Grad School, idk? Job? Prob!

So, I officially applied to one graduate program (the Marine Science and Conservation program at Duke for the Wong Lab) and I reached out to a couple of other PI's whose labs I was interested in but none of them were currently looking for students so I only applied to the one program at Duke. I know I want to get my PhD because I feel like in order to actually get stuff done with research you have to devote several years to a project in order to really get to know the ins and out of your research topic and yeah there are other reasons why I would just rather get my PhD right away instead of getting my masters first. The only caveat is that a PhD does take significantly more time, which is also a pro given the aforementioned point of why I don't want a masters however it's just a bigger commitment so I would not want to apply to a degree program for a lab that I am not extremely enthusiastic about in terms of both research and living location, even though I know that stuff is flexible but you get my point hopefully. The other caveat (so I guess there isn't only one lol, and this one I feel like is an even bigger caveat) is that getting a PhD will in a sense disqualify me from other positions that I think I would enjoy having even if only for a few years prior to pursuing my PhD and then a "real" big girl job/career that I would be 'locked in' to (not actually but typically you don't work seasonal jobs here, there and everywhere with a PhD). I do think it would be beneficial for me and also just fun to do to work some seasonal jobs that are research adjacent but also more conservation based and just utilize that as a means to explore myself/my interests and explore the world around me and meet new people and do cool things that I am passionate about and learn about more things that I could do long-term.

However .... in spite of all of this reasoning about what to do with my future, I emailed back Dr. Wong to see if I could possibly interview with her/tour Duke in person and she said I wasn't being considered for an interview so not going to lie I am kind of bummed because I also really do like what her lab does and I like the little community there and the Duke Marine Laboratory and it just seems like a place that I would really enjoy living and research that I would really enjoy doing. I am not too too bummed though because I know that if it was meant for me then it would be, kind of going back to the saying that goes like "desire is the root of all unhappiness" (I know I probably butchered that). But basically, I am like darn but I know that its okay and I am okay living with the uncertainty of what I will be doing next and I find it quite exciting, especially given its the start of a brand new year. Last year at this time I didn't know what I will be doing and I just assumed I would be in the same place and almost bought a gym membership with a one year commitment and then I was like wait a minute and I cancelled it and I am glad that I did because I spent the second half of the year living in Louisiana. Anyways, even though I was kind of rejected there is still a chance that I am offered admission which is still exciting and good, but as my friend Bridget says, I am not attached to any outcome. Whatever will be will be. Therefore, I am now looking for jobs and writing nonstop cover letters (not actually I've written like two but I have also been doing other stuff related to my actual research project) and there is actually two jobs that I am supposed to be applying to right now and working on the cover letters for but I am procrastinating by writing this blog post. I also realized that I never really explained my project, so I will do so in a following blog post but just briefly.

Anyways, the two jobs I am applying to right now is Marine Biologist (ASM) for this company and I am pretty qualified regarding the qualifications they provided and the job description, but the job post said to write a cover letter detailing my sea and fish experience and I don't even know what that really means but I guess I will just write something. I am also kind of worried because I will be on a boat for multiple days at a time, probably with men I don't really know or trust, and I would probably be the only science person so they could judge me or be mean to me. I don't think so though, at least I hope not. I do think it's a pro though that I will be on trips that could be up to 14 days in a row and for each day you get paid for 12 hours (even though you are on the boat constantly) but that's not bad, I feel like I would rather work a lot all at once and it also just seems like a cool job, like I bet I would see some cool creatures. The other job I am applying to is Accessible Wildland Trails Research Intern, which is actually less applied to like biological research and is more about improving accessibility to trails (specifically I think for disabled people) and that is so cool and awesome but also the job like doesn't really pay that great but also I get free housing so not bad. Okay anyways, I am supposed to go have lunch now so bye, but my website is linked to my CV so if any of the potential employers see this, please hire me!

Going viral

Just to provide some background, the first 2 weeks of the LAGNiAppE program consisted of research bootcamp, followed by a week attending the Evolution conference in Montreal, Canada, followed by one more week of research bootcamp prior to joining our individual labs and embarking upon our research projects (I'm not entirely sure embarking is the right word in this context, but it feels right so just go with it). For the first three weeks, no one knew which mentor they were paired with, so it was pretty scary for someone like me who likes to know what is going on at all times.

Anyhow, I am now writing firmly from the second half of the last week research bootcamp, so that means I know which mentors I have been paired with. Drumroll please ...

Dr. Jeremy Brown and Dr. Rebecca Christofferson!

See their websites below for your own exploration:

https://phyleauxlab.github.io/

https://www.xoffersonlab.com/

None of the other scholars have co-mentors, nor have I ever had co-mentors, so I am not entirely sure what to expect but I am excited nonetheless. As per the wording in the email I had received notifying me of who my mentors are, "This pairing will give Caitlin the opportunity to explore her interests, as Dr. Christofferson is an expert in the emergence and transmission of viruses, while Dr. Brown offers a strong sense of community within the Department of Biological Sciences and will work closely in the project." I still do not know what my project is yet, but I am really pleased with these mentors and am super excited to get started hopefully learning more about viruses.

I guess I was a little too excited to learn more about viruses though, because I also have COVID right now, so I guess I am getting a little first hand refresher course on viruses. Yay! (sarcasm) I was going strong not having COVID following the Evolution conference in spite of 5 people I know of contracting COVID after attending the conference (no harm, no foul on behalf of them or the Evolution conference, unfortunately this is the nature of extremely large gatherings such as an international conference on an incredibly broad topic). However, I got that Friday off from work (originally supposed to be Thursday and Friday but due to travel delays I got back on Friday) and then promptly boarded another plane, flew home, got home at 1:00 am and then spent ~24 hours at home before getting in my '06 Mini Cooper (Mr. Cooper) and drove to Louisiana from Rhode Island with my dad. I truthfully think that last part just put too much of a strain on my body because even though driving seems likes just sitting in one spot for however long, it actually requires a great deal of mental concentration and effort for me and is quite fatiguing. Had I not driven, I might have been fine, but I am fortunate to be able to participate via Zoom and for an understanding program coordinator who is allowing and encouraging me to take the time to rest and recover.

Anyway, I have been taking this time to 1.) sleep and 2.) look into different grad schools accepting graduate students 3.) sleep.

About Me - extended (07/19/2024)

I began my about me and realized it's way too long and doesn't exactly get to the point, so I will post my word vomit here. Also see another upcoming post with my personal statement (generic) to get to know more about me and my journey to science.

Growing up, I had no idea that being a scientist was a career possibility, yet I had always had an innate curiosity and deep connection to the natural world that governed much of my interests. As I got to choose my courses in my undergrad, these interests developed further and I had been exposed to new things that I'd never known previously existed, and it absolutely changed my world view. Having began my undergraduate degree in 2020, it was challenging to get a foothold in research, but in 2023 I joined the Puritz Lab of Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Rhode Island as an undergraduate researcher, and that completely revolutionized my understanding of science and how it is applicable to me. Currently, I am a member of the Louisiana Graduate Network in Applied Evolution, where I will be embarking upon independent research for the next year (2024-2025). Following that, I am planning on getting my PhD, and then from there, I don't know!

In a broader, more ideological sense, my ultimate goal would be to provide the public, especially underrepresented populations in STEM fields, with the knowledge they need to understand the scientific process and the fundamentals of science in addition to being able to understand new science news and scientific data. I want to make others feel empowered in their ability to make decisions regarding science that affect them and their community, and having the actual social capital and confidence to do so. I also want to empower these groups to understand that a career in science or even more broadly, STEM, is accessible to them, while also actually producing the social change that makes that true. Additionally, I would like to perform my own research that explores the effects of anthropogenic climate change on evolutionary ecology, specifically research that would inform state and federal legislature regarding regulatory measures and affect conservation efforts. I feel as though I would be best able to achieve these goals in a position as an extension specialist, as I would like to work with a broader community than just school or college aged children. Though being a PI may enable me to fulfill these goals as well, I would prefer to take a more active role in interacting with the community and extending science to individuals who do not already exist within those spaces. Aside from being an extension specialist, I believe another possible career choice that I would enjoy is working within a governmental agency (i.e. NOAA, EPA, USDA, USFWS) as a biological researcher and compiling meaningful data that affects legislature and serves as a knowledge base for the public, although I understand this role also comes with its own challenges and obstacles. Perhaps there are other roles that I would really enjoy settling into long-term, but as I gain more experience within science and academia, that will likely further shape my decision and the choices available to me, although those core values and goals will likely still always be important to me. 

My research interests are incredibly varied and thus far undeveloped due to my current lack of many research experiences, but broadly, I am interested in anthropogenic stressors and their effects upon evolutionary ecology. I have experience researching how diel-cycled coastal acidification and low dissolved oxygen affect natural selection and microevolution within various populations of Crassostrea virginica across multiple life stages. I also have experience aiding in multiple disease challenges on larval oysters and juvenile oysters with Vibrio coralliilyticus and Roseovarius crassostreae, respectively. Moving forward, I am interested in gaining more experience with environmental microbiology, microbial ecology and evolution, and phytoplankton ecology, especially with respect to anthropogenic stressors. I am also interested in the inhibitory effects of various types of macroalgae upon phytoplankton species responsible for harmful algal blooms, and the application of this information in an aquaculture setting. However, I am also excited to further explore my research interests and I’m excited to see where my experience in the Louisiana Graduate Network in Applied Evolution (LAGNiAppE) leads me!

Aside from my interests in science, I also really enjoy just going for walks outside, taking pictures of trees and animals, swimming in the ocean, watching sunsets and, when I'm not feeling lazy, seeing the sunrise, and I love cats and truthfully all animals. I also love(d) running, but right now I am pretty far from being in shape enough to where I find running to be enjoyable and not painful, and I prefer running outside, especially in crisp morning or fall weather, so moving to Louisiana wasn't super conducive to jump starting my running career again. I also love painting, reading, drawing, and producing art, as well as doing my makeup (very maximialist makeup is my niche because it takes an art form). If I wasn't a scientist, I would probably be a veterinarian or a tattoo artist, or truthfully perhaps a teacher. My favorite foods are pickles (+ pickle juice), sweet potatoes, sunny side up eggs, cinnamon raisin bread, indian food of all sorts, all mexican food, a good juicy peach or plum, crisp watermelon, and dark chocolate, and more recently, key lime pie. I also just got into v8 energy drinks thanks to my roommate, and I just ordered the limited edition watermelon flavor so I am excited to try that when it comes in (I think tomorrow).