The first time I met my PI, in a group meeting, I asked him if he was a grad student and that the staff/tech standing next to him was the PI. Never lived that down in the group.
Long time lurker that made an account because this thread is the only thing keeping me going right now. Another datapoint: also 12/24 update for AFRL in Physics(including optics). I don't consider myself competitive at all and am positive i'm in the ~Rejection Collection~. I wish sysplus would end my suffering lol.
~ December Gang ~