Get Back To Work🧑‍💻

Sunday, August 17

샌프란시스코로 돌아왔다. 거의 잠을 12시간 이상 잔 것 같은데, 한국에서 가족, 친구들과 행복한 시간을 잘 보내고 와서 충전 잘 됐다. 이걸 다 올리는 건 하지 않기로 했으나 워낙 잘 먹고 다니기도 했고, 이번에 될 수 있으면 먹었던 모든 것들을 기록에 남기려고 해서 요거라도 올려볼까 한다 ㅎㅎ

Monday, August 18

🏃🏻 Rest (0/6) | ★★★★★

I skipped the lab today because I was out of groceries, so I went to Costco and then deep-cleaned my place. I’ve decided to do a mini-cut to get back to around 12% body fat (I’ve gained more fat than muscle during bulk🫠😓). I’ll add some cardio (most likely running, especially now that I’ve come back from Korea and really appreciate San Francisco’s perfect weather), and I’ll eat more vegetables while keeping my protein high.

To be honest, I haven’t kept a steady routine for about a month since choosing my thesis lab. I haven’t been strict about my sleep either… (computational work can be done anywhere, which has pros and cons). Anyway, I’m getting back on the track I want to be on!

Tuesday, August 19

🏃🏻 Done (1/6) | ★★★★

Had a great workout (maybe too much) at the campus gym this morning. A postdoc from the Shokat lab and a graduate student from the Taunton lab, who are always there, greeted me now that I’m back in SF. The postdoc has given me lots of advice about choosing labs and how to carry myself during the PhD since my rotation, so we took some time to catch up and for me to share why I chose a joint mentorship.

We caught up on his project, my project, and the directions he thinks are most promising. To be honest, I’m not sure my choice was perfect or better than joining a different lab. But I had clear reasons, and I think they were reasonable. He did raise a fair concern that I’ll have to learn a lot from scratch, because the area I’m pursuing isn’t the one people assumed I had expertise in. I do agree that I didn’t choose to continue exactly what I did during my master’s. But I don’t want to think only about my PhD. I want to think long-term, as a researcher committed to this work for life. Starting from this co-mentored thesis, I have seen many opportunities and directions to explore.

I keep recalling something I heard during a science-volunteer event back in my sophomore year, when I was in the chemistry department. “I try to do my best so I won’t regret the choices I’ve made.” It struck me then, and it means even more now. I also remember a video saying that while making the “best” choice matters, what matters just as much is how you act afterward, which is what gives a choice its value. I know I’ve taken on risk, but rather than worry, I’m going to trust myself and work steadily, consistently🫡

Wednesday, August 20

🏃🏻 Done (2/6) | ★★★☆

I ran this morning instead of lifting because yesterday I slightly sprained my right shoulder and neck (my weakest spot). I did 5K in about 30 minutes, harder than I expected, but felt incredibly refreshed afterward. I recently watched a video on the benefits of running and was so captivated that it is hard not to run after hearing all that. In addition to needing cardio for fat loss, I am going to run 5K three to four days a week, more if time allows. We will see how consistently I can keep it up!

Back at work, I attended a group meeting and continued a side project from the Shokat lab. I also met with the postdoc who has done most of the work and will be the first author. I think the paper is close to complete. For my thesis project, I tried installing a non-mainstream software tool, and the GitHub README was pretty unfriendly. I got only partial success and decided to switch to a more reliable and well-documented tool that serves the same purpose (at least for now). It may not be a better fit overall, but we will see.

Funny ending to the day, I got home a little after six, passed out without dinner, woke up at midnight, stayed awake until 3 a.m., slept again, and then went straight to a workout.

Thursday, August 21

🏃🏻 Done (3/6) | ★★★★☆

I got in a refreshing workout and then worked on side projects. Recently, I was added to another side project in the Shokat lab, where I will generate data and create figures to strengthen the manuscript’s logic for the final touch. Thankfully, the professor and lead author recognized my role and confirmed authorship for me! Nothing special beyond working hard. I left around 6 and went for my first outdoor run in SF in a while. It was so good I almost felt like I was in heaven. I was sweating and gasping, but I already feel like I am falling in love with running. Since I ran until about 8, I showered and then naturally fell asleep around 10:30 with great sleep quality. I highly recommend running, even at an easy pace, for anyone who has trouble sleeping at night👍

Friday, August 22

🏃🏻 Done (4/6) | ★★★★☆

Brutal leg workout today. It has been almost a month since I last did Bulgarian split squats, and the intensity was crazy🤪 but you know it is always worth to do it. In the morning, I met the Shokat lab postdoc I mentioned before (we had a coffee chat on Tuesday). He asked me to look over recent progress on his project, especially the organic synthesis. I had given him tips during my rotation and some of them worked well, so we sometimes talk through the synthesis problems he is facing. Today, I was able to give him at least one solid alternative synthetic route for the compound he wants to make. I hope he gets promising data before his group meeting in two weeks🙏

After that, I spoke with a DeGrado lab postdoc who just submitted a paper to Science on a topic I am interested in. He collaborated with an imaging group, which is an area I need to understand for my thesis project, so we caught up and he shared helpful feedback and tips.

I grabbed lunch and then stopped by the nearby Fidelity office to set up a brokerage account. I thought I could open it online, but that did not work, so I went in person. The process was smooth, but they said identity verification may take three to four business days. Not having a green card definitely makes this kind of thing harder.

Back in the lab I had a brief conversation with another postdoc and got useful, practical advice for my project. I focused on a side project and finally finished it, including the supporting information. I am gonna focus on my thesis project next week. When I got home, I literally passed out and slept for 11 hours haha.. maybe too focused.

Saturday, August 23

🏃🏻 Done (5/6) | ★★★★☆

I went to a yoga studio for the first time on a friend’s recommendation. To be honest, it was harder than I expected, too hot🔥 because it was hot yoga haha.. and too long at ninety minutes. I already bought a coupon for three sessions, so I will try a different teacher with a one hour class next time. Nonetheless, it was relaxing and the time passed quickly. After resting in a nearby park under wonderful weather, I went to the library I usually visit on Saturdays and spent some time writing a blog post. Then went to Chinatown for hot pot (delicious. It was an all-you-can-eat place, but I couldn’t eat much.. ). Getting back home, I felt full and pleasantly drowsy and slept well.

짧은 시간이었지만 한국에서 지내며, 내 상황이 얼마나 분에 넘치는지 여러 번 되새기게 됐다. 내가 원하는 연구를 하면서 돈도 받고, 능력이 제대로 인정받는 환경. 불합리하지 않고, 내 노력의 강도도 스스로 조절할 수 있는 곳. 이건 결코 당연한 게 아니라는 걸 다시 느낀다. 지금 가진 것들에 감사하고, 그 마음으로 더 열심히 살아보려 한다. 화이팅!