rantsandresearch-blog

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Too fucking true

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I’m playing this semester.... I’ve had them all in the last year.

END OF SEMESTER BINGO | McSweeney’s | November 2017

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Solid advice there, oxford handbook

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‪The importance of stupidity in scientific research | http://jcs.biologists.org/content/121/11/1771‬

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Impact of grad school

I don’t know about anyone else, but starting my PhD program has taken a toll on my fitness and the fact that... oh idk... taking care of myself is important...

So here’s a reminder that

- stress is not essential

- don’t compare yourself to others. “He was in the lab before me and stayed later than me” or “he’s gotten more pubs than I have and is still fit” who cares. You do you and what’s best for YOU and your future career

-a PhD is a training degree. We are learning how to research. There are learning curves and that’s okay.

- it’s okay to say “I don’t know” or “can you show me this again when you have a chance” or even “can you double check this for me?” We all started somewhere. It’s your mentors job to help you down this path.

-ask any and all questions. Your profs have gotten into this field for a reason. They love to teach and do research. Questions help you think more outside the box and see things from another perspective

-self care, no matter how small is essential. If this means a small workout, yoga before bed, a glass of wine in the tub while nextflix plays, going for a walk, or even treating yourself to a massage or facial is essential. Trust me, when these things slack, your happiness and effectiveness decreases.

- lab drama is lab drama. I work in an all male lab and there is soooo much drama. While venting is healthy... and I’m a person who has to vent a lot.... try your best to be positive and look at everything as a learning experience!

- mental health is important- I haven’t had this bad of issues with anxiety and OCD until I started this program. I ignored it and tried to push through for a while and this lead me to start passing out randomly and having a lot of other health issues. It wasn’t until I decided to put my mental health first that I began excelling in my program as well as loving what I do even more!

PhD and grad school is tough, but we’re in it together!!

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Simple health motivation

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**stands up and slow claps for author**

Being thin does not legitimize a blogger’s dietary advice.

Being ripped does not legitimize an insta-celebrity’s gym plan.

Do not pay money for health care just because you think that a blogger looks the part. You deserve to put your health in the hands of professionals who have experience and verified knowledge.

Demand education and information, not just aesthetics. 

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There is honestly nothing more calming than planner/organization porn

April - Week 17. I’ve stuck with this layout for so long, it seems pretty effective, but sometimes I definitely want a change. Looking for any daily layout inspirations!

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Dolly Setton - Human Body Ingredients, “The Cosmic Recipe for Earthlings”, 2013. “The Nitrogen in our DNA, the Calcium in our Teeth, the Iron in our Blood, were made in the interiors of Collapsing Stars. We are made of Star Stuff.” - Carl Sagan

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Hey Bro’s... can you back the Fuck off my branch of science?

Exercise Physiology... as I’ve been scrolling through tumbler.... and God knows in my classes I teach... Broscience is quickly hijacking ACTUAL research. 

Let me set some things straight....

- Exercise Physiology is not how to get “gainz”. Fucking shoot me if I have a body builder in my class. 

-Contrary to popular Bro belief, BodyBuilding.com is NOT written by scientists, but assholes who eat only brown rice and chicken and stare at themselves in a mirror for hours at a time. 

- There is no “Diet” you should follow

- Exercise Physiology does not look at how to lose weight. 

- You can be healthy and technically obese

-If I hear one more thing about the magic pill documentary, I will scream. CARBS ARE NOT THE DEVIL. 

Exercise physiology is physiology. What everyone thinks of as physiology is looked at in snapshots. Exercise physiology looks at the body dynamically with stress (exercise, nutrition, altitude, disease, ect.) All of the research I do is a registered clinical trial. 

It is not a Bro Science. Its being hijacked by douchebags trying to get jacked. 

PSA for tinight kids 

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So Sweet....

My Cardiac MRI

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Arguably one of the cutest pictures of the heart I have seen 💖 (Found on Instagram: @deathunderglass)

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An innocent, pure, and well balanced soul: “What is it like being a grad student?”

Me, squinting bloodshot eyes over the rim of a thrice reheated coffee: “Well… ‪today’s dinner is saltines and starbursts - which I suppose is an improvement over last week’s coffee and beef jerky.‬ I was in the shower for a full thirty seconds this morning before I realized I was still wearing my pajamas. And I was proud of making time for breakfast until my partner texted me that I’d put the box of cereal back in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard when I was done. The notification sound for my emails is rage inducing and my advisor is, unequivocally, the ruler of my universe. I regard him with the appropriate devotion, terror, and bewildered anger. I have no neutral feelings towards gradschool but instead wildly oscillate between being apathetic, incandescently happy, and savagely bitter.”

*what I actually say* “It’s good.”

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This is FAR too true for life

The Five Stages of Grad School

Denial: Lol no I’m not behind, I totally have time to catch up before deadline

Anger: The fuck, prof?? This is impossible, nobody can do this much work in this amount of time, lower your expectations, damn

Bargaining: If I skip meals and sleep for a week I can def get this done, and if not this book has a chapter on pacts with the devil but that’s for sure like a last resort

Depression: What have I done. Who let me sign up for five more years of this. Oh God I’ve made a huge mistake somebody drown me

Acceptance: Fuck it, who proofreads anyway? Oh no too late I already hit send, guess who’s having boxed wine for dinner??

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If only someone would put up my article on the fridge... but I’ll settle for reserachgate....

SO PROUD. [Sketching Science]

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Hi, I’m S

I’m a 20-something year old PhD student returning to school and research after working in a hospital/clinical setting for a few years. I moved to a new state, broke up with my serious boyfriend at the time, and felt like I had to start my life from scratch, but I have to be honest with you... its been worth it. I love what I do and love....most of the people I work with... but thats a whole rant I can go on. 

My degree is in physiology... more specifically cardiovascular physiology. I work mainly with clinical populations using exercise alongside or in place of medications and other treatments. I enjoy helping people, but also... people are CRAY. I have far too many stories about subjects, patients, and even coworkers that make me question if I even like people. 

My goal on here? To share my life and experiences as a Ph.D. student in science... especially a female student in a male-dominated field in the hopes that it keeps other PhD students sane (God knows there sometimes isnt enough wine or coffee to make the insanity put on us go away) as well as encourage others to pursue research. 

While I hope to take a comedic look at the insanity of PhD life, I have other obsessions that may make an appearance... true crime and mental health.

I hope you all will join me on this journey! Dont be afraid to say hi or ask me anything!