Canadian Girlpostdoc in America

Do academics have charisma? - Comment by Jimmy

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 15:37:48 -0500

Clearly you did not look enough. Richard Feynman is definitely charismatic. . . .

How people in science see each other. - Comment by GUEST COMMENT

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:55:56 -0600

Francis De La Cruz: It's a joke jackass . . .

How people in science see each other. - Comment by Francis De La Cruz

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:40:19 -0600

The pictures that depict the way that Undergrads, PhD students, and Postdocs, especially the latter two, as supposedly seen by Professors are in very bad taste. . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by Namnezia

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:00:36 -0600

Brian Krueger, PhDsaid: What's so difficult about commenting? I'm more than happy to make changes to make things more accessible Plus the captcha is impossible to read sometimes. . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:23:12 -0500

I'll put it on my list. I've been meaning to implement a basic mobile version for people that don't have smart phones. . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:34:15 -0500

@Namenezia Commenting is easier at my new space. @Brian Can't comment as easily from mobile devices. . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:27:56 -0500

What's so difficult about commenting? I'm more than happy to make changes to make things more accessible . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:14:49 -0500

@SM Thanks. @Namnezia I didn't know that it was so difficult to comment. Indeed I checked and it is! . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by Namnezia

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:05:54 -0500

Best of luck in your new digs (in case I can't find them)! Perhaps it'll e easier to comment at your new blog! . . .

Poking a barking dog with a big stick. - Comment by scientistmother

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:29:32 -0500

Okay so are you going to post a link to your new space? please, cuz really I like reading your perspective, but I have ZERO time to search for you. and hopefully you're moving to a place where its easier to comment on mobile devices :) . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by Amanda

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:05:40 -0500

@GirlPostDoc Yes, they are! @Anthea Virtual chocolate and brownies? Yes please!! . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by Anthea

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:36:25 -0500

Oh, @ Amanda and @ GirlPostdoc those notes are the best. A good friend of mine sends me virtual chocolate by email if she finds out htat I have a bad day...I send her virtual brownies since she loves brownies. The thought is there...even if the chocolate or the brownie can't be there in reality since we're both in different parts of the planet. . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:30:27 -0500

@Amanda Those are the best, aren't they. . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by Amanda

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:18:47 -0500

One of my best friends sent me a "You're a special friend and I love you" card with hand-written note inside. Made me smile. . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:05:49 -0500

@Canuck That's just fabulous. Thanks for that. . . .

On-line therapy - Comment by Canuck

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:08:10 -0500

While eating his snack yesterday my 2 year old passed me his half eaten cracker. I assumed he didn't want it and put in back on the plate but was corrected by a "No mama. Eat. Share". This would have been totally down right cute had it not be accompanied by the offer of the prechewed other half of the cracker. The thought was there though. . . .

How people in science see each other. - Comment by Mohamed

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:05:41 -0500

@Martina: I think he meant that they only notice (and concerned with) sexy girls among the group. you know, they need to have a break after all these years of science :) . . .

Update - Part II On Generosity - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:02:16 -0500

@Brian That's great. One piece of advice when working with fresh meat. Be explicit and specific. . . .

The Longest Revision process ever? - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:16:59 -0500

@Brian Yes of course that's the reason. But the problem is the imprecise nature of the communication makes it seem otherwise. . . .

The Longest Revision process ever? - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:01:39 -0500

You know, it could be that their journal only became available on-line in 2009, but the paper was actually paper published in 1964? It might have taken a while to scan everything over to digital. . . .

Update on #madwriting - Comment by Amanda

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:51:46 -0500

Congrats on getting the draft done! I did get a draft of my postdoc proposal #madwritten that weekend. I continued to #madwrite until a couple days ago, when I turned in the final polished product! It felt great! Now I'll be #madwriting to finish my dissertation in a few weeks! BTW, I tried to comment on your twitter updates, but I am new to twitter. I now realize you probably did not g. . .

Update - Part II On Generosity - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:16:42 -0500

That sounds like a reasonable compromise. At this point it sounds like she might even be intimidated by you. If you left with the system and had two papers under your belt, you'd be the lead, not her. So in this case there might be a little self preservation going on too. I still be afraid of letting her write you a letter of recommendation. I would wonder how good it would be.

Update - Part II On Generosity - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:23:20 -0500

@Jade The bridge may be intact but there's a new tollbooth installed at my end. I realize that this may not be generous but generosity doesn't mean welcome mat. . . .

Okay enough of the bitching and complaining. More importantly... - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:15:35 -0500

@ Suzy Thanks! . . .

Update - Part II On Generosity - Comment by Jade

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:31:36 -0500

Well done. Good job keeping the bridge intact. "what generous act have you been the receipient that touched you?" That's a hard question. It seems like there are two types of people in this world- those who choose happiness and peace over being right and those who choose being right over being happy. I am definitely in the former. . . .

Update - When a supervisor shoots themself in the foot. - Comment by Shu Ito

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:52:06 -0500

Although I can't sympathize directly (my PhD sounded a lot like this so I bailed out after I graduated and didn't stick to the post-doc), it saddens me that scientists who pride themselves intellectual can act so...unintellectual. Talking with her face to face may be a good idea at this point, but past experience tells you that it is not wholly reliable (i.e. your original conversations. . .

Okay enough of the bitching and complaining. More importantly... - Comment by Suzy

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:17:54 -0500

LOL...thank you and I'll check it out.... . . .

Update - When a supervisor shoots themself in the foot. - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:58:48 -0500

@Jade and Brian I'm meeting with her tomorrow. In the meantime I've gotten other people to write me letters. . . .

Update - When a supervisor shoots themself in the foot. - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:14:39 -0500

I agree with Jade. If it's to the point where she's going to withhold letters of recommendation, its probably time to talk it out. . . .

Update - When a supervisor shoots themself in the foot. - Comment by Jade

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:32:56 -0500

What if, instead of the emails, you sat down with her face to face and talked this out. Ask her directly about the letter of reference. I prefer email myself, but there are times when speaking directly is the better way to go, especially when there is a misunderstanding or bad feelings involved. If I were you, I'd go to her office and just speak to her bluntly, but unemotion. . .

A rant. - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:43:32 -0500

@Dave What would have happened though, if you hadnt shown her this and just wrote it yourself? Does she have future propriety over anything you might do that might even be the slightest bit related to your postdoctoral training? Well, my friend at the R1 university has advised me to keep my cards close to my chest and not tell her anything about my applications in the futur. . .

Donor's Choose! - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:30:51 -0500

WOW! That's so great! Yeah! . . .

Donor's Choose! - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:34:57 -0500

This project was fully funded :) Do Plants Wear Genes?. . .

A rant. - Comment by Jade

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:46:50 -0500

If I read this right, you are finishing a postdoc and are going to apply for TT positions next and start your own research program with ideas developed independently using the model system of this lab you are getting ready to leave. Is it possible to convince her to let you have your ideas but give her co-authorship on the next 1-2 papers that you publish as part of your own program? Pe. . .

A rant. - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:38:06 -0500

This is a sticky situation but it sounds like your boss is being kind of unreasonable. In my old lab, we had one grad student who got a job as a professor in China and requested we send him every reagent he ever made. My grad mentor had no problem sending him the stuff, which surprised me, and only said, "Our field needs more smart researchers." So maybe there are two schools of thought h. . .

A rant. - Comment by Dave Bridges

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:56:59 -0500

I have thought about that a bit too. I mean obviously the first thing you do is going to be somewhat derivative of your postdoctoral work. Starting over in a totally new field is probably not something that the committees desire. What would have happened though, if you hadnt shown her this and just wrote it yourself? Does she have future propriety over anything you might do that might e. . .

How people in science see each other. - Comment by Martina

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:54:26 -0500

ok i quite dont get the way PI's see undergrads? like scarcely dressed simple looking young women? :D . . .

Update on #madwriting - Comment by scientistmother

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:12:39 -0500

I like to put barf on page (or madwriting as some call it) and then edit and improve after. Otherwise i'm stuck at writing the perfect sentence and taking 4x as long to get it done. . . .

Update on #madwriting - Comment by Brian Krueger, PhD

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:55:56 -0500

I did a mad writing fest for my thesis. I think I wrote a chapter a day and finished it in 5 days. 2 days before the first deadline :P I think your method is pretty sound. It always helps to start with a rough draft that you can edit down later. . . .

Dork moments brought to you by Girlpostdoc - Comment by GirlPostdoc

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:05:18 -0500

@Amanda LOL. That's a doosy. . . .