Someone thinks Justin is useful!

I have a job! But before you get too excited, its just a short term job for two months. But before you get too unexcited, there is a possibility that it could go longer, it all depends on whether they get more money to do their research. Even if it is just for two months, at least it is something to fill in the gap until I find something more long term. Its in the Department of Pathology at the University of Otago, and the lab is on the third floor of the Hercus building, which is the white building on the corner of Fredrick and Great King st, sort of diagonally opposite Centre City New World.

Apart from the fact that its only for two months, its astonishingly amazing how perfect this job is for me. The night before my interview I was doing some background reading on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (which is what this lab studies) and I was amazed to find that, at a cellular level, there are some similarities to the topic which my masters was about, namely cell-to-cell adhesion. I seriously could hardly believe it. You see, I had always thought that the only things from my masters that would be useful to future employment would be the experimental methods that I had learnt how to do. This was because the experimental methods can be applied to a multitude of different research interests. However, I had not counted on the information and knowledge relating to the disease I studied in my masters would be that useful again. In fact sometimes I felt that I had acquired such an in-depth knowledge about this topic, but for what? All it seemed good for was to write a good thesis. But now that knowledge might actually be useful again, and that is a satisfying feeling! On top of this, and the reason I probably got the job, is that all the experimental techniques they needed someone to do, are methods that I learnt doing my masters. To be honest they hardly could have found someone better suited to this job. It feels good that I’m going to be contributing almost straight away, I wont have to go through a steep learning curve, they wont have to train me a lot. I’m going to be useful! Yus! Which, as it is only for two months, makes sense, as they wouldn’t want to be training someone for half of that time.

The other thing that is great is that I asked to have a couple more weeks off before I start, because I only recently finished my maters. So now I can have a proper relaxing break without financial worries and the pressure of job hunting and I start next Tuesday 5th June. Its soooo good! I’m extremely thankful for this time of rest!

I’m just grateful and thankful that this job has come along at the right time and so perfectly suited to me. Its humbling actually: all the doubts I had during my masters and the bad attitude I’ve had with god for a while, and yet something good has still come about. Go figure.

Its the end of an era!

This is just a small post to let you know that I have submitted my thesis! Actually this is sort of old news, today is the 1 week anniversary of my submission. I have just been pretty slack about blogging. Sometimes I feel like crying with relief, sometimes I feel like hugging everyone I know, but mostly I have been pretty occupied with other stuff that I havent thought about it much. I want to relax now, my mind needs a break from thinking deeply about things. I think I could enjoy this time off more if there was more certainty about a future source of income.

I am looking for jobs and I would like to find something in Dunedin but am looking at other places in New Zealand too. Basically I want a research job for 1-2 years so that I can save some money to go overseas to work. But there is not a lot advertised in Dunedin so I’m going to try send my CV to lots of people and see what happens.

Also I’m watching DVD’s and reading and sleeping and swimming and going to lifegroups and church and preparing speeches (because I’m doing a toast masters course), and I helped a friend do some experiments with sheep, and I had a couple of graduation celebrations to go to on Saturday.

At a job interview

Me: so how many people do you have in your lab?
Interviewer: We have one part time technician and four students
Me: and what level are they at?
Interviewer: ah one is a genetics honours, two masters and Euen is doing his PhD
Me: is that Ewan McGregor?
Interviewer: *pause*, ah, Rogers, Ewan Rogers – did you have him as a demonstrator?
Me: (think to myself: where did McGregor come from?)
Me: No I know him from church

Suddenly 1.5 hours later, whilst casualy riding an elevator:

Me: Ewan McGregor! Ewan McGregor! Nooooooooooo!

Oh man how stupid I feel.

Incase you dont know Ewan McGregor is like a super famous actor who plays Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels.