Congratulations, Dr. Aleksandrovic for defending her thesis today! A Ph.D. is never really about a single topic — metastasis, interferon, or disseminated tumor cells. It is about learning a way of thinking: a philosophical way of reasoning about the world through the lens of one's thesis. The life of pursuing Ph.D. can feel like a grind, but it is exactly the grind that turns a rough dull-looking stone into a shining diamond.
Genuine exploration guarantees various emotions: anxious, lost, and uncertain — the explorer's path is never tidy. It takes courage to keep marching forward, courage to trust what you actually observe, and courage to accept findings that are imperfect but truly novel rather than assembling a “perfect” story for the publishing sake. Emma, an exciting journey lies ahead. Embrace it — we will always have your back.
