What to do when I Grow Up...

Today I participated in a prospective student lunch. It was so much fun, talking about our grad school experience in a low-key environment. The student was very easy-going and interactive, which was awesome. One of the questions she asked us was what we planned on doing once we were done here. It forced me to admit out loud that I have no idea what I'm doing. Half of the time I want a research position, half of the time I want to teach, and a slim number of times I play with the idea of a PhD program.

See, I'm the type of gal that's always had a plan. Always knew what the next step would be. And for the first time in my life, I don't have a plan. Some people many find that thrilling - I find it terrifying. I suppose that's a testament to the manny routes that marine science can lead you. For now, I'll focus on finishing my proposal.

Fact of the Post: A researcher at Georgetown has indicated that a dolphin's ability to quickly heal from shark bites may provide insight to the care of injures in humans.

I Suck at Updates

So unfortunately the whole month of July has gone by without an update. Since my last post, I have been caring for my larvae, running some tests, and writing my project proposal. Now comes something else to add into the mix of lab work and writing - classes begin in less than two weeks. I'm very excited to be a second year...less classes, no longer the one learning the system. I'm also just excited to meet a new class. This week is orientation for new students, so we'll be meeting the first years on Thursday at the latest. Which reminds me - that means I've been here for a whole year!

In addition to my own work, I've been able to help with other projects going on at my campus. More specifically, I went sharking! I ended up being more nervous than I thought I'd be, but it was still fun, and I hope to go out again.

Love me some rays

Fact of the Post: The smell of dead lampreys seem to scare the crap out of live ones.



PLLEEEAASSEEE NOOOOOOO



These Critters are Growing on me...

My second day in the lab. Friday wasn't terribly exciting - just looking at larval clams and oysters and practicing moving individuals around (actually not as hard as it sounds when you consider that you can barely see them with the naked eye). Today I actually ran a trial of my actual experiment and helped with another project in the lab. I must say though, these larvae are kinda cute when they're just floating around...

They're winning me over...

In other news, I have office space in my lab! I feel so official :) And I just signed the lease on a lovely house that I get to move into with my two best friends in August. I'm so excited!

Fact of the Post: Not marine science-related, but still cool - researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that negative emotions can actually enhance memory. I won't include a picture...I'll let you come up with your own scary image...

Conflicting Loves

I'm back from a week in the mean streets of DC. The streets are comforting and familiar though. They're home.

DC is not, however, a popular gathering ground for marine scientists.

I wouldn't try this in the Potomac river.

I've been feeling so much more conflict lately about how I was raised and where my career is leading me. For better or worse, I'm a city girl. I love the lights, the energy, the wealth of things to do. But I also love nature. It's calm, it's pure. I don't think one is more beautiful than the other - they're just different. I feel like many in my field would disagree, but that's my opinion. Hopefully one day I'll be able to experience both.

Fact of the Post: Andrew Huxley won the Nobel Prize in the 1960s for using the giant axon of a squid to describe action potential in neurons.



Say WAAA!?



Networking?!?

I am definitely not one who is comfortable speaking with strangers. I'm much better at striking up conversation with the average person my age, but as I dive into the professional world and come face to face with experts in the field, my shyness has once again come to bite me in the bum. I think it's primarily due to my perceived lack of knowledge. Yes, I have a basic understanding of marine science, but so does everyone in the room. It's even worse if I don't have a good grasp of the subject. I can follow a physiology presentation well enough, but genetics? If it's more complicated than Drosophila than I just get lost.

My program holds weekly seminars that first years are required to attend and older students are expected to attend. They have been wonderful for learning new things. But then there's the "TGIF" reception after where we're expected to chit chat with the presenter. I must admit that I've only accomplished this twice all year, and I've never been the instigator. My lack of networking skills is so bad that it's been blatently pointed out by a professor : / But hopefully as I'm more comfortable with myself and with my field, I'll start conuddling (?) with the best of them (Warning - I've been known to create words, thus the question mark). If anyone has tips, please send them my way!

Fact of the Post: A study out of VIMS showed that jelly blooms are altering food webs and decreasing the amount of carbon available to these systems.



Yet another reason for me to despise jellies.



Adult Life and Business Cards

First of all - I PASSED MY ORAL EXAM! I am officially a M.S. candidate, woooo!

I'm also glad to announce that I also have a nice large batch of business cards! I felt a little funny ordering them, mostly because until now I've still been feeling like a little kid. Now that I'm moving more into the lab and more from the classroom, it's finally dawning on me that I'm being a professional scientist. I know my introductory letter said this transition would happen, but until this week it felt like a far away event. Suddenly I found myself in a meeting with my committee discussing my project, and my thoughts and opinions mattered. Suddenly, I was a scientist. And suddenly, my business cards don't feel so silly. And I can't wait to start passing them out :)

I'm currently home for a week, but I have a month to put together a literature review for my committee. I'll also be getting into the lab and learning the techniques/manipulations that I'll be using. I'm also starting to look at attending CERF's biannual meeting in Daytona beach this fall. That'll involve registering to become a member, seeing if anyone else will go with me, and trying to get some funding from the school to lessen costs. It seems a bit daunting now, but a couple of my friends are going to a conference next month so I'll be looking to them to help me out. Also, I'm just too excited to start meeting people in the field and practice my apparently lacking networking skills lol. I'll get into that another time.

Fact of the post: Studies are showing that ocean acidification may be impacting the ability of tropical fish to smell or hear. Sad :/



Bahhhh I can't hear!



Geostrophy Rules!

A million things on my mind to share:

1. I've been wanting to put together a list of possible conferences to attend, but I'm now realizing that there isn't a quick list to look up all the possible societies in marine science. I've found a couple, but I'm wondering if there's more out there. If anyone has a list or knows of any groups relevent to estuarine/shellfish/toxicology work, send it my way please!

2. My program has a mentor program where incoming students are paired with current students to help transition into the program. I have an incoming first year who also went to school in FL. I'm honestly really excited for a new batch of students. I'm looking forward to being the person who will watch them frantically study and can assure them that they will survive :)

3. Currently studying for orals. I'm starting to bounce back and forth between confident and "about to snap". I'm aiming to hold mock orals with older students next week, so we'll see how that goes :/

4. In addition to my friends and studying, I have a new relationship :D It's been almost a month, and I'm hoping it'll last a long while.

5. I'm officially done with my TAship! No more undergrads for me, I'm moving into the lab!
 P.S. Obviously passed this past semester :)

I believe that's all for now. I really need to do a better job of keeping up with this blog. Until next time, here's a tree of the major animal phyla. Yes, this is something I'm supposed to know.