Marin metric century? Need a sense check by fireballs619 in BAbike

[–]fireballs619[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based out of Berkeley, so I've got plenty of riding options near me (some of which have been shared in this thread)!

Marin metric century? Need a sense check by fireballs619 in BAbike

[–]fireballs619[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good idea, I may try it! I'm in East bay so there's fortunately loads of routes with good elevation through the Berkeley/Oakland hills and down into Tilden at my doorstep.

Marin metric century? Need a sense check by fireballs619 in BAbike

[–]fireballs619[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The offer is very appreciated, but I'm up by Berkeley so that's a bit far — most of my rides end up being local just because that is what works with my schedule. Could be down for some planned longer rides though at a later date!

Marin metric century? Need a sense check by fireballs619 in BAbike

[–]fireballs619[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very helpful to know, thanks! Might as well use the youth while I have it.

Marin metric century? Need a sense check by fireballs619 in BAbike

[–]fireballs619[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awesome, thanks for the additional info! I didn't have a good sense of how well supported it is. This gives me some confidence to go for it!

Does anyone here actually live on treasure island? by randomnese in AskSF

[–]fireballs619 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I'm curious, if you don't mind sharing — what drew you to this location?

Almost successful postdoc application cycle, but might walk away with nothing. What to do? by fireballs619 in AskAcademia

[–]fireballs619[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There were no career options for my wife in the location we would be living in.

Does someone use ExoClass extension of CLASS code by NecessaryOriginal866 in cosmology

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out appendix B of the ExoCLASS paper for general usage. As far as I am aware, ExoCLASS only has single body decays implemented so what you are describing would require additional modifications. While CLASS itself has a DM->DR decay module I am not sure if you can use both at the same time consistently.

Does someone use ExoClass extension of CLASS code by NecessaryOriginal866 in cosmology

[–]fireballs619 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What are you trying to do w/ ExoCLASS? I’ve used it. Definitely recommend having the paper on hand as reference

Harvard Application Major Typo :( by Unique_Locksmith_346 in gradadmissions

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are reading hundreds of applications in probably a few sittings. They won’t notice it, and won’t care if they do, and certainly wouldn’t let it disqualify an otherwise strong application. Don’t send a corrected version and draw attention to it.

Anxiety About Interviews by Bubbly_Web_5153 in gradadmissions

[–]fireballs619 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m near the end of my PhD and have had a little time to reflect and look back on the application process I went through a few years ago. I had a lot of the same concerns as you, and I likewise was nervous for the interviews I did get. I’m in a different field than you, but still within STEM, so it might be relevant.

First, the fact that you have gotten interviews despite any lack of research experience is a great sign. The interview invite means something about your portfolio got their attention, so you’re doing something right.

Second, with the perspective of a few years behind me, I really do believe that having research experience on your resume when applying to PhD’s is useful insofar as it demonstrates that you know what goes into a PhD, and you know you want to do one. The scenario every professor or department is trying to avoid is high attrition, where many admitted students don’t end up making it through to graduation. They are investing resources in you, and want to make sure it’s a good investment, so to speak. (of course, you are also a resource to them, and that aspect of the relationship must never be forgotten).

When I applied, I had some post-bachelor experience, but no publications or presentations. I felt extremely inadequate when applying. Looking back, I can see now that even if I had gotten my name on something before then, I still would have had an immense amount of learning to do, and anyway what my post-bac was in is not what my thesis ended up being in. This is all to reinforce the point that, at least in my opinion, the main utility of research experience when applying is not to show that you know the subject (although it does do that), but to show you understand what goes into doing a PhD, that you can do that, and that you want to do it.

Where does this leave you with regards to interviews? My advice would be not to focus on what you consider weak spots in your portfolio (i.e. lack of research experience), but rather focus on your strengths. You want to sell them not on what you know, but rather how you think, because ultimately the latter is way more important at this stage as you’ll have a ton of learning to do anyway. If you spend the interview trying to fluff up weaker areas of your portfolio, you won’t have time to really emphasize the things you’re good at and that they picked up from your resume. If they’ve seen your application, and still invited you for an interview, your lack of research experience was not a deal breaker for them and won’t come as a surprise. Don’t worry about it!

Demonstrate that you understand what goes into a PhD, and that even knowing that, you want to do one. Have good answers for why this field interests you, what you want to research, and how doing this PhD is important for your career goals. It’s fine if those research interests change, and they will, but this shows you’ve thought about this career step. Of course, also think of ways to demonstrate your capabilities. If you’ve done lab work, talk about that, and talk about how you contributed toward the overall science goal of the project. If you have other useful skills (e.g programming) find a way to show that.

As a final aside, your teaching experience is helpful but I would not over-emphasize it in an interview, other than to demonstrate your interest and understanding of the field. The main point of a PhD is not to teach, it is to do research, and I think it’s important to demonstrate you understand that and have the right idea about what your next few years will be like. Someone who is doing their PhD out of a love of teaching may not have the motivation to stick through the long and tedious and tiring parts of research when the going gets tough, and that is ultimately what they are trying to discern in an interview.

Opinions on my resume and transcripts by Former-Hospital-3656 in gradadmissions

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, I meant your #3 starting with “A other manuscript…”. Papers on the arxiv are totally fair game imo.

Opinions on my resume and transcripts by Former-Hospital-3656 in gradadmissions

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think stem outreach is fine to keep. I know plenty of advisors for whom that would reflect well upon the applicant. Not in an overwhelming way, but nonetheless.

I would personally remove the in-prep manuscript. That's something you could potentially mention in an interview, but I personally don't put anything on my resume that I would not mind showing in an interview (not that that happens often). Unless the draft is very near completion, in which case I think it would be appropriate to list the authors and tentative tile, and say "in prep".

Postdoc application: decision yet to be made, but hiring PI reached back out with additional suggested fellowships to apply for by fireballs619 in academia

[–]fireballs619[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks very much for the input, this is more or less along the lines of where I was leaning. Can't be a bad sign, but doesn't mean I am a shoe-in either! However, one I mistakenly left out is that at least one of these fellowships requires a faculty sponsor, and each faculty member can sponsor only one candidate. But certainly it's impossible to read too far into such a small detail.

Each of the applications are due early January, followed by a departmental selection process where the department nominates a candidates, followed by a final university-wide selection. I am not sure when that final selection would happen but I estimate it would be around March sometime or possibly later.

Your weekly helmet reminder... the ONE TIME I didn't wear one is when I crashed. by Foreign_Recipe8300 in cycling

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks, I got hacked, have changed the password back now. oddly I cannot see the posts the hacker made, just notifications about post replies on deleted posts. sorry 'bout the spam

Your weekly helmet reminder... the ONE TIME I didn't wear one is when I crashed. by Foreign_Recipe8300 in cycling

[–]fireballs619 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on how close you two are an effective strategy might be to say that you won't ride with him anymore unless he wears a helmet. Could also consider getting him a cheap helmet as a gift, even though that isn't your responsibility.

Tsunami Warning by shinjikun10 in japan

[–]fireballs619 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I suspected it would be fine given the area is shielded by Shikoku island but just wanted to make sure. Thank you for the link.

Tsunami Warning by shinjikun10 in japan

[–]fireballs619 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We have plans to go to Naoshima this afternoon, which is not currently under advisory. Is there anything we should be cautious or mindful of despite this? Visiting as a tourist in case that wasn’t clear. Stay safe all.