I am quickly coming up on finishing my first 2 months of my Ph.D. program here at the U. I am exhausted, stressed, but oh so happy! This is literally a dream come true and (so far) the program has lived up to everything I thought it would be.
The program started with a 2 week laboratory "bootcamp", where me and my class were trained on basic lab techniques in Electrophysiology and Molecular Biology. It was unbelievably exhausting, starting with Molecular Biology. As a Psych major, my experience with the subject matter pretty much extended to my high school AP biology class, which I hadn't thought about since, well, 2013. 8-10 hours in lab for 5 days straight can really take it out of you, but we all made it through with only minimal emotional scars. Electrophysiology was much more fun (for me)-we took electrical recording from nerves and brain slices, and learned a lot about basic electrical signals. The hours were shorter and it actually motivated me to arrange for an electrophysiology rotation later in the fall!
After bootcamp "official" school started with classes and my first lab rotation (I will do a total of 4). Classes are fun-I have to take Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroanatomy. I love anatomy but cell and molec is a trial (to say the least). But I'm learning a lot and often have moments where I am totally giddy that I am living my dream. Studying is hard but it gets better!
Studying at McDonald's-Actually not as bad as it sounds.
Neuroanatomy Lab-Sooo fun! My favorite part of class.
Right now I'm finishing up my rotation in a molecular biology lab working on Ataxia disorders (a relative of ALS and Parkinson's), and trying to put together a poster presentation for a symposium next month. I have an exam next week (that still haven't studied for-undergrad habits die hard), and am looking forward to fall break and the start of a new rotation!
Mumford and Sons Concert-SO AMAZING
Of course with all of the class work and lab time I have made some time to have some fun! The Neuroscience program had a student retreat where all of the 1st years got to know the other students, there have been dinners and symposiums and plans for many more in the future. I've started running again and working with a personal trainer at the gym-the stress relief is SO WORTH IT!! I went to my first concert and totally fell in love, have dated and shopped and enjoyed this time in my life more than I ever thought I would. Can't wait to see what these next few months will bring!
