Settling In

Well, I am getting adjusted to life in my new postdoc location. Last week was mostly spent unpacking and getting various things started. My apartment is in decent shape, but there are plenty of things that have just been moved out of sight until I figure out where to put them.

On campus, I had my first real meeting with my new PI yesterday. He's a nice guy and we discussed several things I can work on now, to get my feet wet. Nothing seems to be over my head thus far. I'm looking forward to checking out some new software tools, but I have to make sure and get my last PhD paper done, with respect to the reviewer comments I've got...it needs to be submitted by Monday or else I return to the back of the line. Gah...and I haven't received any feedback from my PhD advisor on it. Well, if I answer the last two questions, I'm not waiting past the deadline for comments.

Recently I read two interesting posts that I want to keep track of. This commentary on the viewpoints of a journal editor is good to keep in mind. Aside from commenting on some bad practices in a post-publication survey, I haven't pestered on time to review or rejection. I guess it isn't a surprise that some people don't have any patience.
And, I like this presentation on how to get non-scientists interested in science. We need to keep the next generation interested.

Transition Time

After four years I am officially gone from my PhD institution. Yesterday was my last day of 'employment' as a postdoc. It was a long day of off-loading information and finishing up with packing my desk area. As all last days are, it was on the surreal and bittersweet side. I'm ready to leave and looking forward to new things. At the same time, it is always easier to be around things that you know and are comfortable with. Of course, for me, the more often I have to step outside my comfort zone, the better. After going out to eat with my fellow ex-lab-mates, I got a couple more hours of final cleaning and packing in last night. After a short night's sleep I got up at 5:30 and finished getting my stuff out and cleaned the floors behind me. I thought I didn't have a chance of getting everything into my car, but somehow I managed. wow. And, at 8am I left my living place for the last 4 years. Again, surreal. I won't make it to my postdoc city until Monday morning - my first official day there - so I've got the weekend to get used to the idea of leaving. It'll hit me for sure when I get back to my new apartment, and find it stuffed full of packed boxes waiting to be unloaded. I'm not looking forward to that. It'll also hit me when I spend the first time in the new lab...and try to figure out what is going on. The PI is out of town for most of the week. He had said not to worry about coming around for the first few days. I heard from the other postdoc, who had a few suggestions of things I can do, to get familiar with things. Reading protocols sounds like a good place to start, so I'll see if I can get my hands on them to start the week. Well, this was just a rambling thought dump. Here's to the future...