Hectic.

Its been quite a while since I've last updated. Or rather, its been a while since I've been able to update. These past few weeks (namely this current week) have been my most busiest weeks this year, let alone during my uni life (albeit, its been quite short).

The amount of assessment deadlines this week would be considered nothing short of madness, insanity, absurd even. My educated guess would be that most uni students would be in the same position I'm in right now with all the assessments and whatnot.

In other news, I've decided to apply for a Pharmacology Research Project next semester! After several emails back and forth with the Unit Coordinator, I found out quite a bit of information regarding the unit. The prerequisite for said project is a Distinction (≥70%) average in both first semester Pharmacology units (PHA3011 and PHA3021). Judging by my progress so far, its going smoooooothly, as one would put it. Albeit, my PHA3011 average dropped a fair bit after the results of the group assignment was released yesterday qq (although an average of 80% is still good). PHA3021 progress has been really good thus far, but in perspective, its not all that much considering we've only completed practicals (15%) and a mid-semester test (15%).

Having said that, the list of potential projects (and their respective supervisors) was posted up just recently. Of the listed projects, only two of them really stand out (to me, at least);

• Monash Venom Group; Details

• Drug Discovery Biology (maximum of 3 students); Details
  

I'm leaning towards Drug Discovery Biology as the field of research that's associated with it (G-protein coupled receptors; GPCRs) really appeals to me. Alas, they just recently moved their lab to Parkville so I might end up having to go to Parkville for one day, Clayton for the remainder of the week. Else, I'll just go with Venoms and Toxins (awesome stuff) and stay in Clayton.

The only disadvantages I could find with undertaking with said project are that;

1. 12 contact hours per week; 6 hour lab + 6 hours of self-direct learning (analysing data, reading scientific literature, preparing presentations, working on reports).
2. For a major unit like this (12 contact hours!), its only worth 6 credit points; the same amount of credit points to that of a normal unit :(

So I guess for the next few days, I'll be contacting relevant individuals to the aforementioned projects, filling a myriad of forms then hope I do reasonably well in the upcoming exams in order for me to get into the unit. If it all doesn't go according to plan, well, I rather not think about that.

NB: this post was updated from the placeholder inserted here a while back, hence the old posting date. This post has been published as at 27/05/09.