Grad Student Life

gradblr phd student - science education

[zagadochno]

come join the gradblr support group discord server! 

come join us if you're a prospective student looking for advice or a current grad student just looking for a place to chat! all disciplines and degree levels are welcome :D

[cancerbiophd]

come join the gradblr support group discord server! 

created by the amazing @doubledteabaglife and co-modded by me

discord is like skype but way better (and it’s still free!). join us as we rant and rave about grad school and our disciplines and in general just support one another through this chaotic time. 

[positivelyqueer]

The late hours of the night and the early hours of the morning are not the times to fix your problems. I know they can feel especially overwhelming then, but it’s okay to let them rest for the moment. Let yourself rest.

[geopsych]

Somewhere the fates are out there like this weaving you a good year.

[ashberrrry]

I be like "omg, i have so much to do" and then go lay down

[inkskinned]

i don't wanna love myself like "buy this feel good". i wanna love myself like i made a sandwich for later because i knew i'd be too busy. i wanna love myself like hang on take a breath do you actually like this. i wanna love myself like okay we're gonna set a reminder to get up and brush our teeth. i wanna love myself like - it's okay to say no, it's okay to take that nap, it's okay to go home.

i don't wanna feel sexy like tv. i don't wanna feel sexy like little black dress. i wanna feel sexy like high note during karaoke. like just got done writing 14 pages of poetry. like let me show you this scarf i've been knitting. i wanna feel sexy like hand on the back of the headrest while you parallel park. like did i tell you about that time i saved a baby bird. like don't tell her but i've been sneaking money into her purse.

i don't wanna feel pretty like expensive. like high fashion. like paid to be here. i wanna feel pretty like a bird in a puddle. i wanna feel pretty like streak of dyed hair. i wanna feel pretty like calligraphy, like new leaves, like a skinned knee bleed, like a dog running at full speed. i wanna feel pretty like lying next to you. i wanna feel pretty like the new album just dropped, i wanna feel pretty like a shower, i wanna feel pretty like a stone wall all covered in moss.

i keep saying body neutrality. that feels negative - no bad things, no good things, just body. but i mean - my body is neutral like a flower is neutral like an oil slick is neutral like a day is neutral, too. my body is neutral so a kiss can feel like lightning so a dance can feel like a hula hoop so a walk to get coffee can feel like - god, i'm so happy to just be around you.

my body is a site. not the source of the joy, just where i can find it. i don't wanna love like - finally got my body tight/forced myself through a diet/whatever trend is the current hype. i wanna love myself like - i go to this river and i find gold every time i shift around inside it. i wanna love myself like - i feel sexy because it's sexy to be alive, and laughing. i wanna love myself like - bitch, i could have died, and i didn't, and if that isn't the prettiest almost in the whole world, than i don't know what is.

[penpanoply]

[inkskinned]

wow i wanna love myself like extremely pleasing typefacing i wanna love myself like enjoyed this post i made a little art about it i wanna love myself like the little flags on the letter t love to curl themselves against their base i want to love myself like hold on mom, it's a good reason i'm crying

[happyheidi]

♡ .... ♡

[darker-december]

1/10/2021

Day 1 of the Autumn Studying Challenge:

What is your favourite thing about autumn?

Honestly everything but if I had to choose it would be the scents and smells. As soon as Autumn hits everything smells so fresh and warm at the same time. The warmth of your cup of hot chocolate and the smell of rain.

[titlecard]

[like-fairy-tales]

[1010ll]

[grayskymorning]

[evenrose]

Days 52 & 53

After taking three days off of work recovering from my COVID vaccine, I had a successful end of the week. 

On Thursday, I met with my PhD adviser to discuss the first steps for readying a dissertation chapter for publication. I also ran some code and talked to my postdoc adviser about what I had seen. I asked him some questions that I had. Now, I need to reach out to our collaborators about whether our data is ready to be processed or whether it needs to be de-anonymized further. I also spent some time brainstorming interview questions (and feeling overwhelmed / had pressure to make the first draft perfect).

Today (Friday), I went to a botanic garden to do some work. Because I haven’t been able to frequent coffee shops in the past year, I bought a membership to the garden and do some work there (I’m lucky to have GREAT, dry weather year-round where I am). The photo is the view from my bench today :)  There, I was able generate a decent first draft of those interview questions. They’re ready for my meeting on Tuesday.

[evenrose]

Day 51/100

I got my second covid vaccine yesterday and was too tired/sick to work today. So, I spent the day resting. In the past two years, I've really come to recognize how important and productive rest is. So, I'm considering today a day of productivity.

I did some gentle yoga, completed a loving-kindness meditation, did a Duolingo lesson, and started a new book.

Hopefully, I'll be better tomorrow. But I had a good rest day.

[evenrose]

Day 50!

I got my second dose of my covid vaccine today! I'm really grateful to have it (and to be privileged enough to have gotten it so far). That took a lot out of me. Before that, I met with a collaborator about what my next steps are. Definitely feeling overwhelmed, but I'll work on it when I'm feeling better.

[evenrose]

[48-49/100]

Oops! I missed posting yesterday! Yesterday, I focused on setting up structure and communication patterns for success. I started my postdoc remotely, which has actually been really difficult. Because my postdoc is international, I have none of the work day in common with my co-workers. Yesterday, I set up meetings and communicated via Slack with the people I’m working directly with. I also set up a weekly co-working session with someone from my old research group.

Today - I prepared for a meeting that I have first thing on Monday. I started poking around in some coding files which were used for a similar but slightly different project. I’m generating questions to ask how processing my data will differ - but it’s student responses and the person I’m working with is not on the IRB, so I think it will be harder to communicate. 

Both days, I did 30 minutes of yoga. 

[evenrose]

[47/100] - 5 May 2021

Today, I • FINALLY connected my parents' printer/scanner to my computer. • I ran some code for one of my research projects. • Spent 30 minutes writing an analytic memo on what I noticed from the code. • Worked on chipping away at my email inbox. I got covid depression and I guess I let a lot of emails slide through in March/April • Had a meeting with a collaborator on a project that hasn't gotten off the ground yet. • Sent my boss an email update with how it's going • Emailed my PhD adviser about turning one of my dissertation body chapters into a journal article. • Half hour of yoga

Tomorrow, I would like to devote at least an hour towards working on job applications - my current position is temporary, and I would like to figure out what I'm doing in 2022!

I feel like I didn't do a lot today, but when I look back at my list, I realize that I've actually done quite a bit!

Today I drank: jasmine green tea Now to make queso and margaritas for a Cinco de Mayo Happy Hour with my family :)