The Final Countdown

These past few weeks have contained major milestones toward the end of my dissertation and my time here in Florida, and so I have begun the internal final countdown music. Last week I presented my research seminar for the department, which students are supposed to give one year prior to their expected graduation, and I met with a researcher to discuss summer plans regarding the final chapter of my dissertation. I'm also currently in the process of writing up a manuscript from the third chapter of my work, which is the microplastics feeding experiment that I ran in September, and in my mind ties a soft bow around three of the four chapters of my research here.

At the same time, I've started the final steps of my dissertation, albeit early, but I am a planner through and through. I made a template for my dissertation defense presentation, and I've started putting together some slides. Why you may ask, when I still have about a year until this happens? A few reasons: 1) I will be talking about the work that my defense focuses on in a meeting I have in the Fall with my committee, so a head start on that presentation; 2) Half of my defense is based on the work I'm writing the microplastics feeding experiment about, so I'm already putting in a lot of work establishing the narrative for the paper; 3) Recent conversations I've had with friends and professors regarding my work have sparked some ideas for how to better explain and/or show some aspects of what I do that I don't want to forget.

For example, here's a snapshot from one of the slides I've put together to help explain the feeding experiment. Because this experiment involved me altering three separate variables (bacterial biofilms, microplastic concentrations, and exposure time), I want to find a visual way to demonstrate all three aspects at once, rather than explaining it all with words and having few visuals to support. I've found that visual representations of experimental designs, especially in these larger presentations and larger presentation venues, are more well-received by the audiences. I also secretly think that I've really enjoyed learning how to use Adobe Illustrator after another graduate student gave a talk and workshop on how to use the software to enhance manuscript figures.

As I previously mentioned, this summer will be the final chapter of my dissertation, which is shaping up to be an exciting experiment with lots of moving parts. I can't wait to share more once I have it all finalized and there will be plenty of pictures because the work needs visual documentation to show how cool it is.

Stay tuned! Oh, and P.S. if you want a recording of my seminar, please feel free to contact me. Our department recorded it and I have access to the file that I can find a way to share with non FSU personnel. 

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