So I'm slowly returning to the real world. After being M.I.A for close to the last 6 months, and before that, 5 years of working myself to the bone...well more like 22 years that is, I finally reached the pinnacle of higher education. On 11 May 2009 sometime around 3:45pm EST I passed my dissertation defense and was granted my Ph.D. As of yesterday, 08 June 2009, I paid the thesis printing fees, doctoral filing fees, and graduate school fees totaling in excess of $200 and was officially awarded my Ph.D. So I'm no longer a student (in the academic sense) but will remain a student throughout the rest of my life.
From now till the 30th of June, I'm just working in the lab, wrapping up the last of my thesis related experiments, transferring other running projects to other graduate students and closing this chapter of my life. On the 1st of July, I start working for a local Ithaca biotech company called Vybion, Inc. and will be in Ithaca for at least another year. After that, I may stick with the company or head out into the unknown and see what else this world has to offer.
For now my main goal is to reattain that work-life balance that I sacrificed these last few months and to really enjoy the Ithaca/upstate New York summer as much as I can. This will be one of the last times that I'll truly have freedom to take a long lunch break and sleep under the trees on Libe slope.
I've added a few pictures from the graduation festivities and would like to thank my parents, my brother and sister, my faculty members, and all my friends who made this Cornell/Ithaca/Ph.D experience memorable. I love all of you and there will be many more celebrations to be had!
Post graduation party with 3 other graduates - Edgar, Margareth and Ymir
With my advisor Matthew P. DeLisa
Bought the bike a year earlier as a motivation tool so I would complete the Ph.D in 5 years... the matching colors were not on purpose!
Classic headshot for all the family and friends. Thank you everyone once again for all your support throughout this endeavour.
From now till the 30th of June, I'm just working in the lab, wrapping up the last of my thesis related experiments, transferring other running projects to other graduate students and closing this chapter of my life. On the 1st of July, I start working for a local Ithaca biotech company called Vybion, Inc. and will be in Ithaca for at least another year. After that, I may stick with the company or head out into the unknown and see what else this world has to offer.
For now my main goal is to reattain that work-life balance that I sacrificed these last few months and to really enjoy the Ithaca/upstate New York summer as much as I can. This will be one of the last times that I'll truly have freedom to take a long lunch break and sleep under the trees on Libe slope.
I've added a few pictures from the graduation festivities and would like to thank my parents, my brother and sister, my faculty members, and all my friends who made this Cornell/Ithaca/Ph.D experience memorable. I love all of you and there will be many more celebrations to be had!
Post graduation party with 3 other graduates - Edgar, Margareth and Ymir
With my advisor Matthew P. DeLisa
Bought the bike a year earlier as a motivation tool so I would complete the Ph.D in 5 years... the matching colors were not on purpose!
Classic headshot for all the family and friends. Thank you everyone once again for all your support throughout this endeavour.
posted by Jan Kostecki at 8:13 PM
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