Queen of Science - 10 Finding an Advisor

The following morning on the bus, Emily and Fern are talking about their plans for the club. Worrying about how she knows almost nothing about planning and conducting a research project, Fern asks Emily, “Are you sure we aren’t in over our head.”

Never one to look before diving, Emily internalizes none of Fern’s worries and says, “We’ll figure it out. Don’t profs take volunteer research assistants and stuff? Maybe you could get one of them to supervise?”

Thinking about when she stood up late researching all the school’s biology labs and their students, Fern looks at her boots and says, “everyone associated with a lab is at least in their second year of school. Why would a prof want to supervise a first-year like me?”

“Well, you might as well try. Ask Prof. Jameson! You’ve already met each other, and he was nice, right?”

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Shifting her eyes and looking at the slushy snow outside, Fern starts to say, “but…”

Like a mother who is fed up with her child that refuses to go to the dentist, Emily says, “nope! You’re going to talk to him today.”

With puffed up cheeks, Fern squints at the snow like she is trying to make it melt faster and says, “‘ kai.”

—

Unlike most days with morning lectures, Fern is fully awake and energetic. Unfortunately, all of that energy is being channelled towards her nervousness. As discretely as she can, Fern been online, memorizing his lab’s website and all of the papers that he has published.

Once the lecture is over, and the students are slowly funnelling out of the auditorium, Emily cheerfully turns to Fern and says, “You’re still going to Jameson’s office now, right?”. In contrast, her eyes threateningly say, “You better say yes.”

Flushed in the cheeks from her heart pounding with nervousness, Fern gives the best smile that she can and says, “of course!”

Proud but worried about her nervous wreck of a friend, Emily hypes Fern up as they walk towards the staircase. Finally, they separate, and Fern embarks up to the fourth floor of the building. As she climbs the stairs, Fern curses herself for not exercising more. Finally, at the top, Fern is huffing, a little sweaty, but she made it! At least Fern can say that she’s flushed because of the stairs, not because she’s nervous.

Knocking on Jameson’s office door and popping her head through the crack, Fern says, “Hello!”

From behind the door, the dapper as always, Jameson says, “Come in.”

After Fern comes in and the two go through the basic greetings, Fern reminds the professor about her research proposal and how she’s thinking about turning it into a legit research project. Jameson praises Fern for her ambition and says, “Sounds interesting- can I assume that you want me to be a supervisor?”

Happy that Jameson was the one to bring it up, Fern quickly says, “Yes! Would you?”

Leaning back in his chair and taking a deep breath, Jameson says, “Well… it’s a large time commitment to write a thesis. We usually only let excellent fourth years do it. But… I did recently gain space for a student.” Leaning in again and looking Fern in the eyes, Jameson says, “Can you handle the challenge?”

Sitting up straight and returning Jameson’s eye contact, Fern summons all of her strength and says, “I can do it.”

Getting up from his chair and sitting down behind his desk, Jameson starts typing on his computer as he says, “Alright, I’ll supervise you, but I can’t provide all the support you need. I may have the space for a student, but I don’t have the funding for a whole new project. Have you applied to any grants or scholarships yet?”

Confused, Fern tilts her head a little bit and says, “I haven’t.”

“Okay.” Pulling out a piece of paper and pen, Jameson says, “I’m writing down a list of scholarships and research grants that I want you to apply for. Most of them give out rewards in the summer, so we’ll have to get you covered until then. You may be able to get support from another lab that has more available funding. I’m writing down a couple of people that you can ask to be a co-supervisor, but I recommend that you talk to Dr. Sarah Martin. She’s a new faculty member, so she’s looking for students to join her lab. How’s that sound?”

Having not expected that she would run into a stumbling block so quickly after her first success, Fern’s mental state is like a strange stew of triumph and dread. She wears her best confident facade and says, “sounds good, thanks!”

After he is done scribbling everything down, Jameson hands the piece of paper back to Fern and says, “This is your first trial of many, but I expect good results. Come back to me once you’ve found a co-supervisor or after you’ve given up.”

Taking the paper, Fern nods and smiles before getting up and leaving the room. With a burst of excitement and confidence, Fern marches down the stairs and goes to meet up with Emily.