Since my schedule tends to be fairly full, I've not posted here in a while. So here's a basic update on what's been going on.
On August 12, I became a PhD Candidate. So what does that mean? It means that I am now done with courses, preliminary examinations, and any other requirements other than my dissertation. At this point, I'm ABD, which fittingly stands for All But Done, All But Dissertation and/or All But Dead.
It's been two years since I entered Texas A&M University as a graduate student. In that amount of time, I've published four papers, with an additional two in preparation/under review. I've given a lightning talk, served on a panel, and presented numerous posters. I'm the lead author for the best algorithm for compressing phylogenetic trees, and the fastest sequential and parallel algorithms for comparing large groups of trees. This past summer, I passed four preliminary exams (one given to me by each committee member), wrote up a thesis proposal and successfully defended it.
Not bad for two years of work.
So what will happen with this blog from now on? Well, I do plan (ha ha) to keep on updating it. Most likely I'll start adding things I discover here as I play with some software.
My ubuntu-fix posts will probably be few and far between from now on -- Ubuntu 10.04 is out: it's beautiful, it's fast and it basically works. There has been no need for extra configurations like I've needed to do in the past. Gosh, I love Ubuntu. However, as I discover new things, I will definitely post them here.
That's all for now. I'll try and post something later this week.
-SM
