored to our needs. If it gains a substantial membership base, it would be able to map out an up-to-date and accurate academic genealogy, which is really cool. I know the mathematicians have a sophisticated genealogy database, but not one that’s input and updated by the scientists themselves. So check it out and let me know what you think!
Noel
Finally… sequel to the PCR song
by noel on Apr 09 2009 (2677 Views)Jes posted this over at CBC, but I just can’t help it. I was getting ready to go to bed after a hard day’s work, but the adrenaline rush from watching this video is quite a beast. Finally, what I can only assume is returning due to popular demand, the Bio-Rad is at it again. The sequel to the PCR song: the GTCA song…
This stuff is legit.
On a side note, in exactly one week is the fateful day of grad school commitment. I have friends who are actually breaking out the coin for this one. Personal congratulations to Jes on UCSB. And for anyone who is heading out to the Mid-west, drop me a line!
Noel
On the day of your very first organic chemistry midterm…
by noel on Feb 28 2009 (1878 Views)Every graduate student has a fair share of funny TA moments, but hearing these tales is nothing compared to actually experiencing them first hand. This past Friday was the very first midterm of our first semester organic chemistry course for non-chemistry majors. The TAs celebrated this historical event by spending 10.5 hours in lock-down mode, grading. True to the optimistic spirit of our department, a friend shared with us some of the highlight of her day:
“Texas carbon to the max”
“The elusive Canadian Nitrogen- it has almost TWO full octets”
“Yes, nitrogen has 4 2p orbitals”
“Where did H come from?”
And my personal favorite:
“[Professor] Frechet’s quote after he saw this: “This person is going to go far in life”"
On the topic of funny undergraduate responses, my post-doc mentor shared his most unforgettable memory from the good ol’ days of graduate school at yet another very prestigious public institution.
Q: “Which solvent would be more likely to facilitate an SN2 reaction, H2O or DMSO? Explain.”
A: “H2o. Because clearly, DMSO is not a real molecule.”
What’s your best TA story?
Noel
Yo dawg, I heard you like grad school…
by noel on Jan 25 2009 (1651 Views)It’s right around the time of year when a particular group of students gets extra antsy and touchy about school. Graduate school, that is. For the class of 2009 and the returning students, the next 4 weeks is the ultimate showdown: are we in?
To make matters worse, there is always that one friend with the perfect grades and the perfect references and the perfect research job with the perfect publication list. It is definitely a lousy feeling to learn that your best friend is getting all the first round draft pick while you are left in the “maybe” pile. But hey, as long as you get in, right?
So here’s the waiting game. The no-call-until-three-days-after-date game. This is a game that none of us was ready to play. Ever since the new year arrived, each and every one of us checks our e-mail, online application, and snail mail obsessively. Our hearts stop at the sign of a phone call from a restricted or unknown number. Every “I got into grad school!” Facebook status and text messages from each other pulls on our heartstrings. A two-month window is too long for an emotionally vulnerable, high strung, exhausted student with sernioitis.
And what’s with the schools that don’t send out rejection letters? If we pay $150 for an application (app, transcript, letters, scores, etc.), the least you can do is to send us an official piece of paper to tell us that we should have tried harder in physical organic chemistry.
Now that I have received my first admission offer, I can finally take a breath and joke about it. I will never forget where exactly I was and how relieved I felt. I had just gotten back to work from an extended lunch break with my post-doc mentor. When I casually (and compulsively) checked my e-mail out of the corner of my eye, there it was: a precious little e-mail. I couldn’t read through the 3rd line when my eyes started watering up.
My mentor came to my cubicle since I had called him. I pointed at the letter, speechless. When he realized what had happened, he gave me the only thing I desperately needed: a big hug. There I was, crying my eyes out in the middle of a corporate office inside a national lab. I left work that day with a new sense of certainty that I haven’t felt for months and months. I am going to grad school, and nothing is going to stop that.
Cheers, congrulations, and hang in there,
Noel
