Dr. Crystal K. Waters

Hello folks! It has been months since I’ve blogged and I have been asked by many readers, “When are you going to post a blog again?” Well readers, here I am! Since my last blog post in April, a lot has happened. I’m sure the same for you. Most of us have been directly impacted in some way or another by COVID-19. I had all hopes that while I was quarantined at home all spring I would be able to blog every single day. My expectations were too high. Hahah! From April – May, I completed my fourth year in the PhD chemistry program at Virginia Tech, research was impacted by the ongoing pandemic, and I started building a more prominent professional network while making the transition to working from home.

I’ll admit, Blacksburg has been a wonderful location to live during a pandemic. As Spring Break came to an end (back in March), Virginia Tech extended spring break for one week to determine how the remainder of the semester would be impacted by COVID-19 cases rising globally. All of the classes were moved to virtual instruction and it was a chore. Spring 2020 I was enrolled in Chemical Kinetics (my last grad school course) and believe me when I say the online switch was quite a change. Not to mention, as a Graduate Teaching Assistant I had to assist the professor I was working with in recording Analytical Lab experiments to post online for the students to complete the semester remotely. By April 2020, all research on campus was suspended and I was unable to go to the lab due to COVID-19.

As a graduate student in chemistry, this time away was difficult. Research came to a full STOP until early June when essential research was allowed for short period of time during the day. As I am entering the latter stages of my doctorate, any time away is not good. I’m trying to wrap up publications and get new discoveries published so that I can be as competitive as possible when applying for full-time researcher positions in the coming months. Thankfully, my advisor coached me (and my labmates) into utilizing our time away from the lab constructively towards building a professional network and improving our writing skills for dissertating and publishing research.

I spent some time converting this blog, and my other social media accounts into professional pages. I still have more work to do, but I’m headed in the right direction. I’ve made awesome connections during this time because everyone was stuck behind their computer screens and electronic devices answering emails and navigating Zoom conferences. I’ve spent a lot of my time reading and writing and working on finalizing my projects before I head towards petitioning to graduate to my doctoral committee.

For those of you that follow me on X, I’m sure you saw the hype of MC Hammer retweeting me! Back in mid-August, #BlackinChem Week highlights Black students and professionals in chemistry. I participated because it gave me a platform to connect with others and gain visibility. I can’t believe that I’m at the point where I’m almost finished with school and coursework and am moving toward finding a career in chemistry as an expert. It’s still a bit strange to think of myself as that expert because I still see the obstacles I have yet to clear. I have two more seminars to present: one for the VT Chemistry Department and another at a professional conference. After that, I will be ABD – All But Dissertation! It’s a rewarding feeling after all of the hard work I’ve put into my academic career since graduating Hunt High School in 2010. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m finally at Year 5! The pandemic procedures are still in full effect and the number of students here at VT with the virus has now risen to over 700 in the few weeks we have been back on campus. I’m thankful that I have not had contact with any infected person and have been able to resume lab work. I still have ongoing concerns surrounding undergraduate students having large gatherings without appropriate protective gear (ie. MASKS); nevertheless, the university has suspended some students for violating this rule to enforce the usage of face coverings to protect the community.

In my next blog post, I’ll share some of my recent accomplishments – don’t want this post to get too long. How have you been staying motivated for work while mostly at home? Have you returned to your normal routines? I would love to hear from each of you. Leave a comment saying hello and connect with me on my other social media platforms!

Until next time…

Check out other blogs about my PhD experiences!