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Grad School is Just Chess with Pipettes

Grad School is Just Chess with Pipettes

Lessons learned from 10,642 chess games that also applied to my PhD

February 5, 2026 | Abby M.

In grad school, I learned how to play chess—and got addicted to it. At first, it was just a fun distraction from experiments and papers, but over time I realized that many of the lessons I was learning over the board applied just as much to my PhD. Strategy, patience, resilience—the same principles that helped […]

A scientist’s guide to French macarons

A scientist’s guide to French macarons

What baking things that I don't actually like eating taught me about the purpose of my PhD

November 27, 2024 | Abby M.

I do not consider myself a baker. I couldn’t tell you the difference between baking soda and baking powder. Do I know the basic ingredients that go into a cake or chocolate chip cookie? No. But do I have a big sweet tooth? Also no. For some inexplicable reason, though, I have become obsessed with […]