odycee | RL Bollocks

I'm still alive! Hurrah! I've been trying to get my CV etc. ready to send out this week to places for my PhD applications and, fingers crossed, some stuff will be going in the post tomorrow. Aaargh. Scary. I've also been watching the final episode of Battlestar Galactica, first episode of Smallville S4, Stargate SG1 and Atlantis so I can't pretend I've been that productive.

Where I work is desperate for me to stay (but they do support me applying for PhDs, I've never hidden the fact that I don't really want to stay there as I only started as a temp). So if I don't get accepted for a PhD anywhere in September then I'm pretty much guaranteed a permanent job there and from the sounds of it I'd be on considerably more money than I am now and what I'd get for doing a PhD and even a postdoc. Hmmm... am I stupid for wanting to go back to university? I don't know if I could stand being where I am for too long. I like the people but regulatory affairs is hardly very interesting.

I heard from one of my university supervisors today that the work I did for my final year project back in 2002 is finally going to be published next month in Animal Behaviour. Very exciting! I'm the second name too. And it's just in time to put on my CV.

God, this post makes no sense. I do apologise.

I'm nice and warm in my room now because I've got a fan heater. Yay. I wanted my mood for this post to be 'warm', but alas, it doesn't exist, so I've gone for 'hot'. I expect that the picture has nothing to do with warmth however... ETA: Yes, I was right. It's Thewlis hand porn. Not that I'm complaining of course.

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final episode of Battlestar Galactica

Ooooh. ::impatiently waits for the third episode to air on Saturday::

heard from one of my university supervisors today that the work I did for my final year project back in 2002 is finally going to be published next month in Animal Behaviour. Very exciting!

Woo-hoo! A publishing cred for your CV (gosh, I remember doing my CV. Blech.)

Have you been at your job for long? What do you do within Regulatory Affairs? I was guessing something with Veterinary medicines... ::is curious::

I love Battlestar Galactica - it's definitely worth sticking with.

I hate CVs. I always seem to be writing one. Urgh.

I've only been in my job for about six months - I actually started there as a temp but they kept me on which was pretty lucky really as I don't know what on earth I'd be doing at the moment if I wasn't there. I work on a well known brand of acne fighting products for a healthcare company. So nothing to do with anything very interesting I'm afraid!

I love Battlestar Galactica - it's definitely worth sticking with

For sure. I had my doubts and wasn't even going to watch it, but within the first twenty minutes, I was hooked.

I hate CVs. I always seem to be writing one. Urgh.

They are by far the most tedious things to develop. And once you develop the "perfect" one, you still have to adapt it endlessly for a new audience. Bah! Good for you for applying though - university is never a waste. (and I say this as someone who is not a professional student. Honest.)

I work on a well known brand of acne fighting products for a healthcare company

Wow - I was way off, wasn't I? Hee. That does sound kind of... dull. But important!

That does sound kind of... dull. But important

Yes, dull. And dull. Also, not that important - it's not like it's even proper acne medication - just facewashes and cleansers etc. Ah well, perhaps I've helped improve the life marginally of some mildly spotty teenager somewhere in the world!

Hmmm, I just checked my moodpic of Thewlis for HOT and it has nothing to do with warmth either. HA! It's indeed a hot pic though :P

Good luck with your CVs. I'm doin that myself this week. HORRIBLE STUFF!

Mmmm... Thewlis hand shot. Can't go wrong with that.

Thanks! I think I need the luck! I've got it ready to send tomorrow now. Good luck with yours!

Ooh, publication, shiny! That's always nice. I imagine.

I don't think you're stupid for wanting to go back to university. I want to go back because I feel as if my brain is stagnating and turning into goo. Back in university I could a) challenge my brain again and b) become more qualified to do interesting things. So I understand the university thing entirely.

So good luck! I hope you get a PhD position. *g*

Yes, it is quite nice!

my brain is stagnating and turning into goo.

Heh. Quite. I think some of mine leaks out every night while I'm asleep. But, look on the bright side - I've got mad filing skillz now! I think my brain needs a jump start.

Thanks! :)

Despite the fact that I'm currently a post-doc and hate my job with the passion of a thousand fiery suns, and am about to get out of research and never, ever go back, I have to say that a PhD is never a waste. One thing that a PhD will do for you is remove the ceiling that you'll eventually hit without one (that's the only reason I did one, I was perfectly happy as a research assistant otherwise). And of course it'll set you apart from other applicants when you're applying for jobs, unless of course you decide to go into academia, in which case every person and their dog will have one, and then it's publications all the way, baby. But you've got one of those already, yay and congratulations (it's pretty funny seeing your name on a real journal paper for the first time - wait till it's the first author!), and you'll get more if you do a PhD under a decent supervisor.

Which leads me to the only other piece of advice I'd give you - choose supervisors very carefully. The supervisor is more important than the project, because no matter how interesting your project is, an awful supervisor can make your life a living hell. And a PhD's hard enough without having to deal with that as well.

I have to say that a PhD is never a waste

And that's why I'm going to try and go for it. I think if I don't try, I'm going to end up stuck what I'm doing now for the rest of my life, and while I don't hate it with the passion of a thousand fiery suns (get out quickly!) it's something I just fell into and really can't be enthusiastic about even in the tiniest amounts.

The supervisor is more important than the project, because no matter how interesting your project is, an awful supervisor can make your life a living hell.

Thanks for that advice. I think that's something that I need to keep in mind if I ever manage to get an interview for things! I've known a couple of PhD students who had rubbish supervisors and they didn't have a fun time of it at all...

it's something I just fell into and really can't be enthusiastic about even in the tiniest amounts.

I've come to realise over the last few months that life's too short to work in a job you hate, or even one that you're not terribly enthusiastic over. A lot of us do it, I know, but we shouldn't. I used to like my job where I was before, but I've never really been one of those that can say that they love their job and wouldn't want to be doing anything else if they had a choice. Just once before I retire I'd like to be able to say I had a job like that. Hopefully sometime soon both you and I will be able to say it. :)

I've known a couple of PhD students who had rubbish supervisors and they didn't have a fun time of it at all...

I know, there are some real horror stories out there. But I still think you should go for it, because there's no skin of your nose for trying, is there? Good luck!

RL Bollocks

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