Nothing spells summer in Baltimore like the smell of hot asphalt, the sulfurous haze of backyard fireworks and the sweet siren’s call of a faraway ice cream truck. But if the weather’s heating up and you’re feeling down, take a day to get outside, explore the city and experience its thriving frozen dairy dessert scene(...)
A Day in the Life
Reflections on Pride Month As a Gay Scientist
Posted by | A Day in the LifeMost days, I just think of myself as a scientist. But in honor of Pride Month, I am embracing my identity as not just any scientist but specifically a gay scientist by reflecting on the struggles I’ve faced as a gay student and the challenges LGBTQ+ scientists face today. It’s easy to minimize the difficulties(...)
Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing for Your Thesis Committee Meeting
Posted by | A Day in the LifeEvery year, after passing the dreaded preliminary oral exam, Ph.D. students are required to meet with their thesis advisory committee (TAC) to assess their progress and plan future work. These meetings can be incredibly valuable, and they provide important check-ins during the sometimes chaotic day-to-day lab work. While preparing for my last TAC meeting, I(...)
Summer Reading from the Hopkins History of Medicine Department
Posted by | A Day in the LifeAsk anyone in the Johns Hopkins history of medicine department and they will tell you that summer is the time to catch up on all the reading they can’t do during the semester. Some of us have found our favorite books in the summer. Need a jump-start on your own reading? Check out these titles(...)
The Joy Is in the Ride!
Posted by | A Day in the LifeAs I turned the knob of the water fountain, I started musing about science blogs. Why should one write for a science blog? Could I not spend my time writing a review or focusing on that manuscript that is long overdue? What difference does it make? Is it worth spending the time and energy decoding(...)
What Is It Like To Attend The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine?
Posted by | A Day in the LifeYou've reviewed the prerequisites for attending Johns Hopkins, now hear from our students! Check out these posts about student life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Transition to the Wards: A Pivotal Point in Medical School Training The Hidden Joys of Medical School Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match Nearing the Finish: A Reflection(...)
Anatomy: A Poem
Posted by | A Day in the LifeLike many medical schools across the nation, mine taught its first-year anatomy course through dissection of human bodies. Donors of cadavers donate their bodies for the education of medical students, specifically for the anatomy dissection course. It seemed violent, grotesque and bizarre to cut open a preserved, very dead human body. The only way I(...)
The Beautiful Epiphyte
Posted by | A Day in the Life“We often use illness to disparage a way of being, and identity to validate that same way of being. This is a false dichotomy … Many conditions are both illness and identity, but we can see one only when we obscure the other.” Andrew Solomon’s Far from the Tree Elena Schwartz was born with rosehips(...)
Why Do Students Pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience?
Posted by | A Day in the LifeAs a fourth-year neuroscience Ph.D. student, I appreciate the variety of topics that lie within the umbrella of the nervous system. Nowhere is this more evident than in the diverse backgrounds and passions of my fellow students. To provide a glimpse into the vibrant world of neuroscience research, and to provide insight to others considering(...)
Grad Grooves: The Soundtrack of Our Science
Posted by | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchBackground music is everywhere. It plays quietly in malls and grocery stores, and loudly at sports events. It is almost ever-present in the TV shows we watch. In addition to all of this, many graduate students listen to music all day in lab. Because we work so much, this means we could have music streaming(...)