finding a rotation
January 9th, 2006 by Lawrence David
winter vacation has been fantastic so far. my general happiness has really increased, now that the burden of homework has been lifted. concomitant with my absolution from problem sets has been a decrease in time spent on the computer; i’m amazed at how much time i spent browsing the internet just because i was sitting at my desk.
nevertheless, i’ve now buckled down and replied to long-unanswered emails and blog comments. i’ve also made spotty progress towards locating a next lab rotation; i’m gradually realizing that my first-year of grad school is indeed finite and that come may, i might actually have to pick a lab. earlier in the year, i thought this wasn’t going to be such an issue, since i knew what i wanted to study: either neuroscience or biological approaches to alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen producing bacteria or solar panel fabrication via viral assembly. i’ve given neuroscience a try with my current rotation. but, as the year has progressed, energy has just come up so many times in the news and i’ve read a fascinating book on the subject (the end of oil); i can’t help but think energy will be one of the preeminent problems facing society in the coming decades. as a result, i think bioenergy has won my heart.
surprisingly, the opportunities for graduate research here at one of the world’s largest engineering schools have been limited in the field; i’ve only come across one person really thinking about biology and energy. of course, she’s just won a macarthur grant and her lab is packed to the brim. so, that’s left me with the increasingly disturbing prospect of not being able to work on what i’m really passionate about – which is what i thought grad school was all about. for now, i’m ignoring those fears and still reaching out to people who do work tangentially related to bioenergy, like microbial or metabolic engineers. but, there aren’t too many of them either …
note, if you’ve read the end of oil and are around this week, the author (paul roberts) is actually speaking at mit on 2PM thursday, in 4-370.
