Defended my PhD today!

[DrBadger]

Woohoo, I successfully defended my PhD dissertation today! It has been a long 6 years coming, and really the whole day was pretty surial. Everyone kept asking me after it was over how I felt, and I honestly had to say that I didn't know...I was really just in a haze and kind of numb.

The public talk went really well, and I got a ton of complaments. I think the best ones were from my friends in other fields who said that they actually understood most of my talk! That means I succeeded! The closed session with my committee went pretty well too....I gut some really good feedback and suggestions for small things to do to strengthen my final conclusions before I publish this part of the work. I think the best part of the day though was this morning when I met with my advisor, and he was getting really excited about the last things that I had finished up, and said that next week we need to talk about getting this work together to submit to Science! For those of you in the science fields you get what a huge deal that is :D For the rest of you, Science is one of the two top journals to get your work published in because it reaches such a broad audience. They only accept work that is really novell and new, and that has broad interest across many disciplines of science. So this is really exciting... hopefully it will get accepted.

Had a nice reception at the department in the afternoon when I finished, and then tonight my advisor had a big party at his place for me and a couple of other people in my group who are also finishing up. My friend Hannah defended 2 weeks ago, and my roommate Amie, and office mate Pijush will be defending in the fall, but are walking through graduation this weekend.

Now I get to relax and entertain the partents, my grandma, and my brother for the rest of the weekend. Looking forward to getting some sleep, and riding my bike a lot more!

E.

[madscot13]

Congradulations! All of that is a huge accomplishment. Wow and Science to boot! Biologist speaking here. Oh man my jaw just dropped. For non scientists Science is like the Holy Grail of publications, akin to a writer being published in the New Yorker or a director landing a summer blockbuster- it only gets better from here! I have to ask what was your work in? please include all of the gorey details that you have the strength for!

[Thistle]

i'm in the process writing my thesis up, and i can only imagine what it feels like to finish! i'm hoping for that feeling later in the year.

awesome news about Science (i'm in psych, so i get it). you must be flying at about 10,000 feet right now :D

well done, have the best week just feeling proud of yourself. you've done it! i have a piece of paper stuck to my monitor that says "you can do this"... but you've actually DONE it!

congrats :D :D :D

[RoadRaven]

Congrats, I know via a colleague how nerve-wracking and energy draining this process can be, as well as invigorating and exhilerating.

We have supported her for the past few years when management wouldn't and this year she has finally completed and did her oral in May. She had a few e-mendations to make and has been rewarded with being invited to present in a conference in Jamaica next month, and management are paying for the travel!

So congrats... you have persisted, and been rewarded.
Enjoy reclaiming your life!

Can you let us know when your work is accepted for Science, and which volume it will be in - even though that may be next year the way that submissions can sometimes work!

[Veronica]

Wooohooo!

Now you can ride with us more. :p

V.

[jobob]

What V. said. :D

Many congrats indeed.

Science, huh? That would be great!!! Maybe if you have a cool drawing you'd even get the cover. :cool:

[Tri Girl]

Wooo hooo!!!! Congratulations on the conclusion of a very long process!!!! You did ggrrrrrrrreat!!!!

[Kimmyt]

Awesome, congrats! Care to divulge your topic?

[LBTC]

Crazy coloured ridiculously happy frenzied butterflies celebrating all around you (and your bike)!

Congratulations!!

H&B
~T~

[Nokomis]

Congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment ~ stand proud! :D

[Bikingmomof3]

CONGRATULATIONS! :cool: :D :cool: :D

[aka_kim]

Congrats! Houston, here you come! :)

[massbikebabe]

AAAAHHHHHH YES!!!!

The "terminal degree". Congrats to you, you have accomplished something so many dream about!!! Do I hear a POST-DOC voice shouting in the distance?


Someday me and my walker will be out there defending ourselves, slurred speech and all!!!



karen

[maillotpois]

Congrats!!!! And, like the gals said, more bike time!!

[roadie gal]

CONGRATS!!!!!

Science.... WOW!!

Enjoy a well deserved rest.

[jobob]

The "terminal degree". Congrats to you, you have accomplished something so many dream about!!! Do I hear a POST-DOC voice shouting in the distance?

Not a postdoc, she done got herself a real (as in, paying) job! :cool:

[bikerz]

PAB - a huge congratulations!!! Well done on the Science publication too!

Here's to lots of time to ride :) - until you leave us for Houston :(

[snapdragen]

Excellent! Congratulations Badger!:cool: :D

[smilingcat]

Congratulation. And a chance to have it published in Science. OMG...

Any plans for tenure tack faculty position at some university?

smilingcat

[HappyAnika]

Congratulations! Such a relief! I didn't realize how much stress I was really under until the defense was over. May take a while to unwind, but just think, now you won't be waking up at 2 am remembering some detail you need to address. Enjoy yourself and relax! :D :D :D

[melissam]

Yay!!! Congrats, Badge!! I was wondering how your defense went, and I'm really glad that it went so well.

I must agree that you do explain things well to those of us not in your field. Not only that, but you make it sound interesting as well.

Hope to get more riding in with you before you head off to Houston.

-- Melissa

[alpinerabbit]

Aaaah the feeling of relief.... the fingers typed to bleeding and the worries about backups (I hope you have backups)!

Congratulations! You haven't told us what it's all about I think?

And with Science, best of luck - tell us when you get it in (actually bring a keg of beer).

Jeez and you are at Stanfort too? *envious*

[madscot13]

Hey wait Stanford? Can you be my in?

[Hub]

Congrats & more Congrats-- Dr. PABadger!!!!!

hub

[pll]

Congratulations! Such a relief! I didn't realize how much stress I was really under until the defense was over. May take a while to unwind, but just think, now you won't be waking up at 2 am remembering some detail you need to address.

Ditto! It takes a while to sink in. Congratulations and best of luck submitting the paper to Science! (and do tell us what the dissertation was about).

-pll

[Aquila]

Congrats!!!