The first week on the job was already very busy, which was great! I waited a very long time to start, so I’m glad I got to jump right in. Dr. Hayes (who I will probably mostly call John) has lots of ideas for what I will work on. We talked about many, and I’ve started thinking about which I will want to start with.

After completing all my paperwork on Monday, I spent most of the week pulling together the pieces of a proposal that he had been working on. It was a great opportunity to learn how to use my new Mac. I’m starting to get the hang of it and maybe even like it.

I also spent a lot of time meeting the students in the lab. They are a really amazing group.

There is another Alissa! She is busy at work right now with an NIH grant proposal and also planning her wedding, which is quickly approaching.

Then there is Catherine, who I met yesterday. Her main project is a nutrition project involving parents and children, but I will be helping her publish a paper on milkfat rejection levels.

Toral is working on the totally awesome project of a designing a microbicide that prevents HIV infection in women. She is doing both the formulation and acceptability, as she has a biomedical engineering background.

Erin is working on an astrigency project. Catherine Lee if you’re reading this, I said I could get her in touch with you. She was collecting saliva this week.

And Nadia will soon be Dr. Byrnes and appropriately studied irritation and burning.

Oh and the undergrads Liz, Ryan, Ryan, and Scott.

It’s been a fun week, but now on to more unpacking!