Final Edits

This week was all about final edits for two major items. First, Dr. Ingels and I made final edits to--and submitted--our manuscript on the distinct spatial patterns in nematode communities within the St. Andrew Bay system. Second, I made the final edits, just today, to my upcoming research seminar at the university. Final edits are always so nice because they feel like a soft close to a book chapter, since the end product isn't necessarily done, but pretty darn close. The manuscript final edits feel especially nice, since this is likely the only nematode-focused manuscript and maybe even ecology-focused manuscript that I will write while I am still in my program, as the rest of my work is environmental science and microplastics research. This manuscript, like the previous one, will be a longer review process, as the journal we submitted to has a longer turnaround time. Though I realized after talking with some friends, these manuscript turnaround times are actually still on the short side, as some of the journals they submit to have 3-5 month (or longer) review processes.

The seminar final edits feel like a bit of weight has been taken off from this presentation, but now it is time for me to focus on remembering the script I've written. This presentation has been tough to condense, as it encompasses two chapters across three manuscripts, compared to other seminars where presenters talk about one manuscript's-worth of material. But while the narrative regarding the microplastics pollution within the St. Andrew Bay system is important, the nematode community dynamics within the system provides additional support for the importance of studying benthic communities, especially in coastal urban areas with changing infrastructure. 

Because I will be busy preparing for my seminar, there will not be a research update next week, so stay tuned for the next update which will be on 03/09!