(no subject)
Adjusting to graduate school as well as living in Birmingham, AL is a challenge I'm not sure I was quite ready for. Birmingham is smaller than any of the big cities, but bigger than Charleston, and sprawling. It's also super hilly; I've been getting a real workout just walking around campus. There's not too much downtown in the way of basic necessities, so I have to get on I-65 just to go to Wal-Mart. Currently, all the new grad students have class every weekday from 8-10am, then we go to our lab rotations. I'll be doing a project in Dr. Nahm's lab for my first rotation, which lasts from now til November. I still have to set up two more rotations - one for the winter and one for spring. I'm super excited about the research going on in Dr. Nahm's lab, though - it's focused on pneumococci virulence and mutation in a specific gene, leading to different capsule types which can be distinguished by nonconventional serotyping (flow cytometry vs. quellung).
This saturday, I hope to visit the local farmer's market to see what they have available. I hope I can actually find it. Also, I'm so excited that UAB has been making some real efforts to green up the campus! There are some green roofed buildings around campus, solar powered cars, groundwater recycling irrigation systems, and research into wind turbines and energy efficiency going on here.
I still don't have a bed (not until the 27th), so my bedroom is not too impressive yet, but I'm hoping to get into posting pictures on here whenever possible. Soon will be pics of the apartment and some of Birmingham.
This saturday, I hope to visit the local farmer's market to see what they have available. I hope I can actually find it. Also, I'm so excited that UAB has been making some real efforts to green up the campus! There are some green roofed buildings around campus, solar powered cars, groundwater recycling irrigation systems, and research into wind turbines and energy efficiency going on here.
I still don't have a bed (not until the 27th), so my bedroom is not too impressive yet, but I'm hoping to get into posting pictures on here whenever possible. Soon will be pics of the apartment and some of Birmingham.