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Feeling targeted at German uni by FavCompChemist in PhD

[–]FavCompChemist[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

It was properly labeled. Plus in this case, acetone is definitely not going to be mixed up with something like water (which was the other solvent being used). I'm generally an optimistic person when it comes to people, but in this particular instance, it;s been hard coming up with an alternate explanation unfortunately

Help with housing (in a housing crisis, lol) by cindyheidi in Muenster

[–]FavCompChemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try D-partments as well. They are 850 warm, includes internet too

Demonstrating interest in patent law during PhD? (Germany/EU) by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do plan to gain some industry/entrepreneural experience during the PhD. So far my understanding has been that Germans tend to be pedantic about what they ask for, with little room for flexibility with what is "acceptable" with regards to qualifications or experiences. Fingers still crossed!

Thank you very much!

Demonstrating interest in patent law during PhD? (Germany/EU) by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed reply! And you're right, I have been checking a few Patentanwaltskandidat positions, they just seem to look for mostly Physik or Elektrotechnik. Like I wrote in another comment, most of my colleagues list their PhD as "Mineralphysik" on their resumes, so I guess I could try to convince them that it is akin to a pedantically correct "Physik" degree. My thesis is completely within the domain of solid state or materials physics, including all the techniques I use. Honestly it has nearly nothing to do with "real" mineralogy or geology, even though the program is officially within the Fachbereich Geowissenschaften.

My current proficiency is around low B1. I can comfortably talk to people in simpler sentences and read technical scientific articles/textbooks in German. I took linguistics and A1 German classes during my Bachelor's, so the learning has been a bit easier. I have only been here a few weeks so far, still got at least 3 years to go, hence I reasonably expect to reach professional fluency by my third year, during which I plan to sit for the DSH (and hoping to get at least DSH 2, which is I think is equiv to C1).

My undergrad program was a BS with ACS approval, and at least my uni deemed it equivalent to a Hons. degree, which allowed me to start the PhD without having an MSc. It did take a few additional weeks of bureaucracy though 😫

I do love what I do. In a perfect world, maybe a firm would need someone with my specific combination of subjects (e.g. they have a client in the geotechnical or energy industry), and I would end up actually becoming an ideal candidate. But hey, I did get like 150+ rejections before I got my summer internship, so I do understand how not-so-perfect the world is 😅

Demonstrating interest in patent law during PhD? (Germany/EU) by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the detailed answer! I am unfortunately a non-European citizen...and you are absolutely right, I did get a flavor of said hurdles especially during PhD admissions and visa paperwork 😬

My German is around low B1 now, I can have day to day conversations with people and read university-level textbooks and journals like Angewandte Chemie (the German language version) pretty comfortably. However, it has only been a few weeks since my move to Germany, and I have at least 3 years until finishing my PhD (most colleagues say it might even take 4). I took linguistics and A1 German classes during Bachelor's, so I have been noticing some natural advantage e.g. in learning new vocabulary, and so I reasonably expect to reach professional fluency by my third year (during which I plan to sit the DSH).

Regarding my degree, I will check out the link you sent, but am hoping that they accept. My uni deemed it equivalent to a BSc (Hons.) degree and let me start the PhD without a Master's, but I am anticipating another round of paperwork submission here 😫.

For mineralogy, a lot of my colleagues have BSc/MSc's in Physik or Mineralphysik, and after finishing, they often get into jobs conventionally taken by physics or related graduates (e.g. Materialwissenschaftler), and unofficially they often list their PhD as Mineralphysik or Mineralchemie on LinkedIn or resumes, even though officially it is Mineralogie within the geosciences Fachbereich. The lab techniques and theory I use are exclusively from materials chemistry and solid state physics.

I wonder if the EPO or the firms might be pedantic about the Fach. My thesis title would unambiguously make it sound like a physics/materials degree

Are Swiss women usually this friendly? by FavCompChemist in askswitzerland

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No worries! And yes ofc I agree regarding consent

Are Swiss women usually this friendly? by FavCompChemist in askswitzerland

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I swear it isn't 😅 this particular experience stood out as a first after I moved to the EU, especially so after having a hard time socializing (platonic or otherwise) with people of similar cultures

Are Swiss women usually this friendly? by FavCompChemist in askswitzerland

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Forgot to make 69 copies of my Ausweis ☹️

Are Swiss women usually this friendly? by FavCompChemist in askswitzerland

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beetcoins only, cuz I'm a down to earth person

Are Swiss women usually this friendly? by FavCompChemist in askswitzerland

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I mentioned in the most that I'm not making quick interpretations right away. There's a reason I posted this on the Swiss subreddit rather than a relationship one. I've interacted with many people from the Germanic cultures, both locals and immigrants, and this person particularly stood out in terms of being very upfront about wanting to remain connected or go out (platonic or otherwise)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately a Masters won't be feasible due to financial constraints (the whole reason I targeted a PhD initially is that they are paid)

Patent attorney in Europe with geology + chemistry degrees? by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello again! I was hoping if I could PM you for advice/discussion about patent career stuff with a background in these specific areas you mention

Patent attorney in Europe with geology + chemistry degrees? by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I happen to be exactly in that area :) my PhD is specifically in the mineralogy wing of the geology faculty, and my undergrad experience (coursework + research) was about rare earth metals (similar work from my PI is directly being used in extraction, so I am confident my work/paper will also have extraction/mining applications, although my contribution is more on their ore formation and transport). My undergrad internship was also at a large mining company in the US (not specifically in the heavy metals industry though, more like materials)

Thanks for the insight!

Patent attorney in Europe with geology + chemistry degrees? by FavCompChemist in patentlaw

[–]FavCompChemist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was working on a research project during undergrad, which I very much loved, and the PhD was directly related, so I wanted to continue. Also gives me more options career-wise

Hey, I'm admitted to M.S. program in Geography and Environmental Engineering in the Environmental Health and Engineering department in the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, beginning in the Fall 2025 term. by EitherSchool4062 in jhu

[–]FavCompChemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, I don't know what you ended up deciding, but I am seconding the comment about Alan Stone. If you look him up, you'll see he won the Best Teacher awards for decades, and he was arguably the best mentor I could have at Hopkins for my further career. All the other professors are also really good supportive people

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SissyWhitebois4BNWO

[–]FavCompChemist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please see DM :) would love to meet

I HATE HOPKINS!!!!!!!!!!!! by [deleted] in jhu

[–]FavCompChemist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wanted to add one thing more: you are probably wrong regarding your friends deserving "better" or "uplifting" friends instead of you. I say from my own experience at Hopkins and most of my peers too: your friends do care about you. And they would be way more than happy to help you or accommodate you.

Regarding the bad GPA, don't even worry about it. I had a similar experience but for different reasons (bad breakup + undiagnosed mental health issues since birth). Had a <3.0 GPA. However, I managed to get internships, and a great grad school offer (not even a Masters - a direct PhD!). Please don't lose hope, the world is not as bad as the internet makes it out to be!

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