I was tempted to start this post out with some sort of “I’m still here” comment, but I realized that I’m doing that a lot lately. So, instead let’s just consider it said. I have ideas for posts, but I haven’t had a chance to write any of them. I’ve putting in a lot of time in the lab and that brings me to my RBOC post.
- Dr. Man and I (a variety of people from his family: Dr. Man’s Parents, SIL-3, BIL-2 & his girlfriend, BIL-3 & his girlfriend, and BIL-4) went to the City of Brotherly Love for his Cousin’s wedding.
- Said wedding was lovely. The reception was amazing. The food was pretty good, the band played well, and there was an open bar. God bless the open bar.
- I saw the Liberty Bell. The exhibit was really nice. I thought that the exhibit built up the many different causes that the Liberty Bell has helped further (Women’s Lib and Civil Rights come immediately to mind).
- I need to be more efficient with my time in the lab. I’m not sure how to keep focus that long. Suggestions?
- As far as lab work is concerned, it’s been pretty up and down.
- I made progress in Damned Yeast Project.
- Then, I found a fatal flaw.
- Then, I realized that it wasn’t a fatal flaw
- as One of my other clones will work
- and now I’m back on track.
- I was very lucky.
Yay for being back on track! I think it is always challenging to focus for long periods of time in the lab during the summer because you DON'T have any distractions. During the school year, I always had time constraints like having to catch the last bus, having to go teach a class, or having to run to yet another seminar. Good luck; you can do it! 🙂
I hate fatal flaws – glad yours wasn't one of them! Yay for being back on track!
woho, that's all good news! I¨ll keep hoping yeast project will stop being annoying and soon over!
Open bars and luck are just about on the same level of greatness for scientists 😛
Re: being more efficient with lab time, this is something I've been trying to do as well. I try to plan my experiments at least a day (and sometimes a week) in advance. I print out weekly calendars and stick small post-its to it (so I can move them around if I run out of time that day). One of the biggest efficiency of promoters for me has been not checking my email or even pulling out my computer the moment I step in the lab. Sometimes I just grab a bucket of ice and pull samples out to thaw before setting up my computer, but even doing something small seems to get me started early and keeps me on track.
Amen for open bars.
UR: That's probably true. I always think of summers as this blank canvas that I can use to get so much work done. Then, I get so upset with myself that I waste time. However, during the school year I get so many breaks that it's easy to focus when I've got the time.
Science Girl: I cheered in the lab when I realized I wasn't as out of luck as I thought. Luckily it was a Saturday, so no one was around.
Chall: Me too. I'm hoping that it'll be much less annoying over the next few months.
Biochem Belle: First of all, welcome to the blg. Second of all, I must commend your attitude towards both luck and open bars 😉 I like your idea with planning out experiments. I think I'm going to copy you and give that a try. One of my biggest time wasters (besides the internets) is getting done with one task and then trying to figure out what to do next (or forgetting about things I planned to start for tomorrow's experiments). I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes.
Aunt Becky: Praise be.
Glad that the flaw wasn't fatal!
The ups and downs of life in the lab is what keeps PhD programs so interesting! You‘ll probably relate to this new documentary: Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist (www.naturallyobsessed.com).Produced by Dr. Richard Rifkind and his wife, it follows the roller coaster lives of 3 PhD candidates in the lab. Good luck with your work!