Ed: I was lazy this morning and started trolling my old stuff as so that I could present you with VINTAGE HERMITAGE. I sadly discovered a lot of my shit has no replay value whatsoever, and most of my links to images have broken over the years. Don't stress in thinking that I'm turning over a new leaf of organization and coherent posting structure, that's too much work. So here's a blast from teh n00b past that I still feel is useful in these modern times.
Jedentag my most favorite graduate student (ok, well one of my most favorites) got a super fantastic post doc at a Very Prestigious Laboratory. After I was done laughing and congratulating perfusely (and being WTFBISCUITS because she only applied to ONE POSITION AND GOT IT) I engaged in my secret addiction.
Stalking PI websites.
I suppose it's a form of academic snobbery. Every time I hear of a new PI I was IMMEDIATELY know what their publications were so I can judge if they are sparkly enough for adoration. I do not necessarily mean C/N/S publications. Because I think we all know there are 'things that make you go huh?' in every issue.
Figure 1: Hermitage is frequently confused how certain things end up in C/N/S. She needs more high priestess/monktress/vodoo training to comprehend
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However, much of the time I don't get that far because I am accosted by HIDEOUS WEBSITES. There's nothing that pains me more than eagerly look up a super fantastic looking potential PI only to find:
Figure 2: Hermitage is never pleased by an invalid link to PI awesomeness
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I am forced to think that the PI A) Is so awesome they don't need a website to attract students or B) Doesn't give a shit. I know some old timers cannot appreciate the new generation of superficial concentration on apperances but seriously, muffins, GET WITH IT.
Nor do I appreciate 'official lab websites' that contain pages dedicated to their favorite pets or mail order bride sites (TRUE STORY, screenshots, I haz them). I recall encountering so many mentally and morally horrifying websites when I was PI stalking for grad school I just wanted to lay down delicately and die. There is nothing worse than adoring someone's research and then finding out they are a strange, strange little man ( or woman).
However, I understand this is not necessarily indicative of the quality of someone's work. My most favorite PI (ok, well one of my most favorites) had nothing but the university stock page to his name. He also shat Nature like it was candy.
Moral of the Story: make an awesome website that is non-skeezy. And by 'make an awesome website' I mean 'make one of your grad student minions make an awesome website.' Because making grad students do stuff COSTS YOU NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL *in the happy place that is PI-land*
