Any PhD Bros in here? Just wondering how you are managing your time and meals. It's hard for me but I'm making it work. Pic related, cell and molec biology PhD here.
Grad school
Oliver Parker
Carson Taylor
what are your tips? I'm entering into my first year next fall.
Samuel Watson
Mastering out was a great decision. Last year I was finishing up two papers while working as a paid TA. 20 hour work weeks while getting paid the same as I was as a grad student.
Unless you have a clear end goal in mind (which I admit I didn't) then grad school is shit. Long hours, low pay, and it ain't like your job prospects improve afterwards. Unless you like high stress jobs
Blake Ramirez
I work as an American graduate assistant. Want to know something amazing? I can feel it in my HEART.
I started work at 5:00AM today. I was able to perform 10 tissue culture assays, purify three proteins, test 7 pre-clinical drugs, prepare 50L of bacterial media, AND write half of a research grant application today. I find problems in experimental design that paid professionals often miss. Even if it's helping the post-doc who is supposed to know what he's doing, I never hesitate for the good of science.
I get paid $18k/yr, USD. Yeah, laugh all you want, you trade school jerks. "Muh opportunity cost", big deal. So you make $60k/yr plumbing from 18-30 while I break even with nothing to my name after undergrad loans are considered. WHO FUCKING CARES. Once I graduate, and then finish my post-doc at 35, I'll be able to find a job ANYWHERE IN THE FIELD. Do you know what the median wage is for biotech researchers in the Bay Area? 80-fucking-thousand dollars a year. You'll never have a salary like that, and certainly not living in such a nice area. That's not even considering all the Numeraire I earn.
And the hilarious thing is you guys think it's all about money. The money is only secondary. Do you have any idea what an honor and privilege it is to work in Dr. Blaustein's lab? I'd do it for free if I had to. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you're playing a part in curing cancer.
Ryder Jackson
> Do you know what the median wage is for biotech researchers in the Bay Area? 80-fucking-thousand dollars a year.
uhhhh... I live in the bay area (Oakland/Berkeley) and make more than double that and don't feel particularly rich. It's fucking expensive here.
Good on you for curing cancer though. YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT!
Dominic King
As far as advice goes, though, I had to adjust to working out early in the morning. A co-worker actually taught me how to swim and we began swimming regularly after that, so relying on someone to work out at 6AM with you is great motivation to get up (Get up, swim then lift MWF, be in lab by 8-ish).
Whenever I'm in lab getting figures or whatever a guy in there now usually works out at like 11AM. He'll get there earlier like 7 or so, set up some stuff or take care of things, then go to the gym in the middle of his day. It really depends on what your lab environment is and how you structure your time. Meals I have less info to give; usually just packed lunch or we had way too many fast food options a short walk away.
Carter Ramirez
lol dude thinks 80 thousand a year in san fran is above poverty
Tyler Powell
>50L of media
Assuming this whole post isn't bait, I hope your building has a shit-ton of autoclaves, otherwise everyone there hates you and your lab
Adrian Thomas
Lost
You’re gonna make it mate
Caleb Cox
yoo me too
>Bio
lmao, literally why even chem makes twice that easily
it isn't hard just stick to a schedule, Very easy if you canmanage time.