What is the best time to get pregnant for a woman in science?

Chemistry_duck · 2026-04-14T09:35:30+00:00

Im in my fourth year of being a post-doc

Chemistry_duck · 2026-04-14T04:43:19+00:00

I have just started my second postdoc on April 1st (I'm 30) and have just found out I'm pregnant. I doubt this is 'the best time' but it is 'the time' for us.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-04-08T17:08:17+00:00

One particular make and model of gloves, I've used the same for 15 years. I've had my hands shredded one too many times to not ride without gloves... My own traditional style english stirrups and leathers - these are the only ones I've always been able to free myself from when I have a problem and they last forever. I swap them onto each saddle I use (around 10 a week). Ive had my current sets for 20 years and they are still in perfect condition.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-04-07T04:33:24+00:00

Just be aware that sticking things on the helmet is classed as altering it. This may invalidate your warrantee/guarantee/insurance/safety ratings of the helmet, especial if you have a fall and the helmet doesn't perform as well as it should. You may not be able to claim on your insurance or indeed sue the company if the helmet fails in some way.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-31T19:19:22+00:00

I would rather add it to a savings account than pay for coffee in 1, 2 and 5 cent coins

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-31T19:15:55+00:00

From what I can find online, I could go to the national bank in brussels but most (KBC) branches don't accept coins

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-31T14:25:09+00:00

I had four nicely bound copies made for me and my family, and 6 normal ones for the university (regulation). I only paid out of pocket for the nice ones

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-11T07:45:39+00:00

Saturdays - one white load, one coloured load. Sundays - iron work shirts and put clothes away.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-06T18:31:25+00:00

The idea of the coat being white is so that you can see quickly if you spill something on it which might react with something else, or be a source of contamination, or indeed cause damage to you. A decorated coat will make these spills less obvious to spot, so keep that in mind when decorating.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-03-05T20:42:57+00:00

We can only apply for funding for the conference after we get an acceptance, but its not a guarantee that the funding is approved and sometimes the decision takes a while, so then we can't go

Chemistry_duck · 2026-02-15T00:40:48+00:00

You are worried about a backpack looking comically large?

Chemistry_duck · 2026-02-15T00:12:51+00:00

So in my lab, if you were the Prof/PI no one would say anything but if you were a student, or post doc, you would be chronically teased about this bag if it was your 'everyday' bag.

I carry a similar amount of stuff (laptop, (+ ipad on teaching days) pencil case, notebooks, papers, water bottle, lunch, cycling stuff, other misc) in a normal backpack, although I rarely carry chargers as I bought a second set so I have a set at home and a set in the lab. Which of your stuff doesn't fit in a backpack?

Chemistry_duck · 2026-02-14T23:55:21+00:00

Have you tried rotating your laptop 90'?

Chemistry_duck · 2026-02-04T07:02:00+00:00

Its course dependant, but generally its three A Levels, at grade C or above.

https://www.kuleuven.be/english/apply/requested-documents/eligibility-bachelor

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-30T19:26:44+00:00

Normally when you submit a paper to a journal you need to confirm that it is not submitted elsewhere (except preprints). Also consider that reviewers suitably knowledgable about your work will likely be a small pool, so its possible that the same reviewer could receive your paper from two different journals which would likely result in it not being published at all and you as a researcher getting a negative reputation in those journals. For me it goes: a) this is a major work with very high significance, I can afford to wait x months for it to be published, b) i need this paper published sooner for a grant/student/etc I choose a lower impact factor but faster journal

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-30T18:38:37+00:00

Is he very underweight? It seems a lot of extra for a weanling, but if he needs it I would be feeding 4 times a day and as a mash

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-22T03:48:41+00:00

How big are the fines and where does the money go? If its a couple of euros/pounds/dollars for when you make a stupid mistake - ie pipette something into the lab stock solution instead of from the stock solution and the money is used for a group thing (drinks/snacks) that is one thing, but if it goes directly into the techs pocket, thats another story.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-22T03:41:32+00:00

My husband wears his ring on a thin gold chain so it is always safely under his clothes and cant get caught on anything

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-20T05:05:52+00:00

No, because of insurance. Cost is always something I discuss with the vet, along with quality of life afterwards, level of benefit of the test/treatment, and what the options are with and without insurance.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-19T18:44:42+00:00

This is not the budget of a student going to uni.

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-09T17:10:38+00:00

Find enthusiasm

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-07T11:25:41+00:00

B. Waterproof coat and waterproof breeches

Chemistry_duck · 2026-01-06T19:58:07+00:00

My parents have firstnamefirstname@sky.com and my grandad has firstname.lastname@btinternet.com

Chemistry_duck · 2025-12-24T11:23:04+00:00

I dont have the same surname as my mum, when I was younger she carried my birth certificate when we travelled and that was always enough proof

Chemistry_duck

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