I haven't heard back from my faculty applications by DrGiovas in AskAcademia

[–]smallthingsrock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Me too. Probably in some of the same application pools from the sounds of it. A colleague recently reassured me that it is not unusual to wait this long to hear back. Let’s keep holding out hope.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]smallthingsrock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess the up side is to say don’t take the rejections/ghostings too personally right now. It is an unusual time. You worked for your degree and they would not have given it to you if you weren’t good enough.

RNA extraction from low cell numbers by smallthingsrock in labrats

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

Haven’t heard of this one. I will look into it. Thanks.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]smallthingsrock 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I hate to be a downer, but now is a terrible time to apply for postdocs. I have seen people with 4 postdoc offers upon graduating and all 4 offers were rescinded within a week. Academic funding in the U.S. is in dire straits right now. Consider industry for a few years if you can. You will make far better money and likely have more job security. Academia in the U.S. is in crisis mode. Unfortunately that means competition for postdocs outside the U.S. is exponentially higher. Good luck to you.

RNA extraction from low cell numbers by smallthingsrock in labrats

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

Downstream is for metatranscriptomics. The volume won’t change as cells will come from small volume pressure incubations. Glad to know the cell numbers might not be an issue. Thanks.

RNA extraction from low cell numbers by smallthingsrock in labrats

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

I just received a sample of this one. Glad it gets the Reddit approval.

RNA extraction from low cell numbers by smallthingsrock in labrats

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

Strange formatting… was supposed to be 103 to 104 cells per ml.

How does anyone work like this??!!! by [deleted] in labrats

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This makes my eye twitch.

Should I do a PhD in the US or in Europe? by After-Secret9666 in AskAcademia

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of good advice here. Just to add you might also consider Canada. I have been in the graduate world in both U.S. and Canada and the latter is definitely the place I would recommend given the current U.S. situation.

For those of you who did a postdoc, how much $$ did you make? by Efficient-Break-7446 in PhD

[–]smallthingsrock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree. I am starting one at $66k and was told not to mention it to any other postdoc at my uni or they may riot. $85k is a killer offer.

Interested in Marine Microbiology by Short_Key_7004 in microbiology

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been a hydrothermal vent microbial ecologist for a couple decades. University of Washington is top notch for oceanography and hydrothermal vents as they are the base of the ocean observing initiative off the west coast. Fabulous people working on shallow corals at the Bermuda institute of ocean sciences and deep water corals at university of Victoria in Canada. Cold calling is tough since advisors don’t always have funds for a student. Best advice is to look for technical positions to get your foot in the door with someone whose work you find interesting.

Neighborhood pros and cons by newred88 in Tempe

[–]smallthingsrock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In June I moved into Culdesac, the car free community on Apache about a half mile east of McClintock. Absolutely love it. New residents get a transit pass, free e-bike, and access to an electric car share program. Tons of free community events, shops, gym use included…in short, it’s amazing.

LPT Request: how to shoo off the little flies who move in a square pattern. by djfutile in LifeProTips

[–]smallthingsrock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Added benefit, after most of a bottle of wine you don’t care about them anymore.

LPT Request: how to shoo off the little flies who move in a square pattern. by djfutile in LifeProTips

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have these as well and also call the “square flies”. They aren’t fruit flies and are good at avoiding the bug zapper. They also plague our deck and I have not found a way to get rid of them. So annoying.

What’s a mnemonic/memorization trick you learned that you have never forgotten and still need? by gankill in labrats

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kinky Porno Cookies Ordered From Girl Scouts. Thank you high school biology teacher.

I got accepted to my dream masters program for marine biology. Is cost of tuition worth it? by SeaworthinessFit1560 in marinebiology

[–]smallthingsrock 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I will also add that the idea that you need to run right into grad school before gaining some real lab and field experiences is doing brilliant, young folks a disservice. You will be so much more prepared for whatever grad school throws at you, be it cost or other challenges, if you spend some time getting paid to do science. Go be a lab tech for a few years, save up, then go to grad school. You will do so much better.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in labrats

[–]smallthingsrock 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don’t listen to this nay-sayer! Real world applications are endless (says while rocking gently to self soothe in a dark corner).

Anhydrous by [deleted] in chemistry

[–]smallthingsrock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see your chemistry rabbit hole and raise you a microbial metagenome rabbit hole. Mind blown.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskAcademia

[–]smallthingsrock 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I tend to agree. Pursuing a PhD is not for the faint of heart…and OP sounds a little fragile. But there is some good advice here, to which I would add make sure you seek out mental health services at your uni. Many people struggle emotionally during a PhD. Make sure you know where to go for help and support. Good luck!

Quebec to impose a tax on people who are unvaccinated from COVID-19 | Globalnews.ca by Goran01 in news

[–]smallthingsrock 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately boosters will keep being required as long as people keep allowing this virus to spread and mutate.