No More Behaving

I've decided that it would be waaaayyyy better if someone else had to write the "Summary and Significance" chapter of my dissertation.I thought that the original one in the draft I gave to committee members was pretty good. Summarized the novel findings, gave a brief explanation about why each is important, then moved on to "future directions".Two of my committee members have expressed the opinion that this chapter is a much bigger deal than I am making it out to be. Apparently, this chapter should address the "legacy" that I am leaving my field, and describe the ZOMGAlmighty Awesomeness of my work to Infinity! so that future grad students can quake in fear of never being as awesome as I.Don't get me wrong - I have made some novel findings and they are important in the context of X, Y, and Z. I've said all that...but I'm struggling with trying to fluff up this whole thing into OMG! Dr. AA (I'm likin' the sound of that!) is the Shit! She has demonstrated cold fusion!! Dr. AA saves the world!!!It's kind of like when you ask someone to write you a Letter of Recommendation, then they ask you to write it yourself and they'll put their signature on it...except its like 20 pages of that kind of horn-tooting. Blech. I suck at bragging about myself.

Labels: Dissertation

>100 pages of text and tables>40 pages of completed figures with legends2.5 (of) 5 chapters completedThe 0.5 unfinished chapter is the "summary, significance, future aims" so no biggie - easy to write when the rest is doneThe 2.0 unfinished chapters are mostly written, but awaiting some final experimental results - I hope that these will be submitted for publication as a short report from my second project - I have written them as such.Spoke briefly with GrAdvisor while waiting to buy coffee. Floated the idea of doing this short report (finally - I've been putting it off since I was sure he wouldn't say "no" to a completed draft). He still seems inclined to use these results to shore up the ManuBeast when we get reviews back. We can do both. I am certain of it. One experiment does strengthen the ManuBeast findings, but that same experiment turned up some exciting stuff in one of the other experimental groups that is definitely an independent story.Still left to write for short report: some figures, quantification of results, tweak discussion accordingly.Still left to write for dissertation: Abstract, Title! (I'm not sure why this is so difficult), Summary chapter; (other data chapters done *!* because the short report kills two birds). Days left before turning it in: 20.

Labels: Dissertation, Progress

Input:International Conference departure in t-15 daysCommittee meeting in t-14 daysSelf-imposed manuscript submission deadline in t-30 daysGrAdvisor breathing down neck re: transgenic mouse, manuscript submission, graduation, post-doc positionGraduation requirement: transgenic mouse (takes about 8 months) != GrAdvisor's arbitrary defense date: August 2009 (does not compute!)Post-doc options inversely proportional to my interest in post-doc positionExperimental laundry list several pages longCritical equipment sign-up sheets booked solid for the next 3 weeksOutput:Hello, Heliobacter pylori!Migraines ^10InsomniaNightmares in which I am being chased by specters of my advisor and experimentsNeed for caffeine directly proportional to intensity of shaking in my hands after consumption (why is this suddenly a problem? I used to be able to mainline coffee while conducting microdissections)FatigueAir-headednessGeneral paralysis in face of decisionsIs there a drug for this? (Besides the obvious?)

Labels: Disease, Dissertation