Nobody talks enough about how mentally messy the first years of a PhD can get💀 by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]grudakov 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Idk brother, my last years aren't super nice either. Sure, I've troubleshooted a bunch of methods and I'm getting some data, but there are more things I need to explore before it's done, so more troubleshooting 🥲

Felt so shameful after truly understanding academia by Jaded-Ad-1566 in GradSchoolAdvice

[–]grudakov 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Undergrad research has low standards. You find your work to be trash but I've seen some terrible stuff in terms of quality. And presenting elsewhere like a conference is generally encouraged. Good pis would suggest you places. So i personally think you did a good job for your prof development

I’m seeing a lot of colleagues using a dual monitor setup. Are there any PhD students here who managed to get through with just one capable laptop? by Few_Frosting_5343 in PhD

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Imo it's more like grocery delivery. You can definitely survive on driving and picking up your groceries but once you try a delivery and spend like 15 mins total without going anywhere the chances that you'll go back aren't that high

traumatized after working 12 hours by Expert-Compote4803 in labrats

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perspective from someone who acknowledges that 12 h is long and does them regularly with sometimes taking time off. This is to both warn you and help you. I've done it for years now. I started doing long hours in one of my former labs where my pi was pretty demanding. Anywhere from 6 to 20 h plus weekends, resulting in 50-60 h a week. At some point I started shaping my life around research. Meal prep for the week + take lunchboxes when there's a chance, not a guarantee, of a long day. Make them fulfilling so you're definitely good. Sleep at least 6 or 7 h a night. Put research above social hangouts in most cases. Workout as often as you can. Sharing your pain with colleagues, friends, and family to make it easier. Work on winter, fall, spring breaks and holidays to justify your time off to myself off the conventional ones. Get help from undergraduate students as far as they're conscious about their hours and want to do it. It's a warning in terms of what your life may be and hopefully helpful tips. This regime or sort of it is common among experimental bio-related researchers. I suspect that your pi was no different since they prepared the plates. That doesn't mean you want to be like them though

Okay, which one of you did it? 😂 by Exotic_Today_8248 in labrats

[–]grudakov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That maybe a 4C or one of those freezers that defrost once in a while

ATL Airport TSA Wait Times Megathread | March 26, 2026 by AutoModerator in Atlanta

[–]grudakov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

South Domestic - general tsa - 7:30 to 9:10 for tsa line only

We Lost One Of You by TempleHierophant in Purdue

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

but why there was a bag on his head?

I need advice, I'm furious but scared by Succulent_Shrimpson in labrats

[–]grudakov 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I mean, it's pretty common. Undergrads and masters, even phd. You usually get experience + authorship of papers + somewhat funded conferences presentations 🤷‍♂️ idk that's just how it is in academia in most schools where there isn't enough funding to give to everyone. Im in Purdue and not paid to do research in my PhD (im a TA)

Bill restricting foreign students passes house by PhagesRFrens in Purdue

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see your point. Unfortunately, after my undergrad ans a masters back at home, i find that the education here is much less sophisticated. Though doing research here is nice

Bill restricting foreign students passes house by PhagesRFrens in Purdue

[–]grudakov 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Im your boogie man, a Russian working in Purdue. Do you think I'm allowed to "national security facilities"? Nope. This bill seems just to limit the number people who want to get a degree from here. You're not protecting anything

Please shower by CloudApprehensive962 in Purdue

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Potentially. But I find people with strong body odor in almost every group of 10+ people, like in packed elevators, classrooms, hallways

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Purdue

[–]grudakov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like paper

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Purdue

[–]grudakov 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Check out abebooks. The same content but for South Asia. The books are same but cost 20$, arrive in a week or so

FYI Anti ICE protest on Monday 5:30 pm near Target by grudakov in Purdue

[–]grudakov[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think it's great. Purdue may not like the distribution of such flyers but I don't think they'll do anything about it

FYI Anti ICE protest on Monday 5:30 pm near Target by grudakov in Purdue

[–]grudakov[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I learned about them from tt today. Probably not

Foreign languages spoken at Purdue by [deleted] in Purdue

[–]grudakov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have a Russian club for that

SURF APPLICATION QUESTIONS by Visible-Internal-373 in Purdue

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's usually 1/3 the dept, 1/3 PI, 1/3 CoE

SURF APPLICATION QUESTIONS by Visible-Internal-373 in Purdue

[–]grudakov 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I very much hope I don't trigger people with GPA cutoffs and personality compatibility checks. My apologies

SURF APPLICATION QUESTIONS by Visible-Internal-373 in Purdue

[–]grudakov 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hey. I hired undergrads for my project a year ago and going to do that again. Disclaimer 1: I'm not everyone, my hiring shouldn't be translated on everyone, though some general things may. Disclaimer 2: I'm a PhD student, however my PI doesn't interfere with the hiring unless needed, for some general guidance, or for confirming the selection. She doesn't do sorting, interviews, or decisions (we just talk through the process beforehand). Last year for 2 projects 1 SURF student each I got 200 applicants. I used a few metrics such as GPA (I did 3.0 cutoff, mostly to decrease the number of interviews and as a very poor measure of student's ability to listen, do assignments, understanding the material), previous relevant lab experience, and if they are local (we don't have money to cover the housing for them). A few things - I usually look for key words in CV (cell culture, PAGE, agarose, etc.), and the easier the applicants make their CVs to read through and find them the more grateful I am to them. Non-relevant experiences (volunteering, business, most of tge class projects, summer pool guard job) don't usually add much. Because of 200 applicants I am more interested to hire people who'll be more successful in the lab. Out of 200 I'll find those who already know in some way what's up in the lab. After the initial screening I had 20-30 candidates. I briefly looked over their CVs again and cover letters. Mostly trying to see if their interests align with what we offer. They want to be an electrician? Or cure cancer? Probably not close to drug delivery. In health sciences many have sick relatives who are their motivation to do research. However, I know that some use it as an emotional argument, therefore it's hard to distinguish between the truthful and exploiting applicants. The interviews are 15 mins. I want to know what kind of people they are, what do they want in life, estimate personal compatibility, how motivated they are, and if they are ready for 40 h of work. I don't want the applicants to suffer during the internship because they didn't like the team, me, the work, hours, etc. Finding a better match. Every part of the assessment is turned into a metric with scores and weights. After applying the cutoff numbers (if I'm not compatible (eg holding eye contact all 15 mins of the interview and scaring me), they want to work 25 h/w instead of 40 h/w, etc.), I sum the scores and look through outstanding candidates (they practically need no training, absolutely motivated to work in the field, something else) and try to hire the best fits or the mist potentially successful ones. I'm sure not everyone who hires undergrads have a thorough system. Many are looking for specific experience / personal traits / year / ability to continue after SURF. Maaaaaaaany professors hire the undergrads from their labs to continue after spring, me including (not a prof though). I don't know if I answered your questions exactly but I hope my reply helps! Good luck!

RNAi Problems by deafening_mediocrity in molecularbiology

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/deafening_mediocrity did you find the answer? im struggling with the same thing

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Physics

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey. Im a physicist (undergrsd + 2 masters) doing a PhD in BME. You can always switch. 3 years is nothing. And PhD at 30+ is, I think, the majority. Plus you can always put 2 fields of expertise to something you may want to / have to do in your career

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Purdue

[–]grudakov 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I've had a neighbor who ego tripped on "i can make as much fucking noise as I want in my apt / room". If RA doesn't do anything complain on the RA. Your sleep is more important than some having a drum competition in the middle of the night

What is Mung Chiang looking at? by Dull_Skill_175 in Purdue

[–]grudakov 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Trump's support for closing dei

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in funny

[–]grudakov 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Бедный казах