My musical reflection on the scientific funding crisis!

[V.Y.C.]

Hi all!

 

PhD comics, reading forums and watching funny videos got me through the long and often dark days of graduate school, and so I took to contributing back to help others by making science parodies.

 

I wanted to share my latest creation, about the frustrations of getting funding, and hope that you may find some comic relief through it!  Please share if you enjoyed it; there is no motive behind this video besides pure creative fun, and it was done completely on a volunteer basis.  I'd love for it to brighten up someone's day!

 

Also, I'd like to solicit those who have interesting or informative thoughts or stories about grad school life and are willing to share.  I'll be writing up some pieces on what it's really like to do research, behind the publications and lab coats, to the depression and personality conflicts and backstabbing, to the struggles of balancing a love life while doing research, the thrill of getting data, the stresses of managing lab relationships and finding jobs after graduation.  I myself benefited a lot from the stories and advice of others, and I would like to share these more broadly to those who may not have the luxury of having strong supporters and allies during times of need during graduate school.

 

 

--V

[SciencePerson101]

Wow how about trying to be a good PhD student instead of wasting time? You are not good at singing anyway.

[Plissken]

Haha, fun song and video. Nice

Edited April 17, 2014 by Plissken

[FestivusMiracle]

Wow, that looks like it took a lot of time and effort! Well done!

[V.Y.C.]

Thanks for the comments!   

 

As to SciencePerson101, you may not like my singing, which is of course your prerogative.  However, I would like to make the strong case to anyone else reading this thread, that being a "good PhD student", by which I assume you mean to be a stereotypical lab slave who dedicates 100% of their life and concerns to the lab, is something that has absolutely no correlation with how well that person does science, or perhaps more importantly, how they succeed in life after graduate school.  Because you do know that we all have to graduate at some point, right?  And I did, which is why it took me a year after conceiving this project to actually finish it; too busy writing, defending, and starting my first job.

 

It's a fact that more and more PhDs are unable to find satisfaction, or even an open position, in the standard academic path these days, and in this extremely competitive environment when one faculty position might see 300 very well qualified applicants, it's just a matter of life that you will probably find yourself in need of investigating a so-called "alternative" career.  Or perhaps you discover after the PhD that for whatever reason, academia or industry lab research just isn't for you.

 

What then?  What will all those days of being a "good PhD student" do for you now?

 

Let me tell you, in these cases, having organized events, having a strong human network through outside activities, having some published non-science writing or some proven artistic skillsets, having evidence of product or project leadership and creation; these things may very well mean the difference between a start in a new career, or being stuck in a 3rd postdoc making 45K as a 30 year old.  

 

And you'll probably just be a happier, healthier person, too.

 

This is just my opinion, but it's one that has served me well, and one that many more graduate students should keep in mind: there is more to life than the lab even during a PhD, and for not just your own mental and social health, but also for the health of your resume and future career, please do other things you enjoy!  You never know where these projects can take you, who you may meet and what opportunities within and outside science you may happen upon.  Besides, life is just too short to spend in a basement taking confocal images 24/7  

[SciencePerson102]

Wow how about trying to be a good PhD student instead of wasting time? You are not good at singing anyway.

[Vene]

Let me tell you, in these cases, having organized events, having a strong human network through outside activities, having some published non-science writing or some proven artistic skillsets, having evidence of product or project leadership and creation; these things may very well mean the difference between a start in a new career, or being stuck in a 3rd postdoc making 45K as a 30 year old.  

Pretty much this, if you want to get ahead in the world sticking your nose in a book isn't the best way to do it. Everything comes down to people, even scientific work comes down to people.