The 'E' Type Forum

For everyone asking me in person at events about how my PhD is going...(and wondering why I've been a tad quiet recently)

Done!

Passed my PhD viva yesterday (with minor corrections), actually quite enjoyed the process in the end. Despite the 3 hours or so of questions/discussions, it's a great opportunity to sit and discuss your work in detail. Really enjoyed my time at Brizzle and working with my supervisor (Carmen, far left) on some interesting chemistry.

Not much mental capacity left after that mind you, but enough for a few drinks and a visit to the fabulous little family-run restaurant down the road from the Uni.

What's next? I started in the medicinal chemistry industry about 2 months ago, living in South Derbyshire and working in Loughborough. Easy commute and only 30/40 mins from mates, family and an hour from the heart of the Peak District. Couldn't be happier.

Dr. Johnson does sound a bit strange though!

P.S. Richard and I will get our heads round the events calendar at some point and get some events organised, so watch this space.

Congratulations, a very hard qualification in a very difficult subject.

My academic aspirations stopped at the Highway Code.

Well done.

Hi Simon....great news...well done...how time flies only seems like a few months ago that you were starting uni........a major milestone towards getting that E type........All the best......Steve

Fine work.

A PhD is a marathon effort, something I managed to avoid by staying exclusively with clinical medicine rather than delving into a research career.

Many congrats a friend of mine got a 1st in Chemistry - he’s now a tax accountant

Well done Simon!

Congratulations Dr Johnson !

Well done Simon, you must be one of the younger members, so plenty of time to get that E done.

Congratulation Simon. Some hard work gone into that and well deserved. Now you just need someone to pay you loads of money for using it so you can get your E Type.

Re-spect!! (As 'da yoof' say )

Very well done indeed. You should be rightly proud of yourself.



Simon

Well done Dr.

Congratulations, Dr. Johnson! I've always considered the PhD the highest honor in academic achievement. Virtually all of the other advanced degrees (IMHO) only require the determination to complete the requirements once one is enrolled in the program. The PhD on the other hand, requires considerable original thinking, creative exploration and just plain hard work over a period of years. My hat is off to you!

Hey Doc, Its GTJOEY, I have this urge to go to the bathroom at 3 am , Also whenI look in the mirror my DAD is staring me in the face. Any hard drugs for this.....
gtjoey1314 blue pills if you got some lying around, will pay cash.......

Thank you everyone for all your kind words, a marathon effort indeed. There were plenty of challenging moments throughout (especially during the winter COVID lockdown early 2021, that was rough) but I got on with it, got plenty done (and good science at that) which meant I didn't need/want/apply for any project extensions. I really took hold of my project and took it in my own direction, which is really what you need to do at this level. Happy to supply a copy of the thesis should anyone chemically-minded fancy a browse through it.

It's a long time and yet 4 years in Brizzle flew by. I met some wonderful people and overall had a great time down there.

Happy to be back up in Derbyshire now, and focusing on the job/other life things that you put on hold during a PhD. The E-type will come one day, at least the pay is better now!

When I was very young my dream was to be a scientist with an open top sports car, years before the e type time.....now I am neither, a businessman with an FHC. Good luck in your quest

I'm a little late here, but congratulations! The amount of work that goes into that must be crazy. Only took me about six years to get my bachelor's

Thank you :) It has been a lot of effort and sacrifices along the way, my PhD supervisor was great and I didn't have to spend every waking moment in the lab, but there were quite a few long days!

Simon,

late but sincere congratulations on earning your PhD! We met shortly in 2016, in Bicester. I recall you being in to chemistry. Great achievement now! Working in pharmaceutical chemistry should allow for for a nice E-Type, sooner or later. All the best for your career! My middle son is working on his PhD in chemistry, (computational chemistry, whatever that is? )

Congratulations!

I believe it was 2016, here a few pics, all including your car:
(Was that opalescent golden sand Richard‘s - I think so? What a beautiful colour.

Hi Simon,

Yet another very tardy 'well done'.

I do know what it is like and the work and dedication that goes into achieving a PhD - I got mine way back in 1971!! (in Pharmacology).
Then went on to spend ~ 30yrs in the pharmaceutical industry in the same company in various roles, watching the company expand and expand.

Loved almost every year (apart from a short period with a cr*p boss).

Managed to get my E Type in mid '90s (using company share options!).

So, good luck.

Richard

As a PS, virtually none of my friends refer to me as 'Dr' not even on the Xmas card envelopes! -- the only ones that do are my family and previous work colleagues!!