My schedule as a postgraduate student at Glasgow University

I think most people know that I’m doing Master of Research (MRes) in Plant Science. Unlike MSc (which is a taught master), MRes is a research based degree + minor advance taught modules.

Well, my routine activities are carry out research in the lab, perform some background readings, search for scientific literatures, update daily lab observation, attend some workshop, seminar, and so on. There is a requirement from research council in the UK, that each researcher has to attend personal development training programme at least 10-hr per year.

Since I completed IT competency skill (passed) and radiation protection course examination (hopefully can pass), so I have nothing much worry about other assessments in this month. I only have to put my effort in research activity.

The info below illustrates my typical life as a postgraduate student here:-

Weekday—Monday to Friday

Wake up at 0600-0630, drink a glass of water (to flux all the toxin later, haha), go toilet and does small business.

Then, start review plans made in the previous day. Turn on laptop, connect to the internet, and do the following tasks:-

Listen to MyFm, read/browse through news feed from google reader. News I subscribed are BBC’s national, Scotland (Glasgow), world, education, science news, Glasgow Uni’s news, Tips on Savvy Saver.

Read news from Malaysia—sin chew jit poh, and nanyang

Read emails: google, yahoo, msn, and uni. Email

Check my blog, reply comment if applicable

06.30: Go toilet and do big business. Read through some scientific journals, check any update/ publication of paper in my field of study. Prepare draft/ outline for my research project (if applicable)

07.30: Bath, breakfast

09.00:If got lab work, then go to Bower Building (my department) otherwise to library. If nothing to do, or lazy, then hangout at home, do some paper work.

**every tuesday, attend talk by divisional speaker in the afternoon, friday talk by external speaker, thursday will attend a research group meeting in the morning at 0915—1100, and will discuss about lab progress, journal discussion, grant review, etc. Right now I attended 2 sessions, and I still the sm individual in this group. (Note: sm stands for silent minority, not sado-masochism, haha). In contrast to life at UTAR, I was nm (noisy minority in the tutorial class). Everyone in the discussion group has critical thinking; they can critic, comment particular journal or grant applications, even though to me, all these papers seem perfect.

Hopefully, I can learn these from them, and in the future I can belong to the group of “noisy majority”..haha

About lab work, I still in the initial stage now, and not really busy, but my lab skills really poor, terrible. Really “sia sui” and my utar lab partners—like tan sri, kimochi, fb, et al.

The reasons were due to the inconvenient I am facing, as I’m a left- handed person, and most equipments are not so “friendly” to me, and some new techniques that I not so familiar with. Really have to apologise to my lab technician, because of my lousy skills, she has to work “OT”..:-(

That’s my life from Monday-Friday, badminton session begin after few weeks, and will go there if have time. Then mostly stay in the lab from 0900 to 1800. Then, back to home, check mailbox first, and then prepare dinner. Night, perform similar task as in the morning, also read others' blog, browse facebook, frenster, etc. as well as review daily plan and plan agenda for the next day.

Recently I just joined as a volunteer in career service department of Glasgow Uni, hope I can share my experience/skill/"expertise" to other international students who are intending to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK or find job in the UK. I will publish some posts about career deveplopment I learnt here in the future.

Normally sleep at 2300/0000

Well, life in the weekend almost the same, I wake up as usual. Maybe there’re some different tasks like go to tesco/ supermarket and buy some food materials, wash cloth at laundry service, chat with family, financial planning, prepare blog entries or join trips organise by international student society. Then, in the evening, I have part-time employment.

Life as a postgraduate student here very flexible, unlike my other friends who’re doing taught master, they have to attend lecture, group assignment, and tutorial and so on. However, research postgraduate must be very independent, and don't ever envy with ck’s honeymoon life here. This is because my course only last for 1 year, so this is a very intensive programme. Besides study, research, & work, I still have to deal with other matters, i.e. prepare PhD proposal, fellowship application, post-study work visa, etc. all these seem tough and challenging, but ck’s philosophy in dealing a matter is :“ no matter what you do, as long as you have commitment, passion and prolong interest in it, then you should be able reach your goal.”

Finally, I would like to conclude my typical life here is pack, simple, & systematic. Also, typical life for “nerd” like me la..:-) Anyway, these are my own way of life, and it doesn’t reflect other postgraduate lifestyle..haha