it's all ok; you'll be aright

Callie 🔸 Uk 🔸19 ✨Biochemistry ✨Cambridge ✨

[drawingcambridge]

Some of my recent drawings of the different Colleges of Cambridge University - who can recognise them all?

Postcards, prints and more available on my Etsy shop!

[hil-arrr-y]

Two job-hunting resources that changed my life:

This cover letter post on askamanger.com. A job interview guide written by Alison Green, who runs askamanager.

[the-real-numbers-deactivated202]

Shout-out to @ms-demeanor for putting these on my dash again, I’d like to add this exceptional interview question “answer guide” that explains traps and “the best” way to answer over 64 common questions. I don’t know who to attribute it to, but here it is: PDF from tri valley one-stop career center.

[cancerbiophd]

Do you have any tips about finding a job as a lab tech after graduating from university? i’ve done only undergraduate research so the extent of my knowledge is messaging PI’s and asking them to volunteer my time in their labs.

Hi there!

Firstly, congrats on graduating! 

I think you’ll find these posts helpful to get your started on your job hunt:

Job search tips for recent college graduates (includes links to other posts like how to email PIs for a lab tech position and a masterpost for job websites specifically for scientists)

General career masterpost from the lovely ladies at bitchesgetriches

I’m not sure if I mentioned this in that post of mine above, but also utilize your network! So many jobs these days are filled by internal employees recommending someone they know would be a good fit. Those PIs you did undergrad research for? Shoot them an email to check in and to also ask if they know of any labs that are hiring lab techs. Maybe they know someone who knows someone. 

I also advise brushing up on your CV and resume (and have both on hand), including making tailored versions to the specific position you’re applying for. I would also advise doing some research on how to write a good cover letter, such as this website.  

And the elephant in the room: The pandemic may throw a wrench in things, but depending on your field, some places may actually be doing really well and are on hiring sprees (like many biotech companies right now). 

I hope this helps get you started. Best of luck! 

[para-referencia]

my favorite page from my 2020 bullet journal for now.

[campbellillustrations]

Medical Infographic #1: The Pathology Lab Process

CLIENT  Dr. Richard Oparka, MBChB, FRCPath Department of Histopathology, University of Dundee School of Medicine 

DESCRIPTION Each year new medical and life sciences students enter the hospital’s pathology lab to learn about their step-by-step process on how they process specimens and obtain results. Dr. Oparka, also the teaching lead of pathology, was looking for a visual resource that illustrates each step. This was when he came to me to discuss the possibility of creating a poster that’s not only educational but also fun and eye-catching for his student audience. 

APPROACH I proposed that we go with a flat illustrative style that can not only illustrate the various steps needed but keep the overall design clean as well as effectively outline each step. Copy on poster written by Dr. Richard Oparka Histopahology imagaing provided by Dr. Richard Oparka Design and illustrations by Annie Campbell

POSTER IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON REDBUBBLE

LINK HERE

This project was originally published on my Behance page:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/28094781/Isometric-Poster-Design-The-Pathology-Lab-Process

Booking in and labelling specimen by laboratory personnel

Specimen container with barcode for identification

Gross examination, recording and cutting of specimen carried out by pathologist

Cut specimens are placed in small, labelled containers called cassettes. 

Cassettes are placed into a processor overnight

Processor gradually removes water from the specimen

Processed tissue fragments are taken out of the processor and cassettes and transferred to a tissue embedding station.

Specimen segments are then embedded in paraffin wax blocks that harden at room temperature.

Wax blocks are then transferred to a microtome station.

The microtome cuts the wax blocks into extremely thin slices.

Thin specimen slices are placed on a slide and put through an automatic slide coverslipper before being put through a stainer.

The specimen slides are stained with eosin (red) and haematoxylin (blue).

Once stained the slides are then ready for review by the pathologist through a microscope. They will then be able to make a diagnosis or undertake further techniques to aid in diagnosis. 

[cancerbiophd]

Hi Julia! I started my rotations this September and I'm so overwhelmed by the numbers of papers I've read so far. Since I'm rotating and in class, I've been reading papers in different fields, and I have a hard time keeping track of their main points. Do you have a system that you use to keep track (and remember!) what you've read?

Hi anon!

Ahh gosh I know that feeling. Here are some previous posts on my blog that I hope can help:

How I read and remember/summarize scientific papers: Post 1, Post 2

Another method to read papers (not mine)

Not sure if this is mentioned in those posts, but a method I’m currently using is making an excel sheet to group and summarize papers of the same topic; that way everything is in one place. I then print out all the papers on that excel sheet, make notes on all of them, and stick them in a physical binder. You can also print out the excel sheet summary and use it as a cheat-sheet/table of contents. 

I hope that helps! 

[cancerbiophd]

09.04.19 // hey i wrote a poem do you wanna hear it:

these sunsets are colorful

and my tubes are pretty

im begging you science god 

don’t let my qPCR results be shitty

:D

[chez-at-oxford]

How (I think) I got into Oxford

I am starting at Oxford in September, and I have had some time in the last few months to reflect on why my application was successful. For context, I applied as an international postgraduate student. And while the undergraduate application process is somewhat different, I still believe some of my thoughts are transportable to other contexts - mostly because they are ‘rules of business’. 

Think about mutual benefits

Most universities operate like businesses, and business is about the exchange of value. It is always a smart thing to think about mutually beneficial relationships, where it’s a win-win for everyone involved. Before I started writing my application, I thought about two fundamental questions: How can I be of value to the university, and how can the university be of value to me? Essentially - what am I giving to this relationship, and what am I getting out of it? Nobody wants to be in a relationship (not even universities) where they are all-giving or all-taking. 

I believed that a good application not only provides answers to both of these questions, but also links the two answers together. For example, I wrote in my personal statement that I had international professional experience working in my subject matter, which shows that I can bring a pragmatic and worldly perspective to class discussions. In this case, I would be benefitting from a spot in the class (and all the benefits of an Oxford education), and Oxford would be getting a more diverse class (and all the benefits this has for future research output). I also wrote about how I would like to apply for a PhD after the course, which suggests that I would benefit from doing research through the Masters, and that the university would benefit from having a prospective PhD student in the near future.

My advice for prospective applicants is to be mindful of how the entirety of the  university application package (from the personal statement to the transcript) indicates a mutually beneficial relationship. It can only help to stress how you are giving back to those around you, even if it is in an informal way like helping out your peers.

Answer the right question under clear headings

I found writing the personal statement to be the most challenging aspect of the Oxford application. It was like looking at the mirror and confidently saying all the reasons relating to why you should have a place at Oxford. Easy in thought, difficult in action. I had to resist or more often, ride out the emotionally stressful waves where I thought the opposite. 

On the surface, the big question behind the personal statement is ‘why are you good enough?’. I thought about this question a lot and I think it just made my application process more anxiety-stricken. Remember the question from the previous section:  ‘How can you be of value to the university, and how can the university be of value to me?’ This question is more balanced, more business-like, less personal. It helped me think about the application as a proposal for a project, rather than a proposal linked to my self-worth.

Next, I wrote down the three big answers to the question in light of the assessment criteria. The criteria for my course were:

Commitment to graduate studies in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation

Reasons for selecting the department

Motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study

Any relevant practical/applied experience (such previous jobs)

Ability to present a reasoned case in English.

My one-line answers (which became headings) were:

‘My academic experience evidences an aptitude for quantitative and qualitative research’ (which addresses criteria 1, 3, 4)

‘My professional experience demonstrates that I care deeply about interventions affecting children and families’ (which addresses criteria 3, 4)

‘My aspirations align with the aims and features of the course’ (which addresses criteria 1, 2, 3)

Criteria 5 was implicitly addressed through the presentation of a structured argument (i.e. clear headings and clear evidence under each heading).

My advice for prospective students is to start simple. Find the assessment criteria for the personal statement (or ask for one if it isn’t on published material). Think about ‘How can I be of value to the university, and how can the university be of value to me?’. Write down three one-line answers which cover all of the criteria. Then start populating each section with evidence (which you can further prove through your transcript, CV, writing samples).

Label everything and dot every ‘i’

The last point speaks to details, which was the last 20% of effort for me. I spellchecked everything multiple times, checked again and again for clear document scans, and labelled everything I sent through. I imagine that labelling all the application materials helped create the impression that I cared enough about who was reading my application, and what their experience must be like during application season. I believed that a spelling error might have been enough to give another student a spot if the competition was tight. I certainly didn’t want to risk being affected by minor errors I could have fixed. Everyone is subjected to implicit biases, which is why every ‘i’ matters. 

Those are my reflections for the moment, and I hope it helps out anyone who is thinking about applying to Oxford (or any other school for that matter). Happy to help, so feel free to send a message through + follow for more study-related posts.

[askacambridgestudent]

Hi! I’m thinking of applying for bionatsci, but I only do 2 science subjects at A level (biology and chemistry), and although I’m predicted A*A*A, one of those A*s is in my non-science subject whilst I’m only predicted an A in chemistry. Do I have any realistic chance of getting in?

I’ll admit it’ll probably be challenging to get in with that combination of subjects, particularly given the fact that you’re only predicted one science A*. A lot of colleges now will really prefer you to have three science A Levels, as Maths can be really useful. I’d recommend trawling through a few college websites to see what their views are on applying with only two science subjects, and emailing admissions tutors as well, in order to get some direct advice. It would probably be possible to get in with your grades/subjects, but would be tricky, so maximising your chances by applying strategically would be a really good idea.

[drawingcambridge]

Considering the fact that there is a required maths module in the first year, you'll have to prove you're capable of doing A level maths techniques such as integration/differentiation at interview, so a lot of self studying would be necessary. A level Chemistry is also more important than A level Biology for studying Biology of Cells, one of the modules in first year, so the A in chemistry will also probably hinder you. Not to discourage you from applying, but it's probably worth considering if Cambridge is the right university for you in that case.

[saturday-studying]

Lazy day before work 📖

[honeystudy]

My future log is so empty… for now

[the-old-homosexual-deactivated2]

Can we talk about how in zombie shows/movies/books they always find a veterinarian and not a surgeon? Are veterinarians deemed more likely to survive the apocalypse?

[drferox]

Yup.

One of our professional skills is ‘not being bitten by patients’

We actually have a good broad knowledge base for both surgical, medical, and GP things

We’re used to improvising equipment because a lot of stuff is just not made for animals

Meat safety is part of our training

Our cars are often full of equipment, especially in mixed practice

We probably weren’t in the human hospital at the initial outbreak

[antique-scarecrow]

This post is deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant as certified by the National Shitpost Registry.

[accelerationist-king-piccolo]

[autumngracy]

WHAT a goddamn mood

[dallowaydiaries]

oxford, dec 2018

[simplyelsa-blog1]

Some useful transitional phrases I collated when writing any type of essay!

[bstudies]

The 5 Best Revisions Methods I Want to Start Using

Hi, guys! Whilst planning my next few months to do well on my final exams, I started researching and found a few great study techniques that are a bit underrated. Thus, I compiled a post with information about each one and all the materials you need to put them to use. These are most useful if you’ve already studied the material and are now starting to revise.

A. Feynman Technique

This method was coined by Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman. This system works by writing down everything you remember about the topic you’re currently revising in a blank piece of paper. When you get stuck, go back to your study materials. The gaps in your knowledge should be blatant after you finish. Review and simplify. Keep repeating until you know for certain that there’s nothing left out and you’ve successfully learned the topic. :-)

For this method you will need:

Blank piece of paper

Pen/Pencil

B. Spaced Repetition

This method has been gaining traction for the past few years but it still doesn’t get the recognition it should. It’s fairly simple. It consists of time intervals between study sessions, which allows you store information better in your long-term memory. While there aren’t set times for when to do your next revision session, I’d recommend the one by Piotr Wozniak:

First repetition: 1 day

Second repetition: 7 days

Third repetition: 16 days

Fourth repetition: 35 days

This method can be used both through an analog system and a digital one. 

One of the simplest techniques to implement spaced repetition while using paper flashcards is the Leitner system. First, you decide how many boxes you need for your system. Each of your boxes represents a different study time interval:

Every flashcard starts out in Box 1. When you get a flashcard right, it passes to the next box. If you get a card wrong, it goes back to Box 1 – even if it was on Box 4. This makes sure you are constantly reviewing the materials. Remember to devise a calendar with the dates and boxes you need to revise each day. 

For this method you will need:

Boxes or simply different colored rubbers to differentiate the piles

Flashcards

Pen/Pencil

If however, you prefer a digital method, Anki is the best option for you. It is available online, on both Windows & Mac and there’s also an incredible practical app. It uses the spaced repetition method while taking the trouble of having to hand write hundreds of flashcards and remembering when to study each one.

Simply create an account, then a deck in which you’ll add your flashcards. The app and website allow you to add images and/or sounds to the flashcards. Customize them all you want. Once you’ve finished, save them and check the app every day to revise the flashcards of the day.

For this method you will need:

Anki app (iOS, Android) and/or website

C. Past Papers

I’ve been guilty in the past for not using this method. I got so caught up in my perfectionism that I didn’t even want to try. I learned, though, that getting things wrong is not a sign of failure and that persisting until you get it right is the real strength (and discipline) you ought to have. Do not let your procrastination and/or perfectionism prevent you from learning your weaknesses on a topic and not reach the grade you were hoping for.

Time yourself while taking the test and then correct your answers with a different colored pencil/pen so you can differentiate between correct and wrong answers.

For this method you will need:

Past papers

Pen/Pencil

D. Teach someone

This method is really helpful if you have oral assessments and/or your professor uses the Socratic method in class. You can practice your speech and knowledge all at the same time. Find someone who’s willing to listen to you talk about the topic you’re studying. Even if no one’s willing, you can still explain the matter to an object in the house. Don’t get embarrassed by this! While speaking, you’re organising your thoughts and only when explaining to someone else can you really assess your knowledge.

For this method you will need:

Your voice

Someone/Something who loves you very much

E. Proper sleep & exercise

Yes, I know, these aren’t revisions methods. But as helpful as the previous systems were, they won’t work if you aren’t sane in body and spirit. It’s incredibly important that you rest. Teenagers (13 to 17 years old) ought to sleep from 8 to 10 hours every day, while young adults (18 to 25) only need 7 to 9. You should also get fresh air and exercise. This helps with mental alertness, concentration, an efficient memory and a positive mood. Stay hydrated throughout the day. & please, don’t skip meals! 

For this method you will need:

Proper sleep (x, x, x, x, x)

Exercise (x, x, x)

Healthy diet (x, x, x, x)

[ppeacchystudies]

09.10.16 cleaning my desk is so satisfying 💪🏻 wish me luck for the start of yr 12 tomorrow!