I just enabled user registration for this blog.  I don’t know how useful it will be, but it’ll be there.  The default account level is “subscriber”, so there shouldn’t be any noticeable difference reading this blog, though I suppose commenting would be a little more fancy ifone were to create an account and log in.

About a year and a half ago, my old 4th gen iPod stopped working.  I woudl try to turn it on, and it would make the pitiful hard drive whining sound, stop, and give me the sad iPod icon.

I didn’t do anything with it for a while, because I assumed tha tonce the hard drive gave me that sound, the whole thing was toast.  I started looking into ways to replace the hard drive, and maybe even replace it with a compact flash card to provide more storage space.  (Easy: http://www.tarkan.info/20080126/tutorials/32gb-compact-flash-ipod Ugly: http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/767/put-flash-memory-into-almost-any-ipod)

At the time, I calculated that it would cost abou $100 to do this, and at that price, I might as well get a new iPod.

One day, I got bored and just took my iPod apart, then put it back together.  Curious as to whether it was still broken, I plugged it into my computer and magically, it worked!  I reset the iPod, but then I needed to plug it into the power adapter in order to finish the process.  Problem: I hadn’t used the power adapter in months because I didn’t have a reason to, and Pam didn’t know where it was either.  We didn’t end up finding it until we moved, but now I have a fully functioning pre-video iPod again!

My PI gave me a pep talk about graduate school this morning, and combined with a couple other recent events, it has brought grad school as a possibility back into my future life plans.  It’s irritating that I keep going back and forth on this.  Sorry for the mental vomit that comes below, but it’s part of the reason why I haven’t been able to make up my mind.

Issues to consider:

• Turns out I’m not half bad at science
• I’ll most likely be on two papers within the next six months, which is good for grad school and med school; ok for industry, but having only a bachelor’s is a limiting factor there.  means nothing outside of science.
• I missed working in the lab when I wasn’t doing so Senior year or college
• I don’t even hide the fact I’m a huge science dork
• Graduate student stipends are ~$21,000/yr
• Lab environment and dynamic are highly variable, and people and personalities are important.  also important in an office, which just as limiting in social interaction.  social aspect totally different than working in medicine
• Could go for dual-degree, but that essentially doubles the time before I actually begin my career post-education.
• I’ll most likely work 10+ hours days and many “occasional” weekends
• I’d probably work 10+ hours a day and many “occasional” weekends anywhere I work
• Graduate school is way less expensive than medical school
• I’d most likely need at least one post-doc position after graduating in order to gain experience, so +2 or more years
• Medical residencies are similar, and could take longer
• If I want to stay in science, the only way to make it a decent career is to get a PhD
• The only ways I’m going to make a decent amount of money in science are to either run a lab or go into industry.
• Running a lab involves always chasing money, but I will be my own boss, sort of.
• Working in industry is more structured, but I surrender more independence.  Pay is higher for the same or less work.
• I have a bit of security in my current position, minimum one year, possibly up to two.
• Science: I get to play with expensive toys and generate images like this:


HCMV-infected HFF

• Outside of science, and maybe in industry: I can buy my own toys.

Conclusions:

1. Medical school is out, unless it’s part of a dual-degree medical scientist training program and I end up with both an MD and PhD.
2. If I stay in science, everything I’ve done for the last four-plus years is still working for me.  Cons: I will be broke for at least four years.  Risky after grad school.  Can lose funding and enter career limbo.  Need to start applying now.
3. If I leave science, my options may be limited?  Alternatives: product design consultancy (e.g. Ideo), management consulting (not familiar with the field).  Cons: my experience is lacking, at least from my perspective.  Can be laid off.  Should start applying now.