Just procrastinating, no deep thoughts

Just got out of lab meeting and have some time to kill before the gym, or whatever is going to distract me tonight besides Medium . Hope it's not a rerun, but too lazy to check.

Had a frustrating, crappy morning, but the afternoon was better. Lunching in sunshine and coffee helped tremendously.

Lab meeting was also pretty interesting. But my advisor's in an unnaturally good mood, which is kind of freaking me out.

Saw somebody had posted a clipped-out article from the NY Times on the wall in our lab, saying that the major stem cell research progress from North Korea might be completely fake. Or maybe just partially. Or maybe all of science is crap and the only reason anybody noticed this time is because this paper got so much attention from the press and the world in general. Basically that was gist of the article.

Oh, and someone sent me something funny today, a 'definition' of a postdoc (beware, this is going to make you fall off your chair laughing):

After earning your PhD, you will probably want to spend a few years in another laboratory to expand your range before accepting a permanent position. Postdoctoral work provides an opportunity to pursue research with the wisdom gained from graduate school and without the administrative responsibilities of more senior scientists. Some postdoctoral fellows are supported from research grants to the host laboratory. Others are awarded fellowships from the National Institutes of Health or private foundations.

here are my snide comments:

want to spend a few years --> have to spend several long painful years

opportunity to pursue research --> you'll be working for some schmuck who will exploit or hate you (or both)

without the administratrive responsibilities --> you'll have no power whatsoever

some postdoctoral fellows are supported from research grants --> the vast majority of people who won't get faculty jobs later are supported from research grants

others are awarded fellowships --> the ones who work for famous people and/or are much smarter than you will get fellowships while you wonder why anyone gave you a PhD if you're so stupid you can't get any funding


Or, my version of this statement:

After escaping from grad school, PhD firmly clutched in your desperate, bloody hands, if you are good enough to get a faculty job someday you'll still have to waste some time in a postdoc. If you are not, this is your last chance to publish the coveted High Profile Paper(s). Postdoctoral work is slightly better than grad school in some ways, and slightly more stressful. Likewise it is slightly better than being a faculty member, but slightly worse (degrees will vary depending on the System). Some postdoctoral fellows will be happier because they'll figure out how to get their own funding, even if it means begging for a phony recommendation letter from someone famous who has never met you. But only slightly happier than the ones who get paid off their PI's R-01. No one will warn you about all the pitfalls of being a postdoc, the crappy health insurance, you don't have the safety net of a committee like you did in grad school, etc. One last piece of advice: don't do one if you can figure out a way to avoid it. If you must do one, make it quick, make it famous, and get out as fast as humanly possible.