What do you study?

Well? It's a simple question. I'm surprised nobody's posted it yet!

Personally, I'm in an interdisciplinary program that's a mash-up of art history and film and media studies. The emphasis is on "visual culture," so we call it Visual Studies.

We read stuff like:

Techniques of the Observer, Downcast Eyes, Gramophone, Film, Typewriter, Simulation and Simulacra, and just about anything else in critical theory, continental philosophy, cultural studies, and (if we're feeling adventurous) cognitive science, especially if it has to do with vision.

Hi there, I haven't really posted anywhere here yet, so I guess this is as good a topic to start! I'm in between courses at the moment, when I get going it will be either a Masters or PhD in English Literature, specialising in post-colonial writing and theory. My particular interests lie in African, Indian and Australian literature.

Metatext, some interesting areas of study! I did a film course once, I wish I'd done more, some of the stuff I learnt was fascinating. Which is your favourite topic area?

As I posted in the Masters Degree section, I study Space Studies.

Space Studies includes: space life sciences, astrobiology, space history (including history of the space programs, history of astronomy), space business management, space policy and law, astronomy, planetary geology, aerospace engineering, satellite information processing, human performance in extreme environments, etc. My specialization is psychological stressors during long duration spaceflight.

siew: What a coincidence! My girlfriend is an English PhD program, focusing on postcolonialism, especially South Asian lit.

As for me, I'm interested a lot in 1970s film theory about the cinematic "apparatus", Japanese film, and media theory (i.e. materialist histories of the telephone, telegraph, typewriter, computers, the Internet, etc.)

I wish I knew more about Japanese film, I love Kurosawa movies (along with every other film enthusiast, I assume), and I'm sure there is much to learn from Japanese film makers!

I don't know much about South Asian literature, how far ahead is she?

Not sure what you mean by "how far ahead," but she's finishing the second year of her program, and just got her M.A. Some of her favorite books in South Asian lit are:

Anything by Salman Rushdie, Shadow Lines, Baumgartner's Bombay, The Interpreter of Maladies, God of Small Things, some stuff by Naipal, some stuff by Mahasweta Devi, and some stuff by Bharati Mukherjee.

As for Japanese film, Kurosawa is wonderful, but that's just skimming the surface. Yasujiro Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi are deservedly famous, but you should also check out Japanese new wave filmmakers like Nagisa Oshima, Shohei Imamura, Kon Ichikawa, Seijun Suzuki, and Shuji Terayama. Hope that helps!

I study physics. To be more specific, computational physics. I plan to do my thesis on lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD, modeling quarks and gluons), but at the moment am doing research on quantum spin systems.

Since lattice QCD is part of the high-energy theoretical particle physics group, I'll be expected to get my hands dirty doing some straight-up theory and phenomenology as well. I'm sitting in on a short lecture series on extra-dimensional models at the moment, and may spend part of the summer working on Large Hadron Collider phenomenology.

Since lattice QCD is also part of the computational science group, I'm also required to do a computational project or two in a different field, like computational biology or actual computer science. That's still a couple of years in the future, though.

Should I have stopped after "I study physics"?

daschaich: That's a great closing line! I just read Eon by Greg Bear, and was lost in the physics. Of course, I don't know if he was accurate or not and most of it was theoretical.

me: Clinical Psych

I've 3 classes left in my MAT (Masters in Arts in Teaching) and i'm taking two classes now. I hope to secure a teaching position for the fall (cross my fingers) as an English High School Teacher. And I don't know what i'm thinking, but i may work on some other advanced degree, ie: another Masters in English or something. because i just can't see myself not being a student.

No daschaich, you shouldn't have stopped. That sounds interesting. I'm currently finishing my MA in math (studying finite tree automata, at the moment), but I'm defecting to linguistics and will be working on my PhD (or starting over on my PhD) starting in the fall.

It is very interesting to see the kinds of things people study. I'm finishing my MS in Forensic Anthropology right now, so pretty much I study dead people. Please do not stop talking to me . . . I'm not all that weird, really. I'm suppose to be working on my defense right now, but librarything is more fun. I just started using it.

Wow, this thread has become really interesting! daschaich, could you explain to a non-scientist what phenomenology means in the realm of particle physics? I'm interested to know if it relates at all to what's called phenomenology in philosophy (Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty).

Really fascinating variety here! I was expecting it to just be a bunch of humanities people.

I'm a humanities person myself. I'm working on a PhD in Medieval History. I'm ABD, and just now really starting work on my dissertation, which is about prophecy in medieval Welsh manuscripts. Obviously, Welsh history is a big interest of mine, which means I end up doing a lot of postcolonial stuff, and I'm also really interested in manuscripts and their collectors.

Gwendydd: Your name gave you away!

Nikkles: I read "so pretty much I study dead people" and thought, "ooohhhh, cool". Does that make me weirder than you?

Metatext, there's no direct relation to the philosophical concept. In physics, we talk about phenomenology as ways of connecting theory to experiment -- considering both the experimental signatures of various theories as well as interpreting experimental data in terms of theories. So one considers physical phenomena as opposed to purely abstract theory, taking the "shut up and calculate" approach to physics and not worrying about issues of philosophical interpretation and meaning.

People here are studying some very interesting subjects! I'm a Biostatistics student; my dissertation research involves the statistical modeling of certain brain structures using neuroimaging data.

I don't know pdxwoman, I actually get "cool" a lot, I also get "oh" and then nothing. I've found that everyone has a different level of detail they can reach before they don't want to know.

Nikkles, I think that is great.

I'm an anthropologist by training. My undergrad was in biological anthropology and I'm currently an officer of the student subsection of AAA. My training was all in anthropology and my area in Space Studies is what it is because they needed an anthropologist to do it. :)

Space studies, cool. What do you do as an anthropologist in space studies? I'm thinking of applying to schools for a PhD and I could always use ideas. :)

>19 Nikkles: Study space aliens.

REALLY!

I'm finishing up a PhD in environmental microbiology. My particular research focuses on using bacteria to clean up pollution, but I'm also interested in pure science questions like who is in a particular environment and what are they doing there. It is pretty interdisciplinary so I've had to learn a fair amount of engineering, chemistry, and geosciences in addition to the microbiology.

I study electrical engineering and find, much to my disappointment, that very few engineering types read any books at all.

Media studies, Middle Eastern studies and Ancient American studies (basically, ethnology focussed on Ancient American cultures). I am about to finish my master's degree.

Since I had the background in evolution of human behaviour as well, my area of interest is physiological and psychological adaptation to long duration space and human performance in extreme environments. My thesis is specifically on psychological stressors in long duration spaceflight. Basically I am using the short duration and medium duration missions in order to predict what the difficulties will be such as on a long duration mission to mars. I also enjoy astrobiology, astrosociology, and other space life sciences.

Good luck getting any Anthropology PhD program to accept you with the interest I have. None of them would touch me with a 10 foot pole. :(

What is with all the accidental double posts from me this week?

Theology. Church history / Systematic theology. On humor. :)

Everyone keeps telling me that that is systematic heresy, though ;)

I am just about to begin work on my Masters in Anthropology/Southwestern Archaeology. It's a cool discipline, and I'm happy to see other anthro people here! Celestria, I just discovered a book about "space archaeologists" called THE ENGINES OF GOD by Jack McDevitt. And one of my fellow grad students is doing his research on Cultural preservation of Apollo landing sites on the moon. This is for real, by the way! He is working with UNESCO to make the Apollo 11 landing site an official World Heritage Site.

I'm finishing my MA in international peace and conflict resolution, with a specialization in post-conflict peacebuilding in sub-Saharan Africa. I realize that probably sounds a little vague, but I promise I've learned something. After this, I'm taking a few years off from school to do.... something. If I'm lucky, I'll end up in Liberia somewhere. If not, who knows.

Isn't Engines of God a fiction book? There are non-fiction books regarding space anthropology out there, some are better than others, I own about 29 non-fiction books in the area and I have access to more through the astrosociology committees that I'm on.

I think your fellow grad student either may or may not have his work cut out for him. Depending on how you interpret the Outer Space Treaty either 1) it is already a landmark because everyone owns it or 2) it can never be a landmark because that would require acknowledgement of some form of ownership which is banned. It's all in how you interpret it and what it really takes to make something a landmark. I hated my space policy class but at least it is periodically useful.

I'm pursing an M.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing: Poetry -- what a mouthful. It means I write poetry, like to talk about the writing process...

In my former 'real' life, I worked mostly as an administrative assistant, got pretty good with computers, and studied meditation on the side...

Hello everyone, I'm working on a M.S. in Library and Information Science right now. The goal was to get out quickly and pay off student loans, but as it turns out, I'm very much enjoying it, and may return for a PhD in Communication or another Masters in American Studies.

Wow! Dead people, peacebuilding, theology, physics, space... this is an amazing assortment of backgrounds. Can't wait to see who else turns up!

I'm currently finishing my final year of coursework for a PhD in Comparative Literature. My main focus is North African Arabic and Francophone writing and film (with its connections to Islam and Europe) through a combo of gender studies, psychoanalysis, and political theology. (I'll read pretty much anything though... fiction, drama, memoirs, graphic novels... not picky.)

I'm also interested in Berber culture, captivity narratives, 'Oriental' romances, and im/e/migration.

Hi,
The simple answer is I study Classics.

The slightly more useful answer is that I hope (if the application ever gets anywhere other than the endless loops of the departments) to be researching the use of classics in history writing and simultaneously investigating the representations of Cornish history - and if any b*****d writes my beautiful and, as yet wannabe, PhD I will.. I will... well probably just cry.

I have been doing a ot of stuff on classics in popular culture over the last couple of years but there is so much stuff out there I want to know, sigh.

LittleKnife: The dread of getting scooped... I think we can all understand that.

Well, I just finished up a masters in film, next fall I move on to a doctoral program in communication, where I will focus on film. My "field of specialty," as they call it, is animation studies, particularly Eastern European and Russian animation and stop animation.

Architecture history and theory. Currently in Master of Architectural Studies program, plan to continue to doctoral program.

Composition and Rhetoric + Library and Information Studies.

I'm masochistic enough to have undertaken a simultaneous double degree with an MA in LIS and PhD in Comp/Rhet. Coursework is done - I'm trying to write that dissertation.

k8s,

What's the subject of your dissertation?

ireland

I study Classics-- ancient Greek and Latin texts (and the ancient world in general). I'm particularly interested in the reception of these texts, particularly in the pre-Renaissance (Dante, Petrarch).

Everybody has such interesting graduate fields of study. I'm simply getting my MBA in process innovation. Almost went for my masters in Computer Science (that was my undergrad degree.) Looked at the coursework and thought, 'yea I've had enough of that.' It is nice to be learning business concepts and topics that is interesting and has a more concrete real world applications instead of the theoretical concepts in CS.

My dissertation explores the relationships among literacy ideologies, institutions, gender, and professionalization as they influenced librarians' textual production during the Progressive Era. Specifically, I am exploring the ways librarians, as actors in a feminized field, wrote in professional journals about their work with immigrants as part of community and national projects of Americanization and assimilation. The tentative (and very boring) title is: Capitalizing on Literacy: Librarians Writing For and About Library-Based Americanization Programs 1910-1939. Actually, it has already been changed to 1910-1925 (or so) because I have way too much data. I suppose this is a good thing.

I am on my second Masters degree. I was a high school English teacher with an MA in Teaching for awhile, but I just finished up my first year in an MFA Creative Writing program (for poetry).

My particular interests are Modernist American Poetry (especially Gertrude Stein), Romanticism, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, queer/gender theory and queer poetics. Nice to see so many other grad students.

What do I study? A question fraught with possibilities!

In an academic setting, I am working on an M.A. in Digital Media which is not quite what it sounds like. It deals with computers in education. Touches on things from web design to educational theory (mainly social constructivism). I have completed the coursework element and am now doing the thesis component which will deal with how the humanities post-graduate cohort use the web for literature searches. So throw in information literacy studies into the mix as well.

I may do a Ph.D next or do an M.Ed in Higher Education first. If my wife allows it. ))))

I am also an amateur student of Theology and Papal History.

I did an M.A in politics and Classics then last year I completed an M.Litt in philosophy. My main interests are political philosophy (Hegel and early Marx) and Aristotle. I'd loved to go on to do a Ph.D once my 5 month old son is older and if I don't become brain-dead in the mean time! My other main interest is poetry.

Two of us use this account -- but I'm Jeremie and I'm finishing up my first year in my MTS program. My main interests float around in contemporary Christianity, gender and sexuality, particularly around queer and trans issues. For fun, I end up dabbling in ancient Christian heresy.

Back to final papers...

For me, it's international relations. I look at military security and strategy, particularly in Western Europe (I work on French military overseas operations in my dissertation) and Africa, both North Africa and sub-Saharan.

I'm starting the second quarter of a 2-year M.A. Humanities program in which we study mythology, depth psychology (starting with Jung), and their practical applications. Graduation project is a portfolio instead of a thesis. This quarter's classes are:

Portfolio I
Practices of Reconciliation
Mythic Dimensions in Personal Transformation (Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth and Gilgamesh, the Stephen Mitchell version)

irelandapaige - I'm studing for an smc in library and information studies!
How are you finding it? I'm enjoying my first module about information and our society.

I study electrical engineering too. To be more specific, energy systems.

Hi I'm new! I'm a masters student in interdisciplinary studies at NYU, studying medieval history and Crusader culture. I'm currently doing my thesis on the figure of Prester John and Crusades chronicles.

Hi everyone,

I am working on a Masters in History, studying the history of science education in American. My undergraduate thesis explored the history of children's biographies of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. I have also looked at the history of children's books about evolution and the history of school science fairs.

Hi everyone!!!

I study law. I don't know if I'm aptly called a "graduate student". In my part of the world, law is a bachelor's degree and requires a pre-law degree (undergraduate degree; mine's journalism by the way). They consider lawstudents and graduate students alike here.

If I weren't in school, I'd probably give Children's Lit a try.

I wish I had more time to read more books though

As perplexa said, you shouldn't have stopped after "I study physics." Actually, I just got my B.S. in Physics. What you're doing is quite interesting to me daschaich, since I did simulation studies designing the Upstream Photon Veto (UPV) for the GlueX detector (Jefferson Lab). I decided to go for my Ph.D in applied mathematics, though, which I will start in the Fall. All I know right now is that I will be doing fluid dynamics and studying just about any applications of PDEs.

Hi everyone. As first posts go, I thought this thread would suit the purpose nicely. I'm busy with a PhD in Swarm Intelligence. Technically that's in Computer Science, and we don't actually work with any real insects, although we model their behaviour to solve some really difficult optimisation problems. The field overlaps quite a lot with Evolutionary Computation (Genetic Algorithms, Evolutionary Strategies, that sort of thing), so I'm fluent in those particular dark arts as well. I'm still working on my anti-geek disguise, but don't tell anyone.

This is my first post to a group, and I'm an introvert, so we'll see how badly this goes. ;)

I just started a PhD program in Mathematics (specifically, my passion is commutative algebra with a little topology thrown in). I like to think that if the math doesn't pan out (although I know in my heart it will), I'll end up in Philosophy, but in the currently unpopular field of studying Whitehead and the like.

But math is really it for me. I'm working on Rings of Continuous Functions right now, although it's not part of my graduate work--it's just for fun. And I love it!

My least favorite question is, "Well, what can you DO with math? Teach? Become an accountant?" For me, I just want to do math for the sake of...more math.

hello. i haven't introduced myself here yet...

i'm working on a phd in philosophy, specifically political philosophy and ethics. contrary to sorlil, though, i'm focused almost entirely on contemporary moral & political thought, with an emphasis right now on justice in education.

>55 virtualcourtney: come to the dark side, you know you want to! although my focus isn't in mathematics or logic, this is a (not-so) secret hobby of mine, although i'm sure you'd be into the deeper computational aspects than i am. at the moment i'm actually using LT as a procrastination device instead of working on my logic lectures for this week... *sigh*

hello. i used to study comparative literature, concentrating on lit theory, postcolonial studies, and asian/third world lit. i stopped the MA thing for a while as I'm working for a newspaper, which eats up a lot of my time. But i do plan to go back to school soon, though. :)

hi everyone:

i just completed my first year at a phd program in global affairs. as i approach my second and last year of coursework, i am focusing on the interplay between information technologies and cities, starting by going through the cybercities reader this summer and other books soon.

although global affairs / international relations is a field typically associated with the relations between countries, i am interested in completely the opposite: the relations between individuals, locales, cities, regions, pop culture, etc. of a transborder character. i think Distant Proximities captured well these 'informalities' of global affairs.

anyone living in the new york city area interested in the same things please feel free to contact me.

-arthur

I am a grad student at Boston University studying for a Master of Divinity - in other words - a minister. any one else from BU?

I've not introduced myself either.

I just finished an MA in Drama at Washington University in St. Louis. For my MA thesis I translated a Catalan play from the 1890s (Terra Baixa by Àngel Guimerà) into English. Then I researched the Spanish translation by José Echegaray and the English translation Marta of the Lowlands, which was translated from the Spanish translation. So basically it was Translation Theory and Descriptive Translation Studies.

I'll start my PhD this fall also at Washington University in Comparative Literature with an emphasis in Drama. I leaning toward using post-colonial theory to analyse the creating of the Catalan national literature in the late 19th century (mainly poetry and drama).

So I guess that makes me a Humanities bum. This summer I'm reading Jacques Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence and Edward Said's Orientalism. If that doesn't make me a Humanities geek, I don't know what would.

#59: I just graduated from BU (Film Studies MFA). But I'm moving in about 2 weeks (ye olde doctorate at Indiana Univ). I hear BU's Theology school is top notch, though. The college certainly seems to have a good library.

I'm starting this fall on an MA in theatre at Villanova, so I guess I'm not actually a graduate student yet, although I will be soon. It's nice to see I'm not the only theatre student on this board!

Hehehe, I qualify for this group again! I was doing a Ph.D. in Math at UW-Madison, but, after a year off, I'm now doing a Masters in the Art of Teaching at Johns Hopkins instead. Maybe I'll go back to Madison someday and do a degree in Math Ed, since that's what I really wanted to specialize in in the first place. :)

I just completed the first of X number of years in my MA/PhD program in East Asian Languages & Cultures, Chinese. I focus on modern Chinese and Taiwanese literature, film, and music.

I'm excited to see quite a few film students here. I do not come from a film background, so I do feel like there's a lot to wade through.

What an interesting and varied group of people around the world, nice to meet you!

I read interesting fiction and play with the computer, to make it short. - To elaborate a bit, I'll complete my MA in comparative literature in Helsinki, Finland next year. So, actually as an BA I'm still an undergraduate student, so excuse my joining the group :)

I've done all the courses etc, only the thesis (on The Name Of The Rose) is under way. In addition to this, I'm doing an MA in digital culture in Jyväskylä, Finland (in English). In the course of my studies I've done programs like New Media Management in the University of Arts and Design, Helsinki.

#57: it happened to me too. I went to work in advertising agencies there wasn't any chance to study at the same time. A decade passed by this way. For my current job it suffices to give some 40 hours per week and there's spare time to complete my degree.

(Edited typos)

Hey Caroline541, I'm a grad student at BU med. Studying biochem. Different campus, totally different subject but still BU!

Alright! Good to meet a fellow BU Comrade-in-Arms. Best to you in BioChemistry. Enjoy what you can of the Boston life. C

Hello all. I am entering a PhD program in the fall, with a concentration in rhetoric. It has been a long time since I was in a classroom as a student. What have I done!

Hi all--

I'm working on my MD.

hello,

joining in on the first post bandwagon:

I study trees! I'm doing a MSc in Forest Biology and Management at the U of A up in Canada. In the end, this degree will be a sort-of applied ecology program, researching the effects of forest harvesting on natural regrowth.

Cool. What an interesting mix. I haven't seen mine listed yet. I have an M.Ed. in Adult/Higher Education and had started Ed.D. in Adult Education w/ emphasis on community college leadership... sort of interdisciplinary. I had to drop out because my husband (in the military) was transferred overseas (Europe). I plan to go back to school in about 3 years to finish it up. I love adult learning theory, esp. transformative learning. I'm taking my books with me so I can be "good and ready" to get back into school. I also hope to find some work that will compliment my field.

Interesting to see all the diverse fields and subfields.

I'm starting my MA in medieval studies, concentrated mostly on literature (though it is an interdisciplinary program). After my MA, I plan to continue to get my PhD (also in medieval studies, focused on literature). My main areas of interest are Old English and Old Norse literature and cultures, but find myself branching more and more into studying many diverse areas of medieval culture and literature.

I am in an interdisciplinary doctoral program that has a track called "Public Intellectuals" (I know, I know, how pretentious, but hey, I didn't name it!) and it is an admixture of political and other social science theories, philosophy, race/gender/class issues, environmentalism, film/media studies, etc. People sort of select a "concentration" from that, such as humanism, the arts, political theory, the environment, etc. My dissertation examines issues of gender, recidivism and education in the penal system. I have a masters in liberal arts and one in communication studies, though, so I've done a bit of everything.

I am studying International Development with a foucus with people with disabilities. I focus on the Sub-Saharan Africa region. It studies how we can "develop" and empower people in third world countries. In other words it is what humanitarian aide workers study.

Greetings to all. What a fascinating mix of disciplines! I'm working on the dissertation writing section of my PhD in Theology, with concentration in Old Testament. For a while I concentrated in languages and literature, especially late bronze age II/Early Iron I. But my mentor left so I'm now more a theologian (at least one in training) dealing with issues of historicity, postcolonialism, and history writing.

What great diversity!

I finished my MA in English and am now in a PhD program in Literature, although I plan to take as many rhet/comp classes as I can. My specialty is American short fiction of the late 19th/early 20th C, although I wrote my MA thesis on Emerson, Thoreau, and Muir.

I'm working on my Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Basically, it's business psychology or if you happen to have seen "Office Space", I could be a "Bob" when I grow up. I have about a year left of classes, but I've started doing the initial lit review for the dissertation. I'm hoping to end this neverending saga called school before I turn 80. ;-)

This is my first posting to this group. I am getting my MSW (social work). It is an extremely broad topic, but my emphasis is on child welfare and crisis intervention. I like it because when I get out into the real world, I can go anywhere and do a variety of things.
Last semester we read The Spirit Catches You and You Fall DownThe spirit catches you and you fall down : a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures by Anne Fadiman.

Wow, so many different things. Like an earlier poster, I'd expected a lot more humanities people than CS, math, and physics grads.

Myself, I'm starting (in about a month) a PhD in musicology at UCLA. I'm not sure what I'll write my dissertation on, but it will probably deal with either chamber music, the nineteenth century, the problems of virtuosity in the current "early music" scene, or music of the leisure class in pre-WWI America.

...In case you can't tell, I really haven't decided what to study.

My dissertation is on the nature of the relationship between Gargamel and Smurfette in the 7th episode of the 2nd season of The Smurfs.

...actually, I study theology.

Hello.

In about two weeks I start grad school. Studying clinical psych. My particular concentration is in forensic psychology, with interests in working with the prison population (therapy and assessment), ex-cons (esp. parole-required therapy for sex offenders), state hospital forensic wards (think extreme psychosis, and it's a thousand times worse), and working as an expert witness to criminal defense lawyers. Topics of interest include: sex offenders, infanticide, cult killings, juvenile homicide, workplace homicide, more homicide... violent and aggressive behavior in general and sexual deviance in general.
I am also really interested in group psychology, family systems, existential and humanistic psych (though not as useful in the forensic field), psychological constructs (esp. validity and reliability of), and assessment.

I am currently undertaking a research degree (will end up as a PhD) studying the input of NGOs into military strategic level planning in Peace Operations - does it happen, should it happen. Unlike many people in this group, this is a purely research degree, no coursework, I will just be judged on my thesis.

My Masters was a coursework degree, and I studied International Relations, Politics and Security studies.

I'm surprised I haven't found more linguists here. I'm finishing up my BA in Spanish Linguistics and Literature and Latin American Studies this semester and applying to PhD programs in Linguistics for next fall. I'll be concentrating on the Cognitive Science aspect, with more emphasis on Neurolinguistics than Psycholinguistics. I teach English as a Second Language to international students and am fascinated every day by the language acquisition of adult learners.

I start my MA in English next month. I've been out of school (1 year of break, 2 years of odd-jobs) for a while and I'm wondering if my brain will still work like it used to.

Hey everyone. I will be starting my masters here in the next few months. I have a undergrad in Landscape Architecture but I am moving into Water resource management. A more ecological approach to design..

#75 That sounds fascinating. Always had a interest in theology.

I study medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology. My research focuses on ion channels and diabetes. I hope to graduate in May 2008!

Although, as a kid I've always wanted to be an artist. These days, I use a Moleskine notebook for my thesis or manuscript notes, but I doodle in my notebooks too! I've only recently picked up a paintbrush (again, after eight years of putting my artistic talents aside in pursuit of science).

As an undergrad I studied Psychology with emphasis in Cognitive and Abnormal, and also Linguistic Anthropology. Currently getting a Masters in Cultural Anthropology studying Religion and Folklore.

After working on a psych ward for three years, that was not the route that I wanted to take for the rest of my life. Abnormal Psychology is definitely interesting, but Anthropology is safer!

I'm just starting out, both in the group and in my grad program, but it's good to see there's at least one or two other creative writers around here! I'm getting my Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing specializing in Poetry. I'm slowly getting used to being called "an MFA." Not "an MFA student," just "an MFA." ;)

My interests lie on the prose poetry and long line free verse side of the spectrum. I'm interested in breaking forms and pushing poetry beyond the same old rhyming couplet. Nazim Hikmet, Gary Young, and T.R. Hummer are all awesome writers from whom I take inspiration.

I'm getting my PhD in physical chemistry, although I do little actual chemistry. I do more optics, as I study the non-linear optical properties of semiconducting polymers.

sitturat, you are not alone! I'm an engineer and I read! So is (and does) my best friend. =) My boyfriend (also an electrical engineer) likes to pretend that he reads, but then how come he didn't read Ender's Game or the Foundation series until I told him to?

I study transportation systems engineering. My thesis will probable involve the application of some operations research to transit operations or airline scheduling (it's far too early to say for sure).

I'm working on a PhD in historical musicology too. Nice to see I'm not the only one...

Hello, I'd like to add my current studies to this list, and that's an MA in English Studies. It's a marriage of the fields of cultural and literary studies in a two year part-time programme. (Oops, did I do that in the British spelling? It's Hong Kong.) I really love the stimulation of going back to school and thinking about things (literature, language, politics, culture) that matter to me. This time I'm not doing it for the piece of paper at the end!

mrlanger, your post (#80) just made my day...

Huh. I forgot to post here. Pretty much, I'm in the same boat as #88. Same emphasis and poets of influence as well.

Then again, we did go to the same school as undergrads.

I am working on my MA in English with a focus on Professional Writing and Editing.

I'm studying Music Therapy at Shenandoah University.

Like many of the readers above, I have found the mishmash of majors in this thread surprising. I wish there was a simple way to change this prose information into a graphic representation for easier comparison of quantities, and to see what sorts of majors we're missing.

Then again, the "what" is not as interesting as the "why" in this case. Why this particular set of majors? Why did we choose to put up books in LT, sign up to this group, and post in this thread, where others did not?

I must stop there, or I'll end up turning this into a research project for myself. :(

I'm working on my PharmD (doctor of pharmacy) degree. May '08 here I come! :)

#97, radiokid, my brother is working on his PharmD! Whenever I say that, people are always so confused. :-D He'll be finishing up his rotations at the end of this year as well.

Classical Archaeology

:( The built-in spell-check seems to think that I've spelled archaeology incorrectly. This grieves me.

#99
What exactly is your focus? I toyed with the idea of doing archaeology, but decided on cultural anthropology instead.

Hi guys, I'm just finishing my thesis in mathematics at ANU (Australian National University). My studies are embedded in the area of theoretical partial differential equations, but my interest extend into both physics and computation.

Originally, I started studying maths and physics because someone told me it was the key to getting both money and women... that someone lied. By the time I realized the horrible lie for what it was, I had been swept full-on into the tempest we call mathematics.... yes, that's exactly what happened.

For those of you who wondering what I will do with my degree once I am done; here is your answer. First, I will breed a horde of bunnies. Then I will train this horde of bunnies to follow my commands, using my patented 'bunny whisper' technique. Then I will use my extensive knowledge of optimal transportation and nonlinear elliptic pdes to figures out how to send my bunny horde across the globe whereupon they will be the harbingers of mass destruction on all those who would oppose my will. Yes, I will use my mathematical knowledge and a horde of bunnies to take over the world. Bunnies are the key... they reproduce quickly, are disarmingly cute and are incredibly destructive (just ask someone who has had a house bunny). They will be unstoppable once I have taught them the dark arts of nonlinear elliptic pde... see... you just HAD to ask didn't you?

#100: This is my first year, so I'm not truly sure. But I am interested in cultural interchanges on the margins of the Hellenic world in the Archaic and Classical periods of Greek history. I am particularly interested in Hellenization of local indigenous populations and vice versa. I'm interested in the border cultures of Asia Minor (e.g. the Lydians, Phygians, Lycians, etc.) and how, as buffers between Near Eastern cultures and the Greek world, they exerted influence on the formation of Archaic Greek civilization until they were subjugated by the Persians and then utterly Hellenized by Alexander and his followers.

I'm also interested in Sympotic culture and its physical remains, both in Greece and outside. This fits in with my other interest too, as the South Italians because producers of an Atticizing local pottery, though with a thoroughly indivisual character too, that was actually imported by Athens.

But it's early to say if I'll stick with this particular area and interest. Anyway, that's my long answer.

I am also interested in the Early development of Hellenistic science. Particularly of note the interesting mechanisms found associated with mass graves of immature rabbit bones, which we find in Macedonia. Certain features of the machine and the close proximity of the remains show that it was designed as a doomsday weapon against bunnies, just another one of the ingenious creations from the minds of the people who brought forth Archimedes and Aristotle that is now lost to the annals of history. I think, however, through modern radiography we might be able to see the inner workings of this device, despite the terrible corrosion from the rather alkaline soil. Clearly the ancients were interested in killing rabbits on a large scale, though I cannot see that practical application... save perhaps some nutter looking to take over the world with bunnies, though this is so unlikely as to be laughable. Nevertheless, as an archaeologist, is is my job to question the technology of the ancients, however irrelevant it is to the modern world.

Just kidding on that last pp, of course :D Good luck with your masterful plan Mr. PDExperiment626.

#101 - That is almost the exact same reason one of my profs told me he got into creative writing. Poets get all the chicks. ;-D Ha, since there's not a simliar but opposite saying for us female poets, no one really knows why I got into it. j/k

And bunnies! It had to be bunnies! That is obviously the only reasonable use of a degree in advanced mathematics. (And just ignore all those rumor mongers - there's always someone going off on how people are inventing bunny-killing machines, but have we ever actually seen one?) ;-D

Hello! I recently found Librarything and am so glad to meet other bookaholics! I am an older (nontraditional, they say) graduate student in Clinical Psychology (PsyD). I already have a master's degree in Christian Counseling. So, I have interests in faith/psychology and in pastoral counseling/psychotherapy. My library probably shows that. Also love British murder mysteries which I haven't had time to read for quite awhile. Greetings to all!

Russian Literature and Culture

I'm a linguistics phd student - I'm looking at tones in a dialect of Chinese from southern Zhejiang. I'm specifically looking at acoustic-phonetic aspects and how I can reconstruct tone sandhi.

I am working to get a Master of Fine Arts. Nice blend here!

I am pursuring my masters degree in Library and Information Sciences.

Right now, I either want to be a subject librarian (English, literature, and/or creative writing) and work in reference for an academic college/university.

or

Work in cataloging, acquisitions, and collection development for a public library.

I'm in the third and final year of my MFA in Creative Writing program, specializing in fiction and screenwriting. I'm working on my thesis this year, plus they're good about letting you teach while you're in school, so I get sections of "Introduction to Composition" and "Introduction to Creative Writing." It's fun, and I'm sad that it's almost done!

my research's focused on the revolution in military affairs and intelligence. it's great to see such a nice variety of talents here!

I'm working on my Master of Library and Information Studies. I have a BA in History and and LLB. My research project will be on creative commons licences.

History PhD. Officially, "U.S. before 1865," but my main area of interest is American Indians in the Southeast, esp. the Creek Nation.

My diss is only incidentally about Indians, though. I'm making use of my undergrad German degree and exploring some overlooked diaries by a Swiss tourist in the U.S. in the 1820s. Transnational history, tourism, immigration. All very trendy. ;-)

Hey I'm doing my degree in B.A Literature In English my courses are basically post colonial works..issues regarding the mentioned regions.We did text from Africa, India, Malaysia, Australia..we also did Performance Studies ..review plays and put up one than Literature and Film which outlines the relation between literature and film now I'm in final semester maybe will continue my master in literature too but I'm still thinking about the area that I'm going to focus so any suggestion are welcome!!

I study religious history, specifically 19th century American Catholic history. At the moment, I'm doing research on the social relationship between Catholics and Protestants in the 19th century with particular emphasis on sexuality.

After that, I think my next project will be constructions of Catholic clergy in popular culture in the modern period.

I have posted before and I am happy to see so many anthropologists! After getting my MS in Forensic anthropology and working as Facutly for Gross Anatomy for 1 yr at MSU I will be attending a PhD program in the fall. I haven't decided on an offer yet. I'll be studying Physical anthropology in particular trauma patterns, what that says about the levels of war and accidents in a population and the effects of identity. I'll say it better in the dissertation don't worry.

On the subject of bunnies taking over the world would these be Monty Python Killer Rabbits, because they also look cute but pack a nasty bite. I note that this thread was started by an Australian, which leads to the question why are Australians always obsessed with Rabbits?

I'm currently writing my thesis on John Steinbeck's two long novels, _The Grapes of Wrath_ and _East of Eden_. I'm interested in the contexts surrounding the novels, and how they emerged, historically, and the way in which Steinbeck's personal experiences shaped and changed their inscription. This is important, I think, because the novels are so fundamentally different, and they set forward what many critics believe to be essentially different views on the role of the individual creative mind in society. I'm probably going to get some flack, though, because of my tendency to neglect the text and concentrate on the context and extra-textual material like previous criticism. We shall see.

Hey everyone! What an interesting thread. I love hearing about what other people spend their time learning/thinking/writing about. Makes me think about all the things I would study if I had more lifetimes to spend...

Yet another MLIS (master of library and information science) here. My concentration is public libraries, and I'm particularly interested in teen services and readers advisory. (Even though, sadly, my program doesn't support latter.) I can think of few things more rewarding than helping steer people toward the next book their going to fall in love with.

Hi everyone
I just read the thread and joined the group today. I have a bachelors in English and I am about a year into a Masters in Secondary Education. I will be teaching high school English next year. Ultimately I plan to pursue a PHD in Education. Eventually I will get out of school. :-)

Originally I was going for a master's in theology (ThM), but now I'm having a change of heart. PhD's have a unique ability to change one's mind, especially in seminary. So now I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

>11 Nikkles: I told my massage therapist in the middle of a massage that if I could go back to being 20-something instead of 50-something, I'd want to do forensic anthropology -- at least they aren't still gooey like in CSI forensics.

By the way, I'm a PhD student in Medieval Literature(s) taking my final specialist comprehensive on March 22. Oh, how I envy young brains that don't dump out material faster than I can input it. Topics I've written on -- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (gender/religious quest); Beowulf (speeches/community/communion); Marie de France; and in early lives -- modern American short story and novels, Derrida and deconstruction in the US, and a variety of non-academic esoteric and fiction.

Hi, bhwalker --
I'm translating the Old Saxon _Heliand_ this semester with a German professor so that I can use it to compare to the Anglo-Saxon gospels for my dissertation. I'd like to do Old Norse,too, but this particular professor is drawing so many students from the English graduate students that he's been told to drop it for a couple of semester. By then, I hope I'll be through.

forensic anthropology can be a little gooey.

Yay for people doing language related stuff! :)

It sounds like everyone has such interesting doctoral work! I thought I'd contribute, in order to bolster the science nerd representation. I am working on a PhD in genetics, specifically in the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. It is a wonderful field because you get to think about a huge and ever-growing body of scientific work and really interesting philosophical questions (what is consciousness, the mind, self? is it ethical to intentionally augment of impair specific memories? etc). I am also working on a medical degree, and so I spend time thinking about human learning and memory diseases. I am especially interested in neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's, Parkinson, etc) and age-associated memory loss.

I could use some help with the age-associated memory loss --esp. before my specialist exams next Sat. However, I suppose there are no quick and easy answers and shrinkage of the frontal lobe consistent with age isn't fixable. Sigh. Sounds like fascinating work!
F

Good luck on your examinations, medievalmama! It is nice to realize that I really do love what I do when I am feeling a little overwhelemed at school. I wouldn't be too sure about how fixable age-associated memory loss is though, the brain is suprisingly plastic. I wouldn't expect any breakthroughs from me anytime soon though :o)

I am currently working on a M.Ed at Lesley University.

What I really want to do is go on and get my PhD in Interdisciplinary Archaeology at UCLA when I am done.

My BA is in History and Anthropology.

This fall I will begin my Masters in Social Welfare!

I plan on specializing in gerontology and death and dying. It sounds really bleak, but I promise it isn't...

An MLS, what else?

Andy

I'm working on my dissertation for a D.M.H.--Doctor of Medical Humanities. This is a very interdisciplinary degree, aimed primarily at people involved in the medical field in one way or another. I'm on the last leg (I think ) of my dissertation & hope to graduate in October.

Leel - that sounds interesting but made me wonder what do you want to do with that degree or what do people in general do? I can only guess medical writing of some sort. I'll be getting my PhD in biochemistry and have some interest in writing/editing for science journals but have not heard of your degree before.

I'm in my first year of an MA/PhD program in English, so I'm still largely working on general requirements rather than specific topics. I'm focusing on 18th and 19th century British prose (fiction and nonfiction), currently with particular interests in the history of the novel and relationships between philosophy, historical writing, and literature. I'm most interested in Victorian sage writing and so-called philosophical novels.
I've also been hearing a lot recently about the need for people with knowledge of computational/data processing skills in literary history to figure out what to do, academically, with all the new electronic literature databases. I'm not sure really how to go about that, but I think I want to make that part of my education.

Psychology here, Neural and Cognitive Sciences. I'll be starting my first year of a PhD program in August, so nervous!

One more linguist. Working mostly with semantic compositionality in HPSG, the way it and other constraint-based lexicalist theories can be applied in contact and diachronic linguistics, and in my spare time, examining philosophy and methodology in formal linguistics.

Xmaystarx--Its been a while since I checked in, so I hadn't seen your reply. As for the degree--DMH--its given by only a few Universities, but more are coming on board. As to its ultimate usefulness, that's a big question mark. Good for teaching, if so inclined--I'm not. Useful for others who need to have it for promotion--just had a friend elevated to assoc prof at the Univ where she teaches physician assistants. Sometimes it just means a larger paycheck; of course, that's not bad! In my case, I run my own business as an independent information professional--it should impress my clients (?)

I am a PhD student at Drew University in Madison, NJ. I am studying Christian Social Ethics. My dissertation is going to do with gay youth and the church.

morningrob -- that sounds awesome! I know many gay men especially who struggle with being told that their lifestyles are choices, when they have known who they were since they were 5 or 6. I hear that the Lutherans are now going through what the Episcopalians did 3 years ago. God is good! and so is what he creates!

medievalmama-thanks for thesupport :)

Hello all,
First post I am currently finishing up my MA in Diplomacy and Military Studies in Hawaii. interdisciplinary program that throws Military History, Strategic Studies, Diplomatic History, Political Science, and a whole bunch of soldiers (former and current) in a room with civilians,cops and professors. I am in the process of writing my Masters Thesis armed and unarmed contractors in U.S. Military History (Colonial period to Vietnam). Besides that I am an Iraq Combat Vet and a Deputy Sheriff with the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety.

Hi everyone, I just recently graduated with my B.A. in English and am now embarking on my Master's in English Lit with an added concentration in Medieval Studies. I'm aiming to get my PhD in Medieval Studies. I primarily want to stay in the literary area, although I have to say I greatly enjoy the history part too. I just really want to do something combining feminism and Medieval Lit. I guess basically I want to go back and find forgotten or little known (outside of the circle of Medievalists) Medieval women writers and examine the roles of women in Medieval lit--particularly the differentiation between female hero and heroine. I also have a passionate love for all things King Arthur. I guess I'm an over eager and highly ambitious grad student and future Medievalist. :-)

What a coincidence, Morningrob. Your posting came immediately aftr mine, and I'm at Drew, too.

Anthropology / Archeology I'm focusing in Rock Art

Hi folks.
I have a BA in Psychology and an M.S. in Health Education with a focus on Public/Community Health. I've been a children's case manager, a private piano instructor, and most recently, the Education Coordinator in a Public Health Department in a University.

I will be returning to school this winter to pursue a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning during which time I'll specialize in Community Development and Transportation while picking up a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems. I hope to follow up this second master's degree with a PhD in Urban Studies.

If I don't end up with a career in academia when all is said and done, I'll at least have developed some skills that will pay me well outside the ivory tower. I hope. :-)

#143: That sounds interesting. Rock art in North America or a different region?

I do synthetic inorganic chemistry, at least on paper--but most of what interests me in what I do is the physics of the molecules I make. I probably should've been a physicist. (For those who are interested, my research in on single-molecule magnets. They are fascinating in terms of physics--somewhere in between quantum and classical magnetism.)

As of September, I will be beginning my MA in Folklore. The program offers courses ranging from food to dance to archival studies, but I think my thesis will focus mainly on literature and history. Or something. I have some ideas... Possibly I have too many ideas. :)

The broad general reading list includes things like:
In Search of Authenticity: The Formation of Folklore Studies by Regina Bendix and Folklore of Canada by Edith Fowke.

I graduated in May with an MA in Theatre from the University of Kentucky, and I'm entering my second year of the MFA Musical Theatre program at the University of Central Florida. Happily, my second thesis is a casebook exploring the creation of the character Audrey in Ken Ludwig's Leading Ladies, as opposed to defining the concept musical or some other heavy research topic.

If anyone is in central Florida, we still have another weekend of performances, as well as two weekends of holdover performances at the end of August.

I have an M.S. in Decision Technology (that school's silly name for Management Science) and one in Applied Math. I'm working on a PhD. in Applied Math (in my case statistics/operations research), and an M.A. in Economics on the side....

i'm working full time as a researcher and studying an MA (Economics) on the side at ANU, Canberra, Australia.

>56 philosojerk: I just picked my research area and have started the scary task of putting together my committee. So it looks like I won't be switching fields this year. Maybe next year. You've read Godel Escher Bach, I hope? If not, read it! If so, read Metamagical Themas now. :)

Yay other grad students!

I'm starting my MA in English, probable specialization in Victorian lit but also looking to the side of Carribean post-colonial as a minor. I am also part of an interdisciplinary theory concentration.

I'm interested in ethics and religion in mid-Victorian literature especially. I love 800-page bricks, especially George Eliot's.

150 - Hiya there, ANU buddy!

#29 jterry - that's probably the most interesting degree i've heard of.

i'm currently doing psych as a grad student in melbourne (meaning i have a Bachelor's degree in another discipline and need to get up to speed). i would love to concentrate on psychotherapy but who knows if that will change in 5 years :|

I previously studied for and received my JD, then decided I didn't love law the way I really should. Now I am pursuing a Masters of Education in Higher Education Admin. I plan to work in graduate or law admissions and student services.

I just finished up my Masters of Architecture in May. While I am glad to be done and have some time working I am looking at going for my PhD in the next couple of years.

Oceanography grad student, with an emphasis on Ichthyology. Which basically just means I'm a huge fish geek, working out of a research field station. Bookwise, though, I do read a fair bit of science non-fic, but I do really love fantasy and historical fic and non-fic.

I was reading the other day that the spin of a photon goes in the direction opposite to the direction the photon travels in; and that if you reflected the photon you could tell the real photon from the reflected photon because the spin of the latter would be going in the wrong direction. I tried to visualize this, but the spin seems like it would be going in the same direction for both. I understand that if you reflect a clock and turn it clockwise, the reflected clock would turn counter-clockwise, but I can't see the same holding true for the reflected photon.
I'm just an old retired guy trying to learn something. Take care.

IronMike, Roll your hand into a fist, and stick your thumb out (like giving a thumbs up). Point the thumb into a mirror. The way the thumb points is the direction the photon is headed in and the way the fingers roll is the spin.
The direction the photon is headed is reversed in the reflection while the fingers still roll in the same direction. This turns a right-handed photon into a left-handed one.

Redgiant. Thanks. Much appreciated.

Library and Information Science
USF - Tampa Campus

I start on my MA in theology at Villanova this fall. My BA is in history with a minor in religious studies though I have a good dose of Ed classes as well.

I intend on a PhD in theology or religious studies eventually.

Hi all, fascinating work being listed here. I'm back on LT for the first time in about a year, and it is great to see a thread going for so long. I'm based in Western Australia and I am writing an intellectual history of Immanuel Wallerstein's world-systems concept and currently experiencing horrendous writer's block and self doubt!

Good luck to all of you!

Hi, new group member!

I'm studying for a PhD in Plant Biology.

I started in Fall 2007 and will be taking my written quals in about a month-yikes!

My final defense is in less than three weeks. My PhD is in bioinorganic chemistry and nanomaterials. The end can't come soon enough.

Now only if I wasn't graduating at the worst economic time EVER. Actually, I would have been done around Feb had I been able to get a job.

M.S. in Computer Systems Technology and a Master of Theology. Looking toward a Ph.D in Educational Technology.

I am new here and new to my grad studies as well. I am studying cultural geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Most of my research is sort of a comparative study between governance and economic models on small islands in Atlantic Canada and Croatia. It's actually a lot more interesting than it sounds.

Bojan
http://www.bojanfurst.com
http://fuerst.my-expressions.com

I'm new as well, although grad school is almost over for me - finally. I'll be graduating in August with my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Texas Tech University, and my postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology, which will be at the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center, starts in July.

Hi, I'm fairly new to the site too. I'm studying for my MA in Library and Information Management. It's a three year, part-time course and I've just finished year one. I can't imagine what attracted me to LibraryThing! : )

Going to graduate at the end of the month, M.A. in International Affairs with a focus in Southeast Asia from Johns Hopkins good times!

I start my grad program in the fall. M.A./Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics. :)

I'm getting my MA in Counseling. I currently have a BA in Psychology.

I am in the third year of my Ed.D. program in educational leadership and learning.

Astronomy... which is like physics, only cooler :)
I'm kidding, I love physics. Astronomy is just a branch of physics after all. The good thing about being in science, is that your University pays you a stipend and you get a tuition waver. I can't imagine actually having to pay to go to grad school...

Ceremoniar- Where are you getting your degree? I'm a 3rd year PhD student in Curriculum and Instruction.

Wow! This IS a very diverse bunch. It just shows that one can really love books without having to be a literature student (no offense to lit students, of course).

I am entering my first year of PhD study in Education at the University of Delaware.

Ceremoniar,

What would you like to do with your Ed.D degree? Are you trying to teach at hte college level or do you want to go into administration, etc?

after three years of barely sleeping, at the end of this summer, I will have my Master's in Architecture diploma.

I'm trying to have my Master's in Speech Patology/Audiology! :)

Hi, I'm new here! *waves*

I'm in my fourth year of medical school, I graduate in May 2010. I'm planning on going into obstetrics and gynecology.

I love seeing how people with so many different interests can be brought together by books! :o)