u/evilpastabake

You heard it here!

5 years ago I went into the MCAT raw and scored a 500. Now I am concluding a PhD from a top 3 research institution in the world in clinical pharmacology and am going to try it again. This was not a decision I took lightly. Over the years of my PhD study I tried to immerse myself in the research I was doing and become truly passtionate about it. While I do love the field, and the field of oncology drug development, it still feels a little abstract and pointless to me without the human connection. So, here I go I guess. Studying this time!!!

Hi all,
 
I will be completing a PhD in a quantitative biomedical science from a prestigious US program within the next 2 years. Although I’m aware that is a bit of time, I need to begin considering options for what’s next. When I was younger, I always thought I wanted to be a physician although when I arrived at undergrad I started working in research and one thing after the other has led me to where I am today.
 
I now find myself having worked for 5+ years behind the scenes in a research hospital doing clinical pharmacology. Although I find this career interesting, the day-to-day can get dull as it is essentially a statistics job within the pharmacotherapy space. I have been questioning lately whether it may be worth attending medical school and becoming a physician to make the research work I do, feel more gratifying and establish that connection with the patients. All of my work has been in oncology clinical pharmacology and cancer drug development, so initially my thinking is a career in academic oncology may be a gratifying path to choose. I do understand, though, that these things change as you progress through medical school.
 
Clearly this is a big decision, and not one I take lightly as it would completely alter the trajectory of myself and my fiancé. I am here looking for advice from you established physicians, students that were in a similar situation to myself, or folks who considered it but didn’t take the leap and still lurk on the subreddit.
 
The major hesitations are: age (I will be 30 upon completion of my PhD); major alterations to current projected WLB, earning, debts, and career progression (as it currently stands I could probably get a good job as a clinical pharmacologist in big pharma, earn around ~175-200 TC starting, climb to 400-500 within 1-2 decades and work 50-55 hours per week tops with a hybrid schedule given the quantitative nature of my field and with minimal debt being only 15k from undergrad); impact on fiancé and future family (my fiancé is everything to me, she is the most supportive woman I know and also has an incredible career of her own as tenure-track teaching professor at a large R1 university. Although we don’t want kids anytime soon, we think late 30s isn’t an unreasonable time for that)
 
Both my fiancé and I are workaholics – we take pride in what we do and our careers really are the bedrock of us as people. I know folks say that isn’t always the healthiest, but we do have hobbies and other things we like to do together. My point being my career is incredibly important to me and my happiness as a person – Although I love my field of oncology clinical drug development and the role I play in it as a clinical pharmacologist, I don’t know that staring at R all day is what I see myself doing for the next 30-40 years. I need a personal connection. Is it worth staying in a comfortable career where you aren’t incredibly stimulated, or postponing comfort to find a career where you can combine your interests?
 
Thanks for listening to my rant, hope everyone enjoys their weekend if they aren’t working (I won’t be lol)

Hey all.

Beginning a new role at a pharma company as a pharmacometrician following my PhD. What is a typical dress code when on site? Would a polo with blazer be too formal? What about a button down with rolled up sleeves?

For pants I am thinking grey, brown, black and navy trousers!

Thanks

If a physician gave Celeste the abortion you would think they would be able to tell she was just a child. Maybe I’m wrong about HIPPA and whatnot but I’d imagine there would be some mandatory reporting there. Anyone have insight into this?

Hey all,

Beer lover and avid homebrewer here. I am a PhD student that, due to circumstances outside of my control, have been left without a lab for the 2nd time within a 2-year frame. I’ve becoming really frustrated and disillusioned with academia throughout these years and am heavily considering, given the most recent setback, mastering out and applying my skills to a new path outside of the life sciences.

I am in a Pharmaceutical Science program studying medicinal chemistry. I know that working at a brewery isn’t anything like homebrewing but I’m youngish (26) and am really just thinking I want to deviate from my current path right now given everything.

Can anyone offer insights into this career, whether you think I could make myself a good candidate, and how badly I’d regret changing paths?

Thanks so much and cheers!

Hey,

As a first year my advisor switched universities and I decided to stay back at my current institution. I looked for about 4 weeks for a PI, emailing around 20 investigators doing work even remotely related to what I am interested in. I received 19 “no funding so sorry”s and eventually joined a lab doing work less related to my interests but cool enough that I can get through the degree.

I am now wrapping up a 5 week rotation in this and today when I brought up the topic of formally joining the lab he told me he was not sure if he has the funding at the moment to take me on. Frankly, I’m pissed. He knows about my situation from the previous lab and we had a discussion about it prior to my rotation. Additionally, the department has been no help throughout all of this. They’ve offered no support, I’ve been left to find opportunities on my own and they essentially said “good luck! Let us know if you’re going to master out.”

If this thing doesn’t work out with my current lab I may just quit I honestly don’t know.

Dm me if you want I’ll name and shame the uni and dept cuz I’m over it.

Edit: title should really say second time in 1 year as I am just entering my second year

For my DMV and MA folk im thinking similar to Tatte! I love a cheese danish with some cold brew in the morning

Used to have abs. Now…. Not so much!

New grad student at unc and a lover of beer! Give me your recs in the triangle!

That’s pretty much it. Im in my second year of my biomedical PhD at a large and well known state school in the United States. When I entered the PhD program I thought I wanted to go into academia after but now all I want is to escape from it and every day I regret not majoring in something that would’ve allowed me to get a well paying job right out of undergrad.

The faculty at my school are exhausting. Meetings that could have been emails, incredibly slow moving projects, and worst of all: faculty that act supportive of the students only to protect the faculty the instant a complaint arises. It’s all so stupid in my mind. Once I finish (2-3 years most likely) I will be getting a job and advising that nobody goes into academia. It’s all a circle jerk with people who think they’re way more important than they really are.

That is all

Hey everyone,

I am a PhD student studying pharmacology at a large university and my laboratory is shutting down as my advisor is moving universities. I have been given the all clear by him to look around and take what I want as everything was purchased by his grants, not institutional grants. Coincidentally I am a beginner home brewer! So, what should I take?

Anyone know what’s going on?

Trying to home brew and want to fully understand the tap water/what i need to add.

Thanks!

Bonjour, je suis de l’ États-Unis. il y a une année j’ai voyagé au Maroc, spécifiquement à Tanger et c’était le plus belle ville de tout le monde. Parce que de ça j’aime tous les choses du Maroc. Je vais regarder le jeu et J’espère que Maroc et le meilleur.

Maintenant, j’aime IR Tanger et aussi le Atlas Lions. Désolé de m’a français j’sais c’est pas bon mais j’ai étudié quand j’étais à l’école secondaire et il y a 10 années. Merci les gens au Maroc, j’espère voyager là-bas encore.