Distinct again

Although it hasn't really felt that way, this has been the climactic week of the first -- MRes -- year of the CoMPLEX course. As of late this afternoon, that's all over.

On Monday we had to give presentations on our summer projects. Mine went well, I think, though it's hard to judge as presenter. After a rather hand-waving run-through last week with supervisors Sally and Guy, I tossed out almost the entire content of the project, electing to focus on just one minor aspect: the discovery of inadvertent edge enhancement in the axial sectioning algorithms and some analysis of what gives rise to it. Squeezing only that into 10 minutes plus 5 of questions was hard enough -- imagine how vapid and worthless the first draft must have been in its misguided attempt to encompass not only that one thing but all else I've done these last three months in the same brief span.

Yesterday I met again with some of the possible supervisors for possible PhD projects, with the result of being at best marginally closer to a decision. Currently the blebbing project is falling behind. Despite having by far the best toys (and the cutest lead), it's the hardest to fit into a broader context of important biological questions. Doubtless I'll regret saying that in 15 years when Guillaume is collecting his Nobel Prize for some unexpectedly profound result -- or indeed in 2 weeks when I wind up choosing that topic after all. But, for today, the NIRS/fMRI looks a little more likely.

The problem, really, is that all three projects have quite substantial -- and very different -- attractions. It would be so much easier if two of them just sucked.

Today, anyway, was the occasion of the MRes vivas, the oral examinations that terminate this first year and toss us into the rather less structured research phase. Even if my destination remains undecided, you may consider me thus tossed.

The viva was pretty okay, all things considered, although -- as bloody always -- mine extended well beyond its allocated time. I am a notorious windbag, of course, a byword for prolixity among civilised peoples far and wide. But there was nothing to stop the examiners from saying "time's up" after 20 minutes, rather than just pressing on to whole new subjects and asking further troublesome questions. Almost single-handedly I set the entire timetable back by about half an hour, but it honestly wasn't my fault.

On the plus side, the consequence of this episode -- apart from simply being able to continue to the main event -- is that I am now a Master, once again; with distinction, once again. Also, apparently, in receipt of some kind of prize -- of unknown provenance or frequency -- for being one of the year's outstanding students, whatever that means. I had no idea such things existed, but what can I say? We aims to please.

In any case, thank fuck that's all over.

Now, let us begin.
Posted by matt at September 26, 2007 11:58 PM