Take a break, for heavens sake!

Take a break, for heavens sake!

Creative thinking required in science requires time. When you get to the final conclusion, the thought "I should have thought of this 6 weeks ago", pops in your head. But you really needed that time personally to get there. The process itself is pleasing, but suffers from outside pressure severely.

When things like hands on research, classes, and training students take up a large part of your day, the space for thought is decreasing rapidly. By large part of the day I mean 10 to 12 hours of the conventional 24 hour day. Naturally sleep takes up 6-9 hours of the traditional day. Thus 3-6 hours per day can be spent not sleeping or working. Commuting to and from work takes up some of this time, something from 30 minutes to a full hour in total per day. Eating is required and god forbid you have a partner, kids, friends, or pets to entertain in addition.

This leads to prioritizing. In the case of graduate students the things that can be moved to a later date can include physical exercise, seeing friends or family, cleaning the apartment, cooking, shopping, blogging, and even taking a shower. I do not follow news actively, I am far behind on all popular TV shows, I had no idea Big Brother is still airing in multiple countries, and what is all the fuss about Robin Thicke? And do I really need to shower today?  This doesn't make me an ideal conversational partner at any bar or normal social gathering. No wonder scientists sometimes seem weird, boring, and foreign to people with 9 to 5 jobs.

As a treat to myself I sometimes leave the lab early in the afternoon. I gather snacks and find an ideal spot in the library on campus. Open my computer, spread articles and pens all over the table to claim the area, and dive in to the topic of my fancy. And it is sad to realize department heads and professors might not get this time due to responsibilities to their lab and department, pointless paperwork, reporting, and family demands.

I consider this precious time for research and thinking one of the greatest privileges of graduate school. And I wish I could gift a few hours of this time to those in demanding leadership positions in academia as well as politics. So please take a break from your day and read something interesting and inspiring, think impossible things, and take advantage of the information available for you.

The first official scientific conferences

I attended the Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD) in Chicago (IL) before Christmas and Virginia Techs Graduate Student Association symposium  last month. I presented my poster in both meetings, and would like to summarize what to do and not to do in a scientific meeting.

1. Being a short person, wearing high heels makes it easier to look people in the eye. But try to choose comfortable shoes. Standing for 4 hours in one place will hurt your feet.
2.  At least try to look like you are over 14 years old... (even if it is only to avoid long looks at the bar). So dress professionally.
3. Locate the bathrooms BEFORE sitting in the middle of the bench row for 3 hours of  talks.
4. Attend talks and see posters that are not directly connected to your research. We shall branch out like the mold growing under your sink...
5. Take notes. It is likely you can't remember a single thing after getting back home. And your boss will ask you stuff about the meeting. 
6. Do not faint during presentation. You will be reminded of the incident for ever. (And if you do, make sure your boss or co-workers are there to catch you, before hitting the hard floor.)
7. Eat everything offered to you! (everything = edible non toxic products)This will help in avoiding above mentioned situation.
8. Do not fall asleep during your presentation, at your bosses talk, or during the opening ceremonies.
9. Do not get the senior scientists drunk, unless you are willing to get them safely back to their hotel.
10. Talk to people! Even if they seem scary senior scientists, post-Docs or group leaders. They have also been graduate students, so they can relate. And they are really nice...

I really enjoyed these meetings. I got to talk to interesting people and learn about cutting edge science. Also bonding with the fellow graduate students was great. Key element for enjoying the meetings was proper preparation. It also helps if your boss is encouraging and willing to coach you for this. Hopefully can participate in other meetings in the future. Getting inspired by the people I meet there is the best part and cannot be achieved to same extent by staying in your lab or office.