#tulip.replies

Hi anon,

First of all, apologizes for getting to this ask so late; I had to sit and think about how to respond to you properly.

In my opinion, no job in the world has a non-competitive environment, regardless of field. There’s competition everywhere, and this is particularly true when thinking about the limited job openings and how many people are applying (which generates competition). The other thought is, that the idea of competition is largely in your perspective, and does not define the field itself. 

If you are looking to stay in “academia” in a non-competitive environment, one job outlook might be being a lab technician. Depending on some lab environments, as a lab tech, you have the option of also doing research (and getting on papers), but with the less pressure of a grad school environment. The only downside is that you will be doing a lot of other things too (like making solutions, ordering stuff, etc) that may take up most of your time. You can also look into working as a lab tech outside of academic labs, such as in pharmaceutical companies, which may have many more openings and more of the flavor of non-competitiveness you may be looking for. 

The other career option, if you are more of a non-at the lab bench kind of person but love to read about research, is a research librarian. This is a person who assists scholars (undergrad, grad, scientists, etc.) in their research work. I am not too familiar with this line of work, so you may have to do more research on this.

Hi Anon, I know exactly how you feel - I’m on the same struggle bus. Here are some things that that you should consider:

Do you need a break? Not like a break like school’s closed due to COVID pandemic, but like a break to avoid burn-outs. Sometimes, we just need to get away from everything (the pandemic, school work, responsibilities, etc. ). Often times, taking time away from everything can bring you back with better focus. This can be a day, or maybe a long-weekend. Take a “vacation” in whatever capacity that you can given the pandemic: a long drive, visiting a garden, reading a book that’s not related to your studies, etc. Your definition of a break might depend on whether you can afford to take one (in respect to time), and whether you need one.

Disciple > Motivation. Waiting for motivation to hit you is like waiting for a constantly revolving door to come to a stop so you can get in. What you really need is discipline. The next few points can help you navigate disciplining yourself.

Set a schedule. If you find yourself struggling with focusing, set yourself a schedule to follow through. This can be as flexible (or not) as you need it to be. Plan everything out. Schedule in your studying like you’re going to a class or a meeting. Only work during these times.  If this doesn’t work for you, maybe schedule things day-by-day (this is how I prefer doing things). Work at times that is distraction-free for you. Or set times to enforce distraction-free work. 

Break it up or do it in one big chunk: Some people like to work in sections like using the Pomodoro Technique - this allows you to focus on your sole task within a time limit. If this works for you, keep it up. 

Schedule in review days and breaks. Seriously. You should always make time to reflect on everything you’ve studied. And take a break. i.e. I review things I on mid-Fridays and Saturdays, and leave my Sundays free for everything non-academic like cleaning my apartment, getting groceries, watching Netflix, calling friends, etc.

Study with learning objectives. Don’t just crack open a textbook or notes with the intention of working through it paragraph by paragraph; make a lesson plan. What do you need to really know? Ask questions, and then find the relevant materials that answer them. Think like a teacher - what do you need to cover in today’s “class”? This is a much more productive use of your time, and you are more likely to remember things, and connect things you’ve learned this way.

Use your breaks wisely. Don’t get on social media. or Netflix. Maybe stretch; get some water; open a window. Once you get yourself on some form of social media, you’re going to be done for the day.

Make the space for studying - and nothing else. This can mean a lot of things - from where you set yourself up for studying, minimizing/decluttering the stuff on your desk to focusing on one task, setting up distraction-free times, getting yourself blocking apps so you don’t get distracted by social media, etc. Never study in bed. Or in pajamas. Or anywhere that you know is a a “distraction zone” or is associated with “not studying”. Of course, if your space in limited, set aside a space to study - and train your mind and habits to only do work in that space. If you can and don’t need it, turn off your internet. 

Make to-do lists with some thought. Lists are awesome, but when you just throw a bunch of tasks to complete on a paper, it feels daunting to go through all of it, and even more anxious if you don’t. I find the best way to delegate tasks is by prioritizing them using a prioritizing matrix. See this post by @ellelearns​. Focus on the urgent and important things first.

Have someone holds you accountable. For me, this is my PI (research mentor) because I asked her to quiz me every Friday about things I’ve covered and learned during the week. It could be a friend, or a trusted mentor, a study buddy or a study group. I also like to set up a “virtual coffee shop” with my study buddies over video call (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet). We share each others schedules for the week, set up video calls for the whole day and work on our own thing. This may or may not work for you in some capacity. Work with people who are studious or need to get things done in a timely manner. Alternatively, work along with #studywithme on Youtube.

Last but not least: Don’t be too hard on yourself. Maybe you won’t get to cover everything in the day, or week as you hoped. That’s okay. 

And honestly? The best advice I’ve ever gotten and will impart on you: Just do the damn thing. Just start studying. 

These advices are from my perspective as a PhD student and what works for me right now as I study for my qualifying exams. 

Here are some other posts that I found pretty helpful too (though some things I may have not mentioned or have differing views):

Stephen Covey’s Prioritizing matrix infographic by @ellelearns

For people who struggle with unstructured free time by @elumish

Time management apps by @fuckstudy

This ask reply by @fuckstudy

Study with me on YouTube

How to study when everything sucks by @desultory-suggestions

Tips for time management by @holocrams

Tips on working/studying from home by @eunoiamaybe

Studying under quarantine by @aleanorie

Studying from home, a new lifestyle during #Covid19 plague by @anatomyandcappuccini

I really love the noise of train rides and the slytherin-inspired asmr (because most of them sound like underwater ambience)! I also like any underwater or ocean-inspired ambience too.

Here are my top favorites to listen to while I’m studying:

Train Ride Ambience

Hogwarts Express ASMR

Slytherin Dormitory ASMR

Slytherin Study Session

Hi Anon! OMG, I hope this isn’t super late.

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Since you’re in molecular genetics program, I assume you might be doing rotations right? Here are some things I wish I knew earlier -- 

Before you join a lab/doing your rotations: 

If your first two rotations turned out pretty well, go outside of your comfort zone for your third rotation and do something explorative. I know this feels a bit risky, but it’s worth it - especially if you learn something new and can bring to your lab a new technique. 

Pick a lab based on the mentor, not the projects available. Seriously, I cannot stress this enough. Your mentor will make or break your PhD experience. Know what kind of mentor you want and need (absent, super involved, somewhere in between, etc.). Know your PI’s expectations. Be open and able to communicate with them. 

Check the funding status in the labs you rotate. Do they have grants for your project and equipment? Will you have to TA during your graduate career?

Be friends with senior graduate students; they’re great for advice in navigating grad schools, how to dealing with PIs, knowing what class to take, etc.

Don’t act like the smartest person in your cohort. Trust me, you do not want to be that person. It brings you the wrong kind of attention. (I cannot tell you how many times how awful it was dealing with people like that).

Build a support system for yourself - with fellow cohort members, with other grad students, etc. Grad school is lonely and often feels isolating, but only if you make yourself like that. Get involved with the graduate communities on your campus.

Imposter syndrome is fucking real. If it ever catches up with you, you should know that you deserve to be there, and all things take time. If it gets really crippling, either trade your imposter syndrome for con-(wo)man syndrome or get professional help.

Be nice to the undergrads in the lab you rotate in/join.

Once you join a lab:

Write as you do your experiments; it will save you a lot of heartache. That being said, also make figures as you go along.

Storyboard your experiments! This will help you realize what experiments you need to do, and what’s missing from your research story. (You know those plot-holes you hate in stories? Yea, you want to avoid that in research.) (Sometimes it’s okay to leave things on a cliffhanger, cause that might be your next paper!!)

Set a day for reading/writing. Yes, you want to get into this habit as early as possible. Also, get yourself a writing buddy.

Don’t overwork yourself. Yea, we’re all super busy and want things done, and get our results, etc. But seriously, you’re human, you need rest, you need a hobby, you need friends, and you need to see the sun.

Get comfortable with failures and troubleshooting.

Also get comfortable with critiques.

😎 = "The intimidating mutual"

OMG, I never realized that I came off as intimidating to people! I like to think I'm an easy going individual in person hahaa.

Hello anon~ I think being a TA in grad school depends on your lab’s funding, your department’s requirements, and your university’s requirement. For me, I had to TA for two semesters because my department said it was compulsory for all graduate students + I am working towards a teaching certificate. I know several fellow graduate students who have never TAed in their entire graduate career, or even had to; therefore, it is not something a PhD student MUST do.

I think graduate students’ experiences with TAing varies depending on their own interest in teaching, the students that they have, and the subject that they are teaching, and the classroom type (discussion, lab, lecture, etc.). I can’t say if my experience can be reflective for everyone. It depends.

Personally I like teaching undergrads because I find teaching to be rewarding - not only in helping students, but also for myself (I get to learn new things! and teach people!). Throughout my life I’ve always valued educators, been raised in a family of educators, and have tutored students. Our experience in learning has been colored by the educators we’ve had. I like to think that if we show enthusiasm and care for our students, we can actually engage them in learning something. I’ve had a TA in undergrad who made me cry, and that made me re-affirm that this was not the type of educator I wanted to be or have any students work under. But engagement in teaching hasn’t always been rainbows and glitter. There were days I HATED having to TA - when I was dealing with frustration in lab or my own classes, when my students were particularly annoying (cause yes they do get that way - especially around exam days or grades). TAing sometimes felt exhausting and time consuming, but I think at the end of the semester, it wasn’t so bad.

As for the subject and student type: I taught Anatomy labs to pre-health undergrads. My students were in their 3rd, and 4th year, who are capable of handling heavy course loads and are medical-career oriented. I also teach students who are currently in the process of applying to medical/dental/veterinary schools. In a way I got lucky because teaching underclassmen (especially introductory classes) posses its unique challenges. 

Some general advice:

Set ground rules up front on Day 1. What are your office hours? What do you expect from your students? What kind of behavior is not acceptable in the classroom, etc. But also be inviting so students can actually ask you questions and are not intimidated by you.

Work with your faculty. What are their expectations from the students? How can you facilitate the instructor’s goals?

In some cases, you’re the one with authority in the classroom. But your authority does not mean you can go on a power-trip or be rude (everyone hates those kinds of TAs and it can lead to disciplinary action if you end up on the wrong side of a power-trip).

Be transparent with your students about grading and academic honesty.

Make an effort to prepare materials for the class so you know what you’re teaching. Anticipate questions and how to answer them. If YOU made the effort on teaching the material, your students will also made the effort in learning the material and engaging in the classroom.

Get to know your students; this may be hard for big classes but if you ever end up teaching a small class, learn their names (maybe not the first week but eventually)!

Be kind but firm. Be understanding. Students are humans and have things going on beyond their course-work. Things happen, especially now in the middle of a pandemic.

At the same time, follow policies about missed exams or attendance. Some students love to bullshit excuses - my advice? Ask them to email you and the professor in charge. If you’re not sure about something, defer to the professor’s advice.

Know what resources are available on campus for your undergrads. Sometimes if students are comfortable with you, they may come to you for advice or help with something - whether it’s mental health related, academic disability, etc. You should be ready and able to refer them to the right resources that are available on your campus.

TAing is time consuming. You will have to learn time management like nobodies business in navigating your own research responsibilities with your teaching responsibilities.

Don’t expect every semester of teaching to be the same. I had a great class my first semester of teaching, and then my second semester - I was displeased with half my students. Each semester varies so don’t compare one class to another.

If your school does teaching evals, encourage your students to partake in them. And make an effort to actually read those evals and see if you can implement good changes to your teaching for the next semester.

We’ve all had TAs who’ve never shared any interest in teaching but have to teach a class because it’s an obligation. And sometimes their disinterest shows in their classroom. Don’t be that TA.  Even if you are having a bad day or you just hate being there teaching, don’t show it to your students. They’ll take that as a bad attitude and they will comment about it in the teaching evals. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I have to: DO NOT GET INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR STUDENTS. It’s unethical. I know it gets romanticized in movies and what not, but it’s all kinds of wrong, especially from a power dynamic perspective. It will also end up in your termination from your PhD program and university. 

And lastly: You are not alone. If you’re never sure how to handle something happening in the classroom or need resources in teaching, you can always fall back to your fellow TAs, the faculty instructor, and your university’s teaching center (if there is one).

I’m a undergrad student who’s working on experiment project which I can’t carry on my experiment due to COVID-19 and my supervisor told that he will get the results from his phd student who’s working on similar research but I haven’t heard anything from my supervisor and I want to email him but I don’t know what to say to him cause I don’t want to sound rude. Any thoughts on what to say?

Heya! So I’m confused about who you want to contact, the PI or the grad student?

You can contact the grad student with something along the lines of:

[salutations]

I am an undergrad in Dr. X’s lab and my work is closely related to your project. Dr. X mentioned that due to COVID-19, I would be able to continue my research with your assistance in this/X experiment while I am away from lab. I was wondering if you had a chance to complete this experiment, and if so, could share any results from the experiment? Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

[your name]

Alternatively, you can contact the PI directly with something like:

[salutations] Dr. X,

As per our previous conversation, I wanted to follow up on my project. I was wondering about XYZ experiments and the progress on it so I can utilize the data for my research paper/thesis/etc. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

[your name]

I hope this helps!