Funding Fail...

Le sigh....
Although I haven't gotten the official rejection email, I'm pretty sure I didn't get the grant for the MRG.  My friend in the department applied for the same grant and she got called for an interview.  I did not. I hope it's just a matter of they were more interested in her research than in mine, rather than that I submitted a shoddy application.

If that is the case, this is the sort of bias in ecology that ticks me off.  She works with cute little vertebrates who carry a disease (and vector parasite) that directly effects humans.  Whereas I work with "slime", which isn't as popular. Granted not everyone in charge of awarding this grant is a scientist, and I know that her work has more direct and immediate impact to people....but the thought that it came down to such a human centric decision bothers me.  It's all human centric! 

And just to wallow for a minute longer...I'm always happy for my fellow students when they get funding, but it makes me feel like such a loser.  I know there's always going to be more rejections than successes.  I just want to know my work is appreciated by more than just my lab. :-(

New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's been a while.  Finals are over. The holidays are over.  Holidays and finals are a deadly combination; no exercising because you've got too many parties (with food) to go to, and no exercising because you've got too much studying to do.  But this is not the post for personal resolutions, though they are the standard ones that everyone picks.

These are blog resolutions!  I've gotten this thing off the ground.  And I know that people other than my hubby look at it. So this is for all of you, to make this thing better, and to make me better.  That's the point of resolutions, right?

1. I will read at least 3 journal articles a week and blog about at least one of them
2. There will be at least one additional blog post per week.
3. I will keep up with my sporadic Fun Friday thing, make that every week as well.
4. I will attempt to not bitch about school stuff.
5. I will take requests!  Got something you want me to go into? Drop me a line!

However, there's a big caveat: I have comps.  Comp exam is Jan 22nd, after that I'm all yours.  But until then, there is massive amounts to studying to do!  This is the exam that will make or break whether I get to stay in grad school.  It is the crucible through with all grad students must pass.  Make that "high pass".  So far, I'm about 1/6 of the way through everything with about 18 days to go.

Catch y'all on the flip side.