Put down your novel and pick up a paper.

Wise words from my PI :)

This blogging more frequently may still be sporadic. Sorry.

I'm in my qualifying preparation time, or whatever. I had my preprospectus about 10 days ago, and will have my prospectus in less than two months. Hence the title of this post. I really need to crack down and get some reading/learning done.

What am I talking about?
So, as you know I'm getting my Ph.D. In our program, before the start of third year we have to pass our 'qualifying exam'. Basically a 2hr oral exam about topics related to my proposed thesis project.
What does this entail?
1. Summary of my research in one page: completed
2. Research in progress talk in front of whole department: completed
3. Meeting with committee to see if they like my project: completed, committee happy
4. Picking topics for my prospectus: completed
5. Coming up with lists of papers that I'm actually going to read: in progress
6. 10-page N1H style paper on my proposal: to do
7. Revamped presentation with more detail: to do
8. Actually reading 50+ papers:to do
9. 2hr qualifying exam: to do

So that's what I have been up to.

In better news, I got this prestigious fell0wship from the nati0n@l science found@ation!!! I'm very excited about this! Plus it increases my stipend!! Yay!!

In non-science news, I saw Smart People and was deeply disappointed!

Jag sameaj... Happy Passover!!