The first week of January is traditionally International Blog Delurking Week.
Whether you’re an old reader or new, whether you’ve commented in the past or not, please stop by and tell us a little about yourself. Are you a student, faculty, staff, or someone in a line of work outside academia? How did you find the blog? What do you most like to read about here on xykademiqz?
How have you been these past two pandemic years? What has lifted your spirits? What are some things or experiences that you have been looking forward to? Any plans for 2022?
Come say ‘hi’ — we’d love to hear from you!
xykademiqz 
Hello X,
Happy blog delurking week! I’ve been following the blog for about 2.5 years. Engineering faculty. I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed Academaze, then passed the book on to junior faculty in my department. You are a STEM superhero in these here parts. I like to read about how you deal with students–the good ones and the ones in need of improvement.
Michael
Hello! Been reading for 4-5 years, basically my whole chemistry grad school career, not sure how I originally found the blog. And to be honest, I’ve seen this post every year but never commented. But reading your posts has been so nice in so many ways. Love hearing a honest faculty perspective. I bought academaze but have yet to read it (that whole grad school thing keeps getting in the way).
Hi folks, I have been reading this blog and its predecessor for a long time (many years). I am a research scientist in astronomy. I specialize in instrument development and studies of stellar high energy emission and its effects on exoplanet atmospheres.
The pandemic has been eventful. First, I was pulled in to my university’s pandemic planning (beware when a professor who knows you are good at project management is acting provost!) and I got to be on the inside on how to try to alter a class schedule at a university that offers 12,000+ classes each semester; how to set up, approve, staff, and provision a PCR test lab from scratch; wrangling your incredibly competent researchers to predict covid transmission, test waste water, write a symptom reporting app, etc.; and how much power the football team actually has (answer: a lot).
Now, I’m working on a project to get a new telescope facility working in Chile. My team is worldwide (US, France, Germany, Chile, South Korea, Australia), so I’ve seen how the pandemic has affected everyone at different times and in different ways. If our latest construction company stays solvent, we hope to be on sky by the end of the year.
I’m a final year PhD student in molecular biology in NY who will be starting my postdoc in July in PA. I am really, really looking forward to finally freaking graduating.
I cannot remember specifically how I found your blog but I’m always searching for academic blogs. I think I came across yours back in 2020 when I had a lot of down time… I like that your posts have a variety of themes.
These past two pandemic years have been interesting… A lot has happened but also not much at all. I don’t know how it’s already been years of this. What really stands out to me is I got out of a really toxic relationship/living situation where I was walking on eggshells – not good when you’re locked down in a tiny space and no going to the lab for respite. Now am in a really enjoyable healthy relationship with plans to move in with my partner later this spring.
I’ve been reading your blog for what seems like forever – I’m a big fan even though I never comment. I’m also a female science professor at a large, public R1 institution, and I love your perspective on academics and life in general. Thanks for your blog!
I’m in industry working on ion beam sputtering. I enjoy reading your frank perspective on academic life, even down to a description of grant writing through the holiday break.
I’ve been enjoying your blog for years. I’m a female, R1 science full prof. I enjoy your perspective, especially your recent thoughts. Feel like I’m in a similar place in terms of pretty decent academic success coupled with exhaustion and boredom.
I am a school director in a STEM field at a PUI. I followed you here from Academic Jungle. I really appreciate the insight about families, academic politics, and wrestling with mid career malaise.
Please keep it up!!
Just tenured at a midwestern R1. Have read the blog on and off for a few years. Appreciate the perspective from a more experienced academic.
I think I’m the outlier here–humanities prof. :). I followed you here from another academic blog. (There’s a lengthy list in my sidebar, but I don’t remember which one.) Your insights about academic politics, and your writing has been really helpful to me over the years. Your Bollywood recommendations too :).
Have been reading for a long time – I think since I was in grad school? Now an assistant professor at a private R1.
Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a loooong time, since before this one existed and you had another one š I was a postdoc at MIT in academia back then. Then left academia and have been working in industry for 8 years now. Still reading your blog!
PS I should also mention how thankful I am for your post “In Which I Feel a Kinship With Bruce Banner.” This is one I go back to – it really helped me focus my thinking about why I was unhappy with some faculty, and how to think about the attitude and approach of the “big names” and what is valued in science.
Delurking to say “Howdy! Happy New Year!”