I'm struggling with my research, Dear Readers. I'm supposed to be setting up a basic experiment as a platform for some flashy new tools, but it's just not working and I can't figure out why. This sort of experiment has been used since the begging of ecogeoscience time, yet for some reason I can't repeat what's in the literature. On top of that, I've been asked to turn my attention to several different projects, so I can't ever seem to dive in deep enough to get the problem solved.
Although I'm feeling frustrated as all get-out, in a strange way I'm enjoying the challenge (sort of). There are people around I can ask for advice, but no one to really hold my hand. In contrast, my PhD work was so close to my advisor's research that I didn't have to do much trouble shooting or practical experimental design on my own. I'm super-glad to be gaining new skills, but I'm really, really looking forward to solving this problem.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Groundhog day?
One of the principal reasons I don't want to teach is the Groundhog Day Feeling. Teaching multiple sections of the same course simultaneously sounds dreadful. Offering the same courses semester after semester sounds even worse. I like the feeling of progress I get with research projects -- an idea manifests into experiments that develop into presentations and papers, and then you build on those results for the next project so that ideas and knowledge grow over time. I like that feeling of moving forward. I think teaching would feel like starting over time after time without making progress.
I talked about this with a friend who loves her job as a university lecturer. She like the sense of renewal she gets at the start of each new semester -- the clean slate to try new things, improve on last semester's disappointments, and influence a new set of students. I imagine she also feels some measure of personal progress as she polishes her syllabi with each new course.
I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.
I talked about this with a friend who loves her job as a university lecturer. She like the sense of renewal she gets at the start of each new semester -- the clean slate to try new things, improve on last semester's disappointments, and influence a new set of students. I imagine she also feels some measure of personal progress as she polishes her syllabi with each new course.
I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Noise
As it happens, I have always lived on the top floor of whatever mulit-unit building I have lived in. Dorms, apartments, whatever. I never demanded the top floor, it just always worked out that way.
Having never had anyone living above me, I'm not really sure how much noise transfers to the people below. I think we're pretty quiet - no shoes indoors, no loud music, mostly just sit with our laptops in the evenings - but I just have no sense of what they can hear. It makes me nervous to have parties. I really really want to have lots of parties but I'm too worried about my neighbors.
Now we're on a middle floor, but in a building that is much better noise-insulated than our last. We haven't heard a single noise from any of our neighbors. Until today. Today I can hear all manner of noises from above. I wish I knew what they were doing! Are they just moving around (so that means the people below can hear us moving around)? Or are they, like, moving out or something that requires moving all the furniture (so a party wouldn't be so bad)? I can hear a mechanical sound - is that the vacuum or a floor sander? I wish I knew!
Having never had anyone living above me, I'm not really sure how much noise transfers to the people below. I think we're pretty quiet - no shoes indoors, no loud music, mostly just sit with our laptops in the evenings - but I just have no sense of what they can hear. It makes me nervous to have parties. I really really want to have lots of parties but I'm too worried about my neighbors.
Now we're on a middle floor, but in a building that is much better noise-insulated than our last. We haven't heard a single noise from any of our neighbors. Until today. Today I can hear all manner of noises from above. I wish I knew what they were doing! Are they just moving around (so that means the people below can hear us moving around)? Or are they, like, moving out or something that requires moving all the furniture (so a party wouldn't be so bad)? I can hear a mechanical sound - is that the vacuum or a floor sander? I wish I knew!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Packing sucks
I think EGM packed the coffee filters last night. He's still asleep, although I don't know how since we packed the curtains yesterday and it's super-bright in our bedroom.
P.S.: we're not packing up the tv until after Lost.
P.S.: we're not packing up the tv until after Lost.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Moving
We're moving on Monday!
A list of things I will miss about our current place, in no particular order:
A list of things I will miss about our current place, in no particular order:
- Lots of space, including plenty of closet space and beds to accommodate a visiting family of 5
- Beautiful original woodwork
- Tree-lined streets, including big trees right outside the window that make it feel like we live in a treehouse
- Relatively inexpensive rent
- Wonderful neighborhood -- very safe and quiet-ish yet very interesting with lots to do
- Excellent natural light
- Shorter commute!!!!!
- Dishwasher!
- Laundry in unit!
- Elevator
- Pool and sundeck
- Pool table room in the building
- Gym, with a view, in the building
- Party room, with a view, in the building
- Garage parking space
- Lots of kitchen counter space
- Decent water pressure
- A toilet that flushes properly
- Bathroom door that latches and locks
- Busy, super-hot neighborhood
- Incredibly convenient access to public transit
- Closer proximity to many of our friends
- Shorter commute!!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The pace of things
My new subfield moves really fast. New technology is continually rolling out, such that you might start a project with one technology and finish it with another. That goes for the literature too. Other Postdoc said that the oldest paper she's ever cited is from 1990. PI told me his thesis is totally out-of-date, maybe even obsolete. Year-old data starts to smell stale.
In contrast, the oldest paper I cited in my thesis is from the 1930s. In fact, one of the larger criticisms of my big paper was that I didn't cite enough of the pioneer literature; the reviewer suggested some papers from the 1970s. Research Advisor's thesis papers are still frequency cited. We have data that is several years old that would still get in very decent journals.
Just another example of how a shift in fields can have a major impact on how you do, and think about, science.
In contrast, the oldest paper I cited in my thesis is from the 1930s. In fact, one of the larger criticisms of my big paper was that I didn't cite enough of the pioneer literature; the reviewer suggested some papers from the 1970s. Research Advisor's thesis papers are still frequency cited. We have data that is several years old that would still get in very decent journals.
Just another example of how a shift in fields can have a major impact on how you do, and think about, science.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Science chat
I had a great conversation about Science with my boss today. The best part was that I could tell he specifically made time to have the chat, in part because he knows that I need to get shit sorted soon if I want to do any significant field work this summer. Still, it would have been easy enough for him to forget the urgency of the upcoming field season, as he is not a field scientist.
Our lab's work divides out into two vastly unrelated subject areas that are bound together by one broad theme. The other postdoc's specialty is Area 1 and mine is Area 2. The technician is also interested in Area 2, but he'll be leaving in a few months. PI is a specialist in Area 1 but has dabbled heavily in Area 2. I'm not sure which one he prefers; I think 1 but the other postdoc guesses 2 and PI himself says his passion is the broad theme that ties them together. Recently, I was chatting with the other postdoc about how I would be sad when the technician leaves because I will be losing my scientific buddy. I wouldn't be surprised if she conveyed this to our PI and that precipitated our conversation today.
Anyway, I'm encouraged because PI and I are on the same page about the kind of projects I should do. Moreover, he seems very willing to give me the time I need to figure out experimental designs, gather preliminary data before we commit to a bigger project, and just learn some of this new stuff. I'm really glad I took this job.
Our lab's work divides out into two vastly unrelated subject areas that are bound together by one broad theme. The other postdoc's specialty is Area 1 and mine is Area 2. The technician is also interested in Area 2, but he'll be leaving in a few months. PI is a specialist in Area 1 but has dabbled heavily in Area 2. I'm not sure which one he prefers; I think 1 but the other postdoc guesses 2 and PI himself says his passion is the broad theme that ties them together. Recently, I was chatting with the other postdoc about how I would be sad when the technician leaves because I will be losing my scientific buddy. I wouldn't be surprised if she conveyed this to our PI and that precipitated our conversation today.
Anyway, I'm encouraged because PI and I are on the same page about the kind of projects I should do. Moreover, he seems very willing to give me the time I need to figure out experimental designs, gather preliminary data before we commit to a bigger project, and just learn some of this new stuff. I'm really glad I took this job.
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