Friday, November 4, 2011

Nesting = Paper and Proposal Writing

I'm now in the third trimester and my "nesting" instinct is kicking in. I'm frantically writing and submitting papers, trying to clear off my desk. I've got a few proposals to get in before the baby comes in January. I've disappeared because I'm just so busy!

I had the nicest experience today, where my undergraduate research adviser was visiting my university to give a seminar. He is a super-famous guy, who has won every award possible. Since it had been about 10 years since I was in his lab, I was nervous that he wouldn't remember me. I was wrong! He greeted me with a big hug in front of the whole room and started off his seminar with remarking on how proud he was of me! I just about started crying.

When I was an undergraduate, I was a researcher in his group on and off for three years. I attended a few group meetings, and meet with him once per semester. I was completely intimidated by him because he was the most brilliant person I had known at that time. I was afraid I might say something wrong, but when I did, he was nice about it. One semester was particularly rough for me because of personal reasons, and I had to drop out of research six weeks into the semester. When I told him I was dropping research he said that it was no problem and that I could come back anytime I wanted. I came back the next semester, and there were no hard feelings.

These moments keep me going, and lift me up from my sink hole of papers, class notes, and rejected proposals :)

3 comments:

Jenny F. Scientist, PhD said...

My nesting was building stuff to organize the house! I approve of useful proposal-writing too.

Annaelle said...

Hi Janus,
I would like to email you...is there any way I can do so? I cannot find your email. I am in similar shoes as you, young child, TT, lots of stress and proposal writing going on...

Janus Professor said...

I think you can email me at janusprofessor@gmail.com

I haven't used it in a while, but it should be active