Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:57 pm
It went OK, for 96% of it.
Then the synaptic physiologist was unrelenting. He kept asking me about long term potentiation at the level of the synapse, and how i would prove it is important to the whole animal, and not just something nice to observe.
he was rather rude about my answers.
the biochemist killed me. she wanted me to draw the structure of cytosine from memory, and label the pKa of its nitrogens, as well as draw out a nucleophillic SN2 subsitution organic reaction at a phosphorus atom.
altogether i PASSED. this means i am now a CANDIDATE for the PHD degree. you cant get a PHD without being admitted to candidacy first. candidacy basically says that you know enough about your GENERAL field to be considered to recieve the highest degree. the next thing to do is finish your research, and defend it. a successful defense of your original research means you now know more about your research then anyone else, and you now can "philosiphize" and "make new thought" in the field. the whole goal is for the student to surpass the master.
a PHD is considered higher than an MD. Med school is hard, but they are not required to do ORIGINAL research, become published, teach, ect.
so i am now a CANDIDATE, and next january i will have defended my dissertation.
Then the synaptic physiologist was unrelenting. He kept asking me about long term potentiation at the level of the synapse, and how i would prove it is important to the whole animal, and not just something nice to observe.
he was rather rude about my answers.
the biochemist killed me. she wanted me to draw the structure of cytosine from memory, and label the pKa of its nitrogens, as well as draw out a nucleophillic SN2 subsitution organic reaction at a phosphorus atom.
altogether i PASSED. this means i am now a CANDIDATE for the PHD degree. you cant get a PHD without being admitted to candidacy first. candidacy basically says that you know enough about your GENERAL field to be considered to recieve the highest degree. the next thing to do is finish your research, and defend it. a successful defense of your original research means you now know more about your research then anyone else, and you now can "philosiphize" and "make new thought" in the field. the whole goal is for the student to surpass the master.
a PHD is considered higher than an MD. Med school is hard, but they are not required to do ORIGINAL research, become published, teach, ect.
so i am now a CANDIDATE, and next january i will have defended my dissertation.
