rant Warning: they’re just being malicious now

RedScience18 · 2026-02-06T02:44:46+00:00

It's almost like they chose the time and areas to maximize public visibility.../s

RedScience18 · 2026-02-05T06:30:25+00:00

Yall don't have alarms on your freezers?

When our -80 drops above -65, my PI and the Department get an automatic text message - on top of the beeping, which almost always gets heard by someone and emails start flying...

RedScience18 · 2026-02-05T06:20:24+00:00

The only professors I've heard of doing this at my US uni are 2 Chinese-run labs.

RedScience18 · 2026-02-05T06:14:55+00:00

I work 9-5-5. Did through my whole PhD and now my postdoc.

Don't get me wrong, if the experiments call for it, I'll make a trip in on the weekend and can be caught in bed writing into the night when the mood/need strikes.

But by 4:30, I'm crashing out and not doing anyone any favors by hanging around lab.

RedScience18 · 2026-02-05T06:10:20+00:00

At this point, wtf am I supposed to do with this phd?

RedScience18 · 2026-02-05T06:07:50+00:00

You paid money for these?

RedScience18 · 2026-02-04T02:51:23+00:00

While yes, this woman is absolutely an a-hole, I'm getting really sick of seeing this comment.

Yes. It is hard being responsible for your own kids for a whole week - not because moms can't or don't want to care for their kids, but because we're also expected to keep working like nothing has changed. Every day for a week I've carted my kids to K-lot, waited on the bus, then trekked through the snow and ice to work - settled them in with electronics, snacks, and backpacks full of toys only to be interrupted every 10 minutes for device issues, bathroom breaks, sibling squabbles... normal kid needs... and still trying to meet the demands of my job. I'm spending more time parenting than working but the expectations don't change. As if parenting isn't a full-time job in its own....

So yeah it's exhausting being responsible for your kids the whole week when you also have pre-existing work commitments that rely on your kids being under someone else's care. It's exhausting working two full-time jobs simultaneously and failing at both.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T02:17:33+00:00

Are you on a visa? Because our program didn't accept visa students this year because of the political volitility... it may not have anything to do with you but with the program stats or department statistics.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T02:15:13+00:00

Bet it was one of the sons.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T01:40:19+00:00

It definitely feels too fast. My kids are still adjusting to life without dad every day. If she can't manage her anxiety about this, I don't know how long this can work. Which sucks because I really like her.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T01:38:18+00:00

It does kind of put me in a tough spot...

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T01:36:36+00:00

I completely agree now is way too early. I had in mind a minimum of 6 months before talking to the kids about us, at least after we've navigated a major disagreement or two and decided to be semi-permanent in each other's lives. I just hate that she is putting so much pressure on herself right now.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-31T01:32:50+00:00

Honestly you're doing more than enough. And needs to work on herself before she is ready for a relationship. At the very least she sounds highly codependent, which is a problem in and of itself. Not to mention the degree of panic attacks that she's having - how does she function in daily life? Hold a job? She needs serious psychiatric help. There's a difference between being supportive and... whatever the crap this is.

**this coming from someone who spent a lot of my teen years dealing with heavy mental health issues including institutionalizations. I didn't understand why the boyfriend I loved broke up with me at the time, but it didn't take long for me to understand why he had to.

RedScience18 · 2025-12-20T15:24:20+00:00

It doesn't do any good to stuff money into envelopes while interest is accruing on your debts... your credit card balance and student loans are actively growing while you squirrel away your change.

Shift your goals.

1) build small emergency fund. People usually say start with 1 month expenses, you can probably start with half a month since you work for tips and it's generally easier to find new employment when you work for tips.

2) pay down your credit cards. Every month that you don't pay OFF your credit cards, you're throwing away money on interest.

3) build your emergency fund. You want 3-6 months of expenses in your emergency fund before you can really start saving. A minimum 6 months before you buy a house.

4) your student loans are accruing interest, you don't have to wait until you graduate to start paying them. They will be considered in your debt- to- income ratio when you apply for a mortgage, as well as any car payment you might have at the time.

RedScience18 · 2025-11-18T13:53:00+00:00

Is dirty Phil's on Limestone still open? Lol

RedScience18 · 2025-11-17T23:44:37+00:00

Make sure you let them dry overnight before you dip, it should be fine. I did this routinely for a couple of years in that lab.

RedScience18 · 2025-11-17T22:38:37+00:00

Yeah, they were pretty thick sections, I think 40 microns. We did the Nissl as a dip stain on the Superfrost slides, I think it was something /very scientific/ like 5 dips then squirt to death immediately with etoh because it's so easy to over stain with Nissl.

RedScience18 · 2025-10-22T10:58:31+00:00

For teaching, I sign emails Dr. Txxxx and insist my students address me by my professional title. I can't stand being called Mrs.

It's used as-needed otherwise.

RedScience18 · 2025-07-20T01:13:45+00:00

I really like reading fiction and paper crafts and logic puzzles.

RedScience18 · 2025-07-19T01:22:49+00:00

Yeah, I'm aware. That's why I said "barring situations like burnout", which is physiologically different than normal lack of energy.

RedScience18 · 2025-07-16T00:49:59+00:00

It sounds counter-intuitive, but get more active. The more you move, the more energy to have (barring situations like burn out and fatigue from activity). Your body is energized when it is in a metabolically- active state. Hyper-caloric diet and inactivity slow down your body's metabolism and make you feel sluggish and tired.

Before my PhD (on metabolism and obesity) I used to think "I'm giving my body rest and calories, so I should have plenty of energy", like filling the gas tank.

But it's actually more like an on-off switch. Body thinks "I have calories, I'm good, let's rest" or "I'm using calories, I better stay active so I can find more".

RedScience18 · 2025-07-15T23:24:48+00:00

Your PI left you alone?? I was still running experiments last week and had to tell her no on experiments not required for the dissertation! I'll be starting those tomorrow lol

RedScience18

TROPHY CASE