The Grad School Thread

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
supershorty said:
Getting sent back or taking forever to review? I had one that sat for MONTHS because some IACUC member was indisposed and couldn't look at it. Maddening.
Click to expand...
We got to version 6 of an amendment today. 12 emails were sent since this morning.

Also had a second one that was thankfully not as complicated. Only version 4 there :laugh:

Having it sit forever would definitely be worse though :/
 
WildZoo said:
We got to version 6 of an amendment today. 12 emails were sent since this morning.

Also had a second one that was thankfully not as complicated. Only version 4 there :laugh:
Click to expand...
Ehhhh it’s not a competition, but this would drive me nuts. I don’t envy you one bit. Amendments are a drag.
 
supershorty said:
Ehhhh it’s not a competition, but this would drive me nuts. I don’t envy you one bit. Amendments are a drag.
Click to expand...
I should be used to it since this is also how doing anything with my PIs works, especially one of them who will edit his own edits and keep making more suggestions after he's looked at the same thing 8 times already...

But man it means it takes forever for me to get to cross something off my to do list, and that action is a big motivator for me :laugh:
 
WildZoo said:
I should be used to it since this is also how doing anything with my PIs works, especially one of them who will edit his own edits and keep making more suggestions after he's looked at the same thing 8 times already...
Click to expand...
The last grant I wrote was poorly received by my PI and in a moment of frustration, I switched the specific aims around (literally only changed the order) and he went from hating the grant to thinking it was great and submitting it 😂 PIs do be like that.
 
supershorty said:
At least you haven't had any from me lately!
Click to expand...
Honestly I'd probably prefer if they were from you, likely better written and I don't have to sift through pages of grant language just to figure out what is happening to the animals.

To everyone who ever has to write an IACUC protocol, for the love of all that is holy use laymen's terms when possible and explain exactly what is going to happen to the animals (and when and how often). That's really all we care about.
 
KCgophervet said:
Honestly I'd probably prefer if they were from you, likely better written and I don't have to sift through pages of grant language just to figure out what is happening to the animals.

To everyone who ever has to write an IACUC protocol, for the love of all that is holy use laymen's terms when possible and explain exactly what is going to happen to the animals (and when and how often). That's really all we care about.
Click to expand...
I feel like mine tend to be overly detailed, but they've gotten compliments from IACUC before because of that, so :shrug:
They've been pretty long as a result though. But they've also been approved without any back and forth required. Trade-off, I guess.
 
supershorty said:
I feel like mine tend to be overly detailed, but they've gotten compliments from IACUC before because of that, so :shrug:
They've been pretty long as a result though. But they've also been approved without any back and forth required. Trade-off, I guess.
Click to expand...
Detail is good and can be really helpful, its when people just throw acronyms left and right without explaining what any of it stands for and spends 3 paragraphs describing their DNA extraction process that doesn't have anything to do with the animals that kills me (and then they skip the part that describes the animal procedures and just say "per this reference", no dude just tell me what you're gonna do).

Best indication of a good protocol is little back and forth 🙂 If I don't have to ask 800 questions that means you described it well and I actually get a sense of what's going on.
 
Finding myself wishing that my grad program had more required courses on data visualization/analysis and fewer courses that are basically journal clubs on topics that don't relate to my research at all. I'm trying to map out the experiments that need to be done to put together the papers I want to get out this year/next year and visualizing the figures I'd like to make is a huge struggle for me. Ugh.

I have a lot of salt about the number of required courses that my program has and how much time I feel like I wasted in them, to be fair to the program. They probably aren't as bad as I make them sound.
 
WildZoo said:
I'm currently in an advanced epidemiology and a biometry course which should be super helpful but I am convinced my brain is not meant to understand this stuff
Click to expand...
My brain hurts thinking about either of those courses. My cancer bio course was great... that was the sole course of grad school that I legit enjoyed.

Can't decide if I think this experimental planning spreadsheet is overwhelming, or a nice road map, or both. Hmmmmm.
Currently debating whether I should send it to boss man now and see if it's what he wanted, since I've only done it for 1 paper so far, or if I should finish it out with the other papers. Leaning toward the former in case I'm way off base from what he was thinking of.
 
supershorty said:
Can't decide if I think this experimental planning spreadsheet is overwhelming, or a nice road map, or both. Hmmmmm.
Currently debating whether I should send it to boss man now and see if it's what he wanted, since I've only done it for 1 paper so far, or if I should finish it out with the other papers. Leaning toward the former in case I'm way off base from what he was thinking of.
Click to expand...
He loved it! :biglove:
Spreadsheets for the win
 
supershorty said:
He loved it! :biglove:
Spreadsheets for the win
Click to expand...
Would you be able to...send that to me? I am so bad at planning but have a rather complex project I'm trying toap out and maybe it would be a useful format to follow?

Totally ok if you'd rather not lol
 
WildZoo said:
Would you be able to...send that to me? I am so bad at planning but have a rather complex project I'm trying toap out and maybe it would be a useful format to follow?

Totally ok if you'd rather not lol
Click to expand...
Sure!!
 
It's a little funny to me when I have classes where they're like "We want you to get practice presenting scientific information like you would at conferences" and I've been doing that for going on 4 years...and not to toot my own horn but I've gotten awards for it too. I get practice is good, but I'm tired of doing zoom presentations.
 
It is really weird to have finished the first go-round of my experiment progress spreadsheet and think that there's a small possibility that I've listed out all of the experiments left in my PhD.

I say small possibility because science never goes the way you think anyway so I'm sure it's not actually the final list. But the fact that it could be at all feels weird.
 
We just had a discussion about the project that will actually be mine from start to finish and not just things that were passed down to me secondhand and I'm SO PUMPED
 
Omg I just realized I never posted it here. The paper I've been trying to get published for a year (thanks COVID) and that's been bounced around to like 5 different journals has finally found a home! I'll never have to revise that thing again! So excited.
 
WildZoo said:
Omg I just realized I never posted it here. The paper I've been trying to get published for a year (thanks COVID) and that's been bounced around to like 5 different journals has finally found a home! I'll never have to revise that thing again! So excited.
Click to expand...
Congrats, Dubz!!! 🥳🥳
 
You guys. I might only have a year and a half left (I'm going to do my best to be finished by my Dec 2022 goal - PI thinks it's doable so I'm GONNA DO IT). Especially after this.

PI has decided we should all attend an in-person conference this July?? When she first brought it up I was assuming she meant virtually, because we did watch some of the presentations online last summer, but no. In-person. I'm pissed off for a few reasons.

1.) I didn't attend this conference my first year (summer 2019) because PI doesn't even like it very much. It's mostly applied animal science, and we're molecular. The quality of research is not up to other conference standards (per PI herself). We watched some of it online last year but none of the presentations applied to our field at all. Usually if we have undergraduate projects they go to this conference, not grad students.

2.) PI didn't let me go to our actual field's conference my first year because she decided the DAY abstracts were due that she didn't want to present that project. So she has a history of NOT having me go if work isn't ready.

3.) She gave me a side project to get ready for this conference (which she actually kept forgetting she'd asked for because it kinda doesn't make any sense, but whatevs, I'm not the boss), and there's nothing significant. It's a case/control thing and they're just not behaving differently. She won't let me take my dissertation work because "political reasons" so I've been trying to get this side thing ready, but there's just nothing but negative results to report.

BUT

Our annual January conference was cancelled and I think she's feeling anxious about not having added any abstracts to her CV recently. So she's hyper focused on having all 4 of us go to this conference.

I brought up yesterday that I'm really nervous about traveling to KY and attending an in-person conference with a huge gathering of people from around the country. Like, wouldn't anyone be nervous about this?? Plus I live with my parents, and my dad is at risk. It feels so risky and I don't want to expose him to anything, especially since THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPTION TOO. But it's not clear if you can do posters/competition virtually, so she might only get an abstract out of me if I go in person.

Y'all, PI is being so passive aggressive ever since I brought up my covid concerns. She vented to my lab mate about it saying "oh PBC doesn't want to network and talk about science, idk why", and sent me an email (in reply to something completely unrelated) saying she was getting the sense that I'm not happy with my research or lab work, and is everything OK?

:bang:

Arghfkfksaklakenwnmvngdajsdajlaweitnbnfkgsdfjfc.

Yes there are vaccines now, but does that mean large indoor gatherings are a good idea? Am I crazy for being uneasy about this??
 
WildZoo said:
Omg I just realized I never posted it here. The paper I've been trying to get published for a year (thanks COVID) and that's been bounced around to like 5 different journals has finally found a home! I'll never have to revise that thing again! So excited.
Click to expand...
SUPER LIKE

That's exciting! It must feel so great to have it off your to-do list now :biglove:
 
PrincessButterCup said:
You guys. I might only have a year and a half left (I'm going to do my best to be finished by my Dec 2022 goal - PI thinks it's doable so I'm GONNA DO IT). Especially after this.

PI has decided we should all attend an in-person conference this July?? When she first brought it up I was assuming she meant virtually, because we did watch some of the presentations online last summer, but no. In-person. I'm pissed off for a few reasons.

1.) I didn't attend this conference my first year (summer 2019) because PI doesn't even like it very much. It's mostly applied animal science, and we're molecular. The quality of research is not up to other conference standards (per PI herself). We watched some of it online last year but none of the presentations applied to our field at all. Usually if we have undergraduate projects they go to this conference, not grad students.

2.) PI didn't let me go to our actual field's conference my first year because she decided the DAY abstracts were due that she didn't want to present that project. So she has a history of NOT having me go if work isn't ready.

3.) She gave me a side project to get ready for this conference (which she actually kept forgetting she'd asked for because it kinda doesn't make any sense, but whatevs, I'm not the boss), and there's nothing significant. It's a case/control thing and they're just not behaving differently. She won't let me take my dissertation work because "political reasons" so I've been trying to get this side thing ready, but there's just nothing but negative results to report.

BUT

Our annual January conference was cancelled and I think she's feeling anxious about not having added any abstracts to her CV recently. So she's hyper focused on having all 4 of us go to this conference.

I brought up yesterday that I'm really nervous about traveling to KY and attending an in-person conference with a huge gathering of people from around the country. Like, wouldn't anyone be nervous about this?? Plus I live with my parents, and my dad is at risk. It feels so risky and I don't want to expose him to anything, especially since THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPTION TOO. But it's not clear if you can do posters/competition virtually, so she might only get an abstract out of me if I go in person.

Y'all, PI is being so passive aggressive ever since I brought up my covid concerns. She vented to my lab mate about it saying "oh PBC doesn't want to network and talk about science, idk why", and sent me an email (in reply to something completely unrelated) saying she was getting the sense that I'm not happy with my research or lab work, and is everything OK?

:bang:

Arghfkfksaklakenwnmvngdajsdajlaweitnbnfkgsdfjfc.

Yes there are vaccines now, but does that mean large indoor gatherings are a good idea? Am I crazy for being uneasy about this??
Click to expand...
I don't think you're crazy at all. Vaccines aren't 100% and you don't know if everyone attending will be vaccinated, unless that will be a requirement of the conference.
 
I don’t think you’re crazy. Especially if there’s a virtual option.

If your PI is insistent, Is it possible to compromise and only submit your abstract as a poster? That way if she wants to go she could hang it and you don’t have to go but the info is still officially presented? I’ve transported and hung posters for people before at our pathology conference. Obviously it’s better to go with your poster but things happen. Like a pandemic. But idk how it is in your field if you’re expected to be physically at your poster a lot to answer questions or whatever.
 
PrincessButterCup said:
You guys. I might only have a year and a half left (I'm going to do my best to be finished by my Dec 2022 goal - PI thinks it's doable so I'm GONNA DO IT). Especially after this.

PI has decided we should all attend an in-person conference this July?? When she first brought it up I was assuming she meant virtually, because we did watch some of the presentations online last summer, but no. In-person. I'm pissed off for a few reasons.

1.) I didn't attend this conference my first year (summer 2019) because PI doesn't even like it very much. It's mostly applied animal science, and we're molecular. The quality of research is not up to other conference standards (per PI herself). We watched some of it online last year but none of the presentations applied to our field at all. Usually if we have undergraduate projects they go to this conference, not grad students.

2.) PI didn't let me go to our actual field's conference my first year because she decided the DAY abstracts were due that she didn't want to present that project. So she has a history of NOT having me go if work isn't ready.

3.) She gave me a side project to get ready for this conference (which she actually kept forgetting she'd asked for because it kinda doesn't make any sense, but whatevs, I'm not the boss), and there's nothing significant. It's a case/control thing and they're just not behaving differently. She won't let me take my dissertation work because "political reasons" so I've been trying to get this side thing ready, but there's just nothing but negative results to report.

BUT

Our annual January conference was cancelled and I think she's feeling anxious about not having added any abstracts to her CV recently. So she's hyper focused on having all 4 of us go to this conference.

I brought up yesterday that I'm really nervous about traveling to KY and attending an in-person conference with a huge gathering of people from around the country. Like, wouldn't anyone be nervous about this?? Plus I live with my parents, and my dad is at risk. It feels so risky and I don't want to expose him to anything, especially since THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPTION TOO. But it's not clear if you can do posters/competition virtually, so she might only get an abstract out of me if I go in person.

Y'all, PI is being so passive aggressive ever since I brought up my covid concerns. She vented to my lab mate about it saying "oh PBC doesn't want to network and talk about science, idk why", and sent me an email (in reply to something completely unrelated) saying she was getting the sense that I'm not happy with my research or lab work, and is everything OK?

:bang:

Arghfkfksaklakenwnmvngdajsdajlaweitnbnfkgsdfjfc.

Yes there are vaccines now, but does that mean large indoor gatherings are a good idea? Am I crazy for being uneasy about this??
Click to expand...
Sooo not crazy, actually the brains of the operation. Even with outgoing vaccines herd immunity is nowhere in sight.
 
53c0sz.jpg


If any of y'all researchy folks have good resources or advice, please send it my way- how am I even supposed to talk for 15 minutes???
 
BigCats said:
View attachment 333446

If any of y'all researchy folks have good resources or advice, please send it my way- how am I even supposed to talk for 15 minutes???
Click to expand...
Congrats!!
I don't really have specific resources. I think I've been winging it for a long time :laugh: I tend to structure presentations similarly to how I would structure a paper. Some free tips - dark background with light text is pleasing for the eyeballs. Keep your font large and don't overload your slides with text. Pictures are great as long as they aren't confusing or distracting. Animations/transitions are fun too but don't overdo it. Have at least a couple other people look things over (it's great if you can get people who are familiar with the project AND people who aren't) and practice practice practice!
 
WildZoo said:
Congrats!!
I don't really have specific resources. I think I've been winging it for a long time :laugh: I tend to structure presentations similarly to how I would structure a paper. Some free tips - dark background with light text is pleasing for the eyeballs. Keep your font large and don't overload your slides with text. Pictures are great as long as they aren't confusing or distracting. Animations/transitions are fun too but don't overdo it. Have at least a couple other people look things over (it's great if you can get people who are familiar with the project AND people who aren't) and practice practice practice!
Click to expand...
I also usually tell people to start their presentation with a story that is somehow related to your project or the problem you're investigating. People are simple creatures and remember a good story waaaaaay better than any specific facts or figures. I gave a presentation on animal cruelty like five years ago and I still have acquaintances that I haven't talked to since then bring it up because they remember an interesting story I told about a hoarder when I gave it. Last time someone mentioned it and tagged me in a Facebook comment about it was like a month ago
 
BigCats said:
View attachment 333446

If any of y'all researchy folks have good resources or advice, please send it my way- how am I even supposed to talk for 15 minutes???
Click to expand...
Neat, interesting slides and confident, well paced delivery are the most important things imo. You could be talking about HPLC or something else I'm not generally interested in but if you're speaking about it with confidence and enthusiasm, I'll be excited right along with you. If you need a practice audience I'm always willing to listen!
 
vetmedhead said:
I also usually tell people to start their presentation with a story that is somehow related to your project or the problem you're investigating. People are simple creatures and remember a good story waaaaaay better than any specific facts or figures. I gave a presentation on animal cruelty like five years ago and I still have acquaintances that I haven't talked to since then bring it up because they remember an interesting story I told about a hoarder when I gave it. Last time someone mentioned it and tagged me in a Facebook comment about it was like a month ago
Click to expand...
I second this, and I'll add to it that thinking of your presentation as a story itself has really helped me put together slide decks over the years. I try to think that I'll have 1-2 min per slide, and then figure out what my hook is (to explain the problem you're working on), then a little background, and then transition into HOW you answered the question, WHAT your results tell you, and WHY that matters going forward.

I'm happy to look over slides or listen to practice run throughs if you want, @BigCats!
 
You guys are all awesome, thank you so much!!! :biglove:
 
Coopah said:
You know that honestly explains some of my comments I've got on my papers :laugh:
Click to expand...
I took a course in undergrad where it was clear that our papers weren't actually being read, and I tested the theory once by swapping out the 3rd page of the paper for being a mini-dissertation on how much I like rubber duckies. Grade indicated that the 3rd page was not read.
 
supershorty said:
I took a course in undergrad where it was clear that our papers weren't actually being read, and I tested the theory once by swapping out the 3rd page of the paper for being a mini-dissertation on how much I like rubber duckies. Grade indicated that the 3rd page was not read.
Click to expand...
Do you know how much I would appreciate reading that in a paper while I was going through a stack of boring, poorly written ****? That would be gold. I would give you a higher grade for that.
 
Coopah said:
Do you know how much I would appreciate reading that in a paper while I was going through a stack of boring, poorly written ****? That would be gold. I would give you a higher grade for that.
Click to expand...
🤔
Maybe YOU graded my paper secretly from a different institution 🤔

I'm playing WW so gotta have a tinfoil somewhere right?
 
it's time for me to rotate through a potential PhD lab and there have been so many ups and downs and lefts and rights with finding one and I want to tell the story but it's a lot so I will think about it and circle back

/gasps for air
 
Hi guys, currently I'm on the DVM/PhD path. Graduated from DVM end of last year and worked in SA for 4 months before starting grad school. I'm doing a study about disease transmission between wild and domestic animals. I was planning to become a wildlife vet for one of the state in my country (considered a developing country)

I'm currently in my first semester, but I have done some part of the project during DVM. I really do enjoy the research work, from sampling to labs. I was offered a scholarship that will bond me to the university as a lecturer after the completion of the study, but thinking to decline the offer because I wanted to work with my state, and I didn't like the political situation in the university academia. But I received a lot of discouragement from that decision, people are saying why I even bother to continue study when I can just go and sign up into wildlife departments now, that I'm going to waste 3 - 4 years of my life. I'm 25 y/o right now, and my peers and senior vets are saying that this is the time for me to work my ass off in the industry.

The reason why I pursued PhD was to experience the research process in hopes that I can contribute to my state. Most of the wildlife vets in my state will burnt out in 5 years and enter another industry. I was thinking that with an experience in research, I could be a little bit flexible with my job scope later on.

But maybe I really am chasing a unicorn. Now at the crossroads between deferring to enter the industry directly, or to continue grad school. Sorry for the long post, I just feel at a loss.
 
Okiskir said:
Hi guys, currently I'm on the DVM/PhD path. Graduated from DVM end of last year and worked in SA for 4 months before starting grad school. I'm doing a study about disease transmission between wild and domestic animals. I was planning to become a wildlife vet for one of the state in my country (considered a developing country)

I'm currently in my first semester, but I have done some part of the project during DVM. I really do enjoy the research work, from sampling to labs. I was offered a scholarship that will bond me to the university as a lecturer after the completion of the study, but thinking to decline the offer because I wanted to work with my state, and I didn't like the political situation in the university academia. But I received a lot of discouragement from that decision, people are saying why I even bother to continue study when I can just go and sign up into wildlife departments now, that I'm going to waste 3 - 4 years of my life. I'm 25 y/o right now, and my peers and senior vets are saying that this is the time for me to work my ass off in the industry.

The reason why I pursued PhD was to experience the research process in hopes that I can contribute to my state. Most of the wildlife vets in my state will burnt out in 5 years and enter another industry. I was thinking that with an experience in research, I could be a little bit flexible with my job scope later on.

But maybe I really am chasing a unicorn. Now at the crossroads between deferring to enter the industry directly, or to continue grad school. Sorry for the long post, I just feel at a loss.
Click to expand...
Are you able to continue your PhD if you don't accept the scholarship?
 
PrincessButterCup said:
You guys. I might only have a year and a half left (I'm going to do my best to be finished by my Dec 2022 goal - PI thinks it's doable so I'm GONNA DO IT). Especially after this.

PI has decided we should all attend an in-person conference this July?? When she first brought it up I was assuming she meant virtually, because we did watch some of the presentations online last summer, but no. In-person. I'm pissed off for a few reasons.

1.) I didn't attend this conference my first year (summer 2019) because PI doesn't even like it very much. It's mostly applied animal science, and we're molecular. The quality of research is not up to other conference standards (per PI herself). We watched some of it online last year but none of the presentations applied to our field at all. Usually if we have undergraduate projects they go to this conference, not grad students.

2.) PI didn't let me go to our actual field's conference my first year because she decided the DAY abstracts were due that she didn't want to present that project. So she has a history of NOT having me go if work isn't ready.

3.) She gave me a side project to get ready for this conference (which she actually kept forgetting she'd asked for because it kinda doesn't make any sense, but whatevs, I'm not the boss), and there's nothing significant. It's a case/control thing and they're just not behaving differently. She won't let me take my dissertation work because "political reasons" so I've been trying to get this side thing ready, but there's just nothing but negative results to report.

BUT

Our annual January conference was cancelled and I think she's feeling anxious about not having added any abstracts to her CV recently. So she's hyper focused on having all 4 of us go to this conference.

I brought up yesterday that I'm really nervous about traveling to KY and attending an in-person conference with a huge gathering of people from around the country. Like, wouldn't anyone be nervous about this?? Plus I live with my parents, and my dad is at risk. It feels so risky and I don't want to expose him to anything, especially since THERE'S A VIRTUAL OPTION TOO. But it's not clear if you can do posters/competition virtually, so she might only get an abstract out of me if I go in person.

Y'all, PI is being so passive aggressive ever since I brought up my covid concerns. She vented to my lab mate about it saying "oh PBC doesn't want to network and talk about science, idk why", and sent me an email (in reply to something completely unrelated) saying she was getting the sense that I'm not happy with my research or lab work, and is everything OK?

:bang:

Arghfkfksaklakenwnmvngdajsdajlaweitnbnfkgsdfjfc.

Yes there are vaccines now, but does that mean large indoor gatherings are a good idea? Am I crazy for being uneasy about this??
Click to expand...
Update on this: PI is no longer attending in person because not enough of her friends/favorite networking people are going. I'm still pissed off that it was such a big deal I didn't want to go in person, but . . . now she's not going?

It is being offered virtually. I (tentatively) have permission to attend virtually.



I'm a hair width from quitting on any given day, but today was worse than others. I'm contemplating refusing to sign the next fiscal year contract this June and requesting to be a PT student, like one of my lab mates. If PI isn't paying me a stipend she's not entitled to my time 24/7, right???
 
PrincessButterCup said:
Update on this: PI is no longer attending in person because not enough of her friends/favorite networking people are going. I'm still pissed off that it was such a big deal I didn't want to go in person, but . . . now she's not going?

It is being offered virtually. I (tentatively) have permission to attend virtually.



I'm a hair width from quitting on any given day, but today was worse than others. I'm contemplating refusing to sign the next fiscal year contract this June and requesting to be a PT student, like one of my lab mates. If PI isn't paying me a stipend she's not entitled to my time 24/7, right???
Click to expand...
Even if your PI is paying you a stipend, she’s not entitled to your time 24/7.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

supershorty
The Good PWWace - GAME THREAD
79 80 81 82 83
Replies
4K
Views
53K
samac
samac
vampyrica
Funding Grad School
Replies
10
Views
1K
abrew13
A
alissa14
Speeding Home for the HoWWlidays - Game Thread
6 7 8 9 10
Replies
484
Views
4K
supershorty
supershorty
Clem J
CWWem's HoWWiday ExtWWavangza (mafia game thread)
31 32 33 34 35
Replies
2K
Views
12K
katiemcat
katiemcat
Animal Midwife
CHOOSE YOUR OWWN IV - Game Thread
112 113 114 115 116
Replies
6K
Views
64K
screamqueenbee
screamqueenbee
Top Bottom