As Hurricane Gustav disfigures the place of my birth, Barack Obama becomes the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party, and John McCain chooses a female running mate for Vice President, here I am, buzzing around the lab, steadily pipetting up and down. If some were to see me right now, they would think I have the worst life ever.

I admit that spending Saturday nights in the lab may not be for everyone. But, for graduate students it is almost certain that you will, sometimes. With the way funding for scientific research has been in the past few years, the future for scientists seems bleak. Given the amount of work and the long hours one spends in school training to be an academic scientist, I've often asked myself: “is it really worth the meager salary that is to be expected?”

I've struggled with this question for some time. Many of my college buddies are driving around in new cars, buying houses, and receiving grand paychecks each month. Because they've been in the job market for awhile now, they are quickly climbing to better positions in their respective companies. Some of my friends will have attained senior positions before I complete my graduate studies.

Considering the hours I work I'm probably right above minimum wage; I still live in an apartment; and I still drive my mother's old car. Upon graduation, I'll probably begin as a post-doctoral fellow, which is another period of training, and can expect to continue living in a similar manner. Afterwards, if I can land a tenure-track position at a major institution, my salary probably will not exceed that of my colleagues, who would have almost 10 years of job experience by that point. On top of this, it's likely that I'll work more hours than they will.

Sounds terrible right?

Actually, I'm having the time of my life and eagerly await my future in science.

What could be more cool than trying to find the cure for cancer, working day in and day out for the betterment of humanity?

This is what my life entails everyday. I get to choose my own projects, design my own experiments, and test my own hypotheses. Not only this, but I get paid to do it.

In the lab, I can certainly satisfy my scientific curiosity. I admit, sometimes I get frustrated with technical errors that I encounter, but once I get an experiment working, I come back to life. I feel as if I'm walking the same trail as Louis Pasteur or Gregor Mendel—the path of discovery. It's truly a great way to spend one’s time.

On the other hand, there are several challenges that I've faced while in graduate school. The most difficult for me is the 'sink or swim' culture. No one is going to carry you to complete your PhD. You manage your own time and workload. If you want to graduate, it's going to take a lot of sweat, self-motivation, and a positive attitude. I had to learn not to depend on others and rely solely upon God and myself. There are several different administrators and support groups who are very helpful. However, graduate school is supposed to train you how to be an independent scientist. You have to carry yourself through, by your own bootstraps.

Now that I'm in my fourth year, I still can't say that I've figured everything out. I'm still struggling to establish my independence in the lab and battling to overcome my sleep deprivation. But overall, I do enjoy what I'm doing. I'm preparing to submit my first, first-author publication—which is going to be a moment requiring tons of celebration. I've begun meeting with my dissertation committee, and I'm beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Each day, despite the challenges, putting on that white coat is getting better and better.

Nuruddeen Lewis
Ph.D. candidate
Vanderbilt University