Top Ten Vaughan Moments

As of today, I have been an official graduate student in the Vaughan lab for a year! My friends at ND know how much of a character my advisor is, and I am a character myself. That being said, my advisor and I have had quite a few entertaining interactions over the past year.

Here are my top ten from this year (and one from my REU)

1. The day when it became apparent that spoken word is not my thing.

F: sorry. I haven’t really slept in a few weeks now.

V: Are you ok?

F: Yeah. It just means that I won’t use words all that well.

V: So I won’t be able to tell the difference then?

2. That time when he called me out for flirting in class

Undergrad: How’s your class going?

V: It’s going well, some people need to gain confidence. Felicity here is so interested that she is just giggling the entire time

F: It’s the boy’s fault!

V: Riiiiiiight *gives me a look*

3. When I forgot how to use a door knob one morning….

4. My incessant talking “problem”

V (To my Mentee): She talks a lot doens’t she?

F: About science at least!

*Three Hours Go By*

V (Again to my Mentee): Is she really still talking?

*Mentee nods*

V: Felicity, any time of day, I can hear you through the halls of Galvin.

F: You do know I’m not here all the time right? I think you’re losing it.

5. When he discovered that science is the best form of therapy for me.

V: What did you get done this week?

F: Well I started the fish project, finished my construct, got Shannon halfway there, and I got a 20% increase on my second Mol Bio exam.

V: Geez, what happened?

F: Oh, I was sick, homesick, and heartbroken.

V: I should be sorry.

F: Don’t be! Science is happy. I like science.

6. And then when he mentions any “young and kind scientist” guy he meets whenever he asks for a very specific experiment to work in a time crunch…

7. Irony can be a bitch sometimes…

F: You know how I have been struggling to get that construct to work?
J: Yeah

F: You think I could just get Pat Sue to do it?

V: (from behind): Yeah I think that’s a great idea

F: *turns around in horror*

V: and she can transfect for you and image for you and get her PhD for you!

8. Pregnancy Scare?

S: *points at the sticky notes to tell KTV my NSF GRFP Due Date* Oh don’t forget!

F: Oh yeah! Remember how you wanted my due date? Well my due date is Oct 24!

V: Uh- what?

F: For my NSF Proposal? I assumed you wanted my due date.

V: Oh no, just usually when women say “my due date” they mean-

F: I’m not pregnant!

V: Yet.

9. When my awkward phrasing turned in to a joke of its own

S: We’re writing weird quotes from Felicity

V: If you’re writing down every odd thing Felicity says, then you’re going to make a large book.

10. When he kept asking me if I knew where the Mr. Dynein costume was…Mr. Dynein is just a penis costume…but it’s passed down through our lab.

Actually there are some pretty sweet moments between my advisor and I

1. The only natural response my PI could have to me looking insanely nervous for reasons I did not share with him (i.e. Any First Date)

V: I made your coffee!

F: Thanks

V: You should get some

F: I will, thank you.

V: *walks by four times staring at me*

V: *Stops at the door* Felicity, I’m leaving now, but I’ll be here on Sunday if you need me ok?

F: Thanks…see you Monday!

2. When he didn’t prep me for my talk and told the other PI’s that I was “fine on my own, even as a first year.”

3. That time when he took my side

V: Participation.

F: Me? Good?

V: Very.

F: Wow. Thanks. I’m just impressed that I spoke to-

V: I know. You know…some kids just get too overwhelmed with everything and cannot articulate complex concepts. Some students, such as yourself, are better…scientists.

I would love to share all of the moments I had with the many other members of our lab, but that would be far too long of a post….maybe I’ll just pitch an “The Office,” but I’ll call it “The Lab” and make my advisor Michael Scott.