Friday, July 25, 2008

Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi...

Boy, it's kind of intimidating to post on this site due to how well it has taken off!  Hats off to Mad Hatter *chuckles* for setting everything up and coming up with this wonderful idea!!  And thank you for inviting me to contribute.

So.  Who am I??  Whelp, unlike other posters on this blog...I have yet to experience the real world.  Officially, I am a PhD candidate in microbiology...getting ready to enter my fourth year of grad school with no real expectations of getting out soon.  I believe firmly in taking your future in your own hands and doing what YOU need to in order to be happy and successful.  

So. Why was I invited here?  I have always been interested in alterternatives to academics and the much desired tenure tract.  Awesomely, for a college student, my mother works for Anheuser Busch and has informed me of what their microbiologist does for the industry of delicious beer making ever since I displayed interest in the subject.  Thus, she was my introduction to the many alternatives that exist out in the 'real world'.  Since then, I have spent sometime learning about what else I could do when I grow up.  There is a fantastic club at my university called 'Alternatives in Science' which invites many people that obtained PhDs who did not pursue the canonical academic way of life in order to inform us what else is out there, and how to get jobs like theirs. 

So.  What do I plan to write about in this rad blog??  I hope to relay any information that I gather from those speakers or from my own little inquiries.  I would also like to promote discussions on general fears/expectations/loves/etc. of various career choices.  As I don't have as much incite on HOW to obtain rockin' jobs...I'd like to propose questions on WHO those employers are interested in hiring, WHY they are worthwhile, and WHAT to do in order to get those jobs.

...Soooo,  Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi!!!  Nice to meet all of you!!

7 comments:

The bean-mom said...

Welcome, Rhea!

And an "Alternatives in Science" club at your school? That is frigging awesome! I forward to your posts on it, and the other information that you glean!

Yttrai said...

Welcome!

"Boy, it's kind of intimidating to post on this site due to how well it has taken off!"

QFT. But it's great to see you step up and say hello.

Silas said...

Awesomely, for a college student, my mother works for Anheuser Busch and has informed me of what their microbiologist does for the industry of delicious beer making ever since I displayed interest in the subject.

Heh, one of the Carlsberg heirs was in grad school with me, studying microbiology. (Brewing is the original biotech, you know!) My impression, though, is that microbiology is one of those academic fields where industry work isn't considered that "alternative", relative to molecular biology.

What do the Anheuser-Busch people think about the takeover? InBev seems like a really well-run company.

Anonymous said...

hey there - fellow microbiology phd student here - would love an 'alternative' job - the thought of a lifetime in academia bores me stupid!

Anonymous said...

My mom is pretty darn bummed...she is loosing her options and pension plans and other various retirement stuffs.

I poured a lil beer out for my homies in STL. :P

Anonymous said...

And Silas...you might be right, tho i certainly feel a push from those around me to stay in academia. I think they are afraid that it is a dying bread??

Anonymous said...

wow its obviously late....no dying bread here. breed. breeds die. lol