Graduate Journal

Milan de Vries is a molecular-biology graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In early 2006, the thought of completing my dissertation and graduating before the end of the year seemed impossible. I was deeply involved in three different projects. Although they were closely related scientifically, I thought it impossible to complete all of them in such a short time. To my surprise, my adviser repeatedly told me that this was the year I would finish and that I should start thinking about what to do next. How could I possibly finish this year? Deciding my next step would be even more difficult.

This year has been a rollercoaster, both personally and professionally. I've left a relationship, bought a flat and started writing a popular-science book. I've participated in a choir competition and a ski trip to Slovakia. And somewhere in between, I've managed to finish a PhD.

Evaluating PhD progress both highlights accomplishments and suggests daunting challenges ahead.

Sometimes I wonder what I'd do instead of science.

With my dissertation defence finally done, I can get on with my life.

How I fell in love with plants on the way to a PhD.

Communicating science has its perks.

Technology can liberate or enslave graduate students.

Sometimes dedication in the lab leaves little time for personal relationships.

After years of preparation, dissertation day looms large.

Facing the reality of being a graduate-student supervisor.

Scheduling a thesis defence can be harder than writing the thesis.

Giving the lab a new look.

Sorting through the clutter to retain the big ideas.

Cricket games teach science lesson.

Distractions multiply as thesis work intensifies.