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I am a doctor now! (well, sort of)

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Michgal007, Feb 25, 2009.

  1. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    So, I defended my Ph.D. thesis yesterday (biophysics - University of Michigan). PC helped me a lot to relieve my stress (and a way to procrastinate). I used to come to PC at least 5 times a day, and in the past months it was more like twice a month. Now I don't have an excuse not to come often. :)

    It's finally over!
     
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    YAAAYYYY! CONGRATS DR. MICHGAL! :) :) :) i'm so excited for you!

    how do you feel now that it's over?
     
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Wow, congratulations. I was wondering where you were.

    I never get to A^2 anymore, since both of my kids graduated from UofM. My daughter is back in school working on a doctorate in physical therapy, so I hear about the gory details of that.

    Michgal, what are your plans now?

    Tom
     
  4. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Way to go, Doc! :cheer2:
     
  5. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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  6. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    I should add that my advisor commented on how I drive a Prius when he introduced me to the audience.

    I feel anticlimactic. I am happy that the presentation is over though. I still work in the same lab until end of April.

    I recommened www.phdcomics.com for anyone who is going through this. Seriously. It helps a lot to know that you are not the only one.

    It is uncertain where I would go next. I will keep you all posted.
     
  7. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    Good job.
     
  8. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Excellent, now you have an excuse for heavy drinking
     
  9. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Nice to have a REAL doctor on the board, as opposed to those who got their certificate from print-a-degree.com.
     
  10. moxiequz

    moxiequz Weirdo Social Outcast

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    Congratulations!!!

    This calls for a smiley celebration:

    :juggle: :party: :bounce: :dance: :juggle:

    :clap2: :clap2: :cheer2: :clap2: :clap2:
     
  11. dr_d12

    dr_d12 Member

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    Congratulations. I know exactly what you mean about the defense being anticlimactic. You should have a nice feeling of the world lifting off your shoulders soon, or at least when you walk away from the campus 'for the last time'. Invest in some nice interview clothes, and good luck with your search for a 'real job'.
     
  12. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Find someone to help you. As a PhD you are no longer competent to navigate on your own.

    Tom
     
  13. Dave_PH

    Dave_PH New Member

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    Biophysics. That actually sounds useful.
     
  14. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Sincere congratulations...that's fantastic. I get to wear that "doctor" badge without going through the whole thesis/defense hazing process (not that I didn't have a price to pay with oral exams, written, and hazing from surgery residents), and don't think I ever want to do it.

    Biophysics...any plans, ideas where you wanna go with that? Medical applications?
     
  15. samiam

    samiam Antipodean Prius Poster

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    Congrats! Beware of post-Phd Depression.
    Its sort of like giving a baby up for adoption, all that work and then its gone.

    Job hunt will help, I hope your supervisor is on the job there, should be a nice
    bulge of students returning to uni if your interests lie in an academic direction.

    One more bit of advice from an "old", if you can stand it; over the past 25 or so yrs since I became "be-phuddled", I've learnt that you need to be careful to whom you divulge the fact that you have a PhD. Sometimes it will hurt more than it will help.
    Job interview, it absolutely helps (unless its at Subway).
    Bringing a bit of authority to bear on a technical or scientific difference of opinion, yup it helps.
    Getting people who have information you are interested in to accept you and work with you (ranging from people in applied positions, to secretaries and DMV clerks), it will hurt.
    Under no conditions whatsoever tell a cabbie that you have a Phd!

    Have fun & celebrate now (I wore my doctoral robes for an entire week, including to the store and gardening - they were rented after all)
    The rest will come as it comes. Congrats Michgal
     
  16. dr_d12

    dr_d12 Member

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    Right, I think Tom's trying to be sacrastic, but seeking help from your connections is pretty important.
     
  17. Brodie

    Brodie New Member

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    Congrats! My defense is April 8th so I'm getting ready to go through the same thing (biological oceanography for me). I can't wait to be done!
     
  18. Vondutch

    Vondutch New Member

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    Wait, you're saying I'm not a doctor of intergalactic animal husbandry?

    Uh oh....


    :)
     
  19. Mjolinor

    Mjolinor New Member

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    I have to add that you missed out the best possible use for the title, when you get pulled by an arrogant little snot of a policeman. It removes that superiority complex that they seem to start with and generally loose when they have had a few years in the job. It certainly helps when you have to stand up in court for whatever reason. Other than that there is a lot of truth in the saying "more and more about less and less till you know everything about nothing".

    Look again in ten years at how non-conformal transformations and square roots of matrices used to be something you understood, that is depressing. :)

    All power to you, it's a hard slog and if you managed to stay on speaking terms with your supervisor all the better, I haven't spoken to mine since that very day.
     
  20. Dave_PH

    Dave_PH New Member

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    Okay, I have to ask. Bio pyhsics?

    Is that where you drop two kittens of different wieght out of a window and see which lands first?