How Am I Juggling Two Projects in Neuroscience Modeling?

Anticipate a lengthy debate, given the multitude of factors involved… A true testing ground at play, as I juggle two projects in the realm of neuroscience modeling. Yet, they stand on vastly different tiers: one delves into expansive brain networks and fMRI data, while the other explores optogenetics and two-photon imaging in the prefrontal cortex of mice during experimental tasks. According to Rubinstein, Meyer and Evans (2001), switching between complex tasks carries a measurable cognitive cost, since executive control processes must reconfigure before performance on the new task returns to normal.

Moreover, I’m a member of my institute’s PhD council and poised to lead this assembly soon. The chief steps down in December, and my extended tenure among the members places me in line.

Recently, we hosted a workshop, a joint effort with my involvement at 60%. I sourced speakers, collaborated on content, procured council gifts, and designed an enticing flyer. 

Despite inclement weather, around 100 attendees braved the conditions, drawn by the workshop’s compelling theme. It centered on perspectives from both editors and struggling scientists seeking to navigate the editorial labyrinth. Valuable lessons were gleaned: unveiling findings at conferences prior to publication can lead to serendipitous encounters with journal editors; an unexpected advantage.

What Happened When I Shared Unpublished Results?

Initially, I perceived sharing unpublished results as risky, fearing scientific theft. However, the benefits outweigh the risks.

According to Fu and Hughey (2019), eLife, an analysis of over 70,000 papers found that sharing research early, before formal peer-reviewed publication, is associated with substantially more attention and citations rather than any measurable downside. Additionally, it’s wise to focus on larger grant opportunities due to similar scrutiny and better returns. Reviewing peers’ articles during my doctorate aids both me and professors overwhelmed with reviewing tasks.

Amid the effort, a challenging instance arose: recording a session at dawn due to a speaker’s tardiness. Eccentric, yet fruitful—success crowned the workshop, with the next in line two years hence.

How Do I Approach Managing My Lab’s Website?

Amid these responsibilities, managing my lab’s website falls to me. Each group member contributes, and I opted for the task to spur personal growth.

Despite my lack of prior experience, I selected a straightforward paid hosting approach. This facilitates easy editing and encourages lab-wide participation. Admittedly, more deletions than additions occur, yet the site progresses.

The Plans To Move To Save Some Money and Travel.

Beyond my current responsibilities, a bold relocation plan beckons. Circumstances align perfectly—space near my workplace, lower rent, and amiable neighbors. The move, though a mere 3 km, poses a logistical challenge. 

According to Thaler and Benartzi (2004), structuring savings decisions in advance, such as committing to a lower-cost living situation, reliably increases how much people end up saving compared with leaving the decision to willpower alone.

The financial disparity, €130 monthly or €1,500 annually, incentivizes embracing this change. Moreover, I’ll undergo cardio tests for a Tatra Mountains trip, a prerequisite to join a group that hikes regularly. I’ve committed to ascend Gerlach, the Carpathian’s highest peak, a feat demanding skill and courage.

South America draws closer on my horizon. A Lonely Planet guide keeps me company during my rare moments of leisure.

Such periods necessitate a switch to a focused mode, moving methodically and unperturbed, a skill I attribute to upbringing. My mother’s managerial influence fostered discipline, evident from childhood routines, methodically spanning 22 minutes from waking to departure. According to Selman and Dilworth-Bart (2024), Journal of Family Theory and Review, a systematic review found that consistent childhood routines are reliably linked to better self-regulation and executive-function skills later on.

This systematic approach now manifests in my to-do lists: draft and submit the manuscript, conquer Kilimanjaro, orchestrate a workshop, film for TV, unwind in the States, engage potential project collaborators, enroll in a summer school, visit Andy, challenge the landlord’s rent, invest, purchase property, grasp optogenetics, master databases, cultivate relationships with influential figures, influence Graduate school rules, read extensively, train, nourish, acquire and shed, replace, slumber.