New year, new journey -- How do you decide your career choices? Let's go to Europe :D

I planned to write something since Thanksgiving but I was too lazy. Then a lot of things happened in December. I was dealing with job hunting and interviews. I got a few offers in the end, but making the decision was not easy. Then Christmas and new year came. I got a chance to enjoy the holidays by traveling with my friends, and to mull over about my career choice. The final decision was made on the new year eve (a deadline of one of the offers). I now know where I will be going. The moving will start soon. Let's hope it is going to be as exciting as I imagined. Another journey of my life has just begun.

I will write things in order as a memoir to remind myself about it.

I defended my dissertation on Friday 10/30/2015. During the time, I had applied to a few places both domestically and internationally. Most of them were postdoc positions. I was not sure if in the end I want to stay in academia or try going to industry, but I believed that doing a few years of postdoc will be good for me. Since I just came out as a freshly grad PhD, doing a postdoc is a great chance to hone my skills, to learn new interesting science, and to work as an actual scientist. These will teach me to become a better scientist, to take on, to plan, and to execute challenging projects. The 'projects' are important. Working on a project that you feel excited about and feel that it can make your career is a crucial factor. Other important factors are the location, mentor, opportunity to collaborate and to make connections. These things have to be taken into account. Moreover if you have a family, then you have more things to think about. For better or worse, I do not have to concern about that.

Even after I had my mind to focus on postdoc positions, they were not easy to find. I contacted about ten (maybe more) research groups that I was interested. Most of them did not have funding for a postdoc at the moment. Fortunately, I got to interview with a few groups, got good responses, and waited for the results. Then they came, I got some offers. As usual they have different pros and cons. It was not easy to make a decision. After spending time on the internet reading about these places, looking into research directions, and several other aspects. I needed some time to let my thoughts settle. I had to do it quick because one of the offers had its deadline closing in.

Then it's time for me to go on a trip with my friends. We made a road trip from Florida to Michigan (then to Chicago, IL where we flew back). The offers I was considering were from cold places. The trip was perfect for me to feel the weather after spending my whole life in warm climate (Thailand and Florida). It was not too bad. I learned enjoyable activities in cold weather. Some of them are snowboarding and watching snow fall. During this time, I made my decision to join a group at Chalmers in Sweden. Moving is going to be a hassle. It is not easy to leave from a place where you already established your life to a totally new environment. It took me quite a while to feel like I live comfortably in the US after I had moved here. Now I will have to repeat the same process. However, the project is very exciting to me. The project, the research team, and the place are all great. I decided that it is worth the hassle and it is going to be very fun. Moreover I believe that I have grown quite a bit in the past years, not just as a scientist but as a person. I have learned to manage and to take care of myself, physically, mentally, financially, and socially. Moving to a new place is a good opportunity to test that. If you have a chance, I think you should try it too. You will learn more about yourself than you have thought.

So this year is going to be another exciting year. I will start my new career as a scientist in a new country, a new continent even. Let's hope for the best and make it a great experience. Sweden, here I come! (just wait a bit, I still have to prepare my documents)

A exciting journey is about to begin -- image edited from Google Maps

Reaching a milestone -- what I have learned, and then what?

A few days ago (on Friday 10/30/2015), I gave an oral presentation as part of my dissertation defense. It went well. Thanks to my advisor and a lot of people who helped me out.
Besides it looks like my graduation is really going to happen, nothing changes. I am still searching for a job and thinking what do I do with my life after.

It is a good thing that at finally got to defend my work after over a 5-year period of graduate research. Looking back when I first started, I have grown quite a bit.
A lot of people doing graduate research would say, your advisor(s) plays the most crucial role in your development. I strongly agree with this statement.
I am very fortunate to have an advisor that really enjoys and very enthusiastic about science. Not only to get results, but to understand what lies beneath the surface. Another lucky thing for me is that this trait is contagious and it is unavoidable that I got infected after working with him for five years.
Under his guidance, I learned to think more like a scientist.

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Besides science, I also noticed changes in other aspects of my life.

Have been living far from home for several years, I became less attached to my home country. I never forget where I came from and my background. Those are things that made me who I am today and I am thankful. Nevertheless being more individualistic makes me see things with less biases.

I also became more open in term of career paths. It was quite a long time that I had wanted to become a professor who leads a research group conducting exciting scientist projects. During my time in grad school, I learned that there are lots of other jobs that allow you to do exciting science and doing a PhD does not mean you will stay in academia. The world out there is a lot bigger than I thought.

I learned to be more aware about my health and diet. Because of my unfamiliarity with the health care system in the US, I was afraid to go see a doctor or a dentist in the first few years of my study. As a result, I have gotten a minor but chronic health issue. Nothing serious but it made me to realized that it is very important to take care of your health. These days I watch what I eat (still eat unhealthy things from time to time but a lot less) and exercise regularly.

There are a few other things but these three are probably the most distinguishable aspects.

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Now is what will happen, or what do I want to do after this.

Honestly speaking I am not quite sure. I enjoy doing academic research but I also want to catch a glimpse of what people are doing in industry. I also have a hidden desire to eventually start something of my own if I find something I am passionate about and see an opportunity. That's a long shot though and I will not think much about it at the moment. It looks like I am willing to take any exciting opportunity that comes first and try to gain as much experience as I can. Then I will reevaluate things after a few years.

Given that I am on a track of finding myself, that's probably not a bad option. We will see.
The road is still far but at least I reached another milestone.

Roman milestone XXIX on Via Romana XVIII – the road linking the Iberian cities of Bracara Augusta and Asturica Augusta: from Wikipedia

Get to know yourself - try checking your personality type

Have you ever wonder why people think or behave in certain ways?

Some of them you might like. Some of them, not so much.

The ways people act can be explained (although not entirely) by their personality type.

One of the most popular method to find a person's personality type is by using Myers–Briggs Type Indicator.
Origins, historical development, and in-depth explanations of the model can be found in Wikipedia. 

Shortly, this model classifies people personalities into 16 types using four indicators.
1) Social attitudes: Extroverted (E) vs. Introverted (I)
2) Perceiving functions: Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
3) Judging functions: Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
4) Lifestyle preferences: Judging (J) vs. Perception (P)

A chart with descriptions of each Myers–Briggs personality type and the four dichotomies central to the theory - from wikipedia

People with different personalities perceive the world around them differently, process information in their own ways, and reflex back to outer world.
The chart above describes characteristic traits of each personality type.
If you want to know your personality type, you can look for one of several free personality tests on the internet using your favorite search engine.

Of course, the 16 personality types are only the extreme cases generated using four indicators and dividing the entire human population into only 16 categories seems to be very crude.
Naturally, a person will have an attitude, perceiving functions, judging functions, and lifestyle preferences in between the two extreme cases of each indicator.
However, this classification already gives you some ideas about you and others.

Let's look at an example of myself.

I have an INTJ personality type which basically means I am an introvert, rationally thinking, result-oriented person who likes to make plans for everything.
The first time I read an online description about people with this personality type, I cannot help but agreed that a lot of things they say really described me.
I value rational thinking and solid reasoning based on facts. I like to have things organized and like things to go as I plan.
When looking back to my younger self, I have been like this since I was a little boy.

Does that mean your personality is something permanent?
---- No! Definitely not! ----

Although it might take a long time and external factors to change you personality type. I do believe that it is absolutely possible.
As solid as it sounds, that's not the point I am trying to say.
The most important thing of growing up (personality-wise speaking) is not to change your personality, but to mature other aspects in the personality checklist.

As mentioned earlier, the 16 cases are only the extremes.
By maturing other aspects means you develop senses on the other end of the four indicators and become more well-rounded or at least understand people with different personality types.

What will be the benefits of maturing others aspects in the personality checklist?

Let me share my story again.

When looking back closely, I was a more extreme INTJ person when I was younger.
I remember times that I said things to my friends without thinking how they would feel. Although the things I said were true, I ended up hurting their feelings.
I was more judging and thought people who live their lives in certain ways are stupid.
---- Now I know I was the stupid one.

As I grow older, I have learned to be more considerate about other people's feeling, to understand there are countless ways to live a happy life, to be more open to new things, and to balance my life.
Basically I learned to think the ways people with different personality types do, or at least to understand them.

So, here is my answer to the question regarding the benefits of maturing your personality.
You will become a happier person, see the world in different perspectives, and find it a richer and more interesting place than it had been. 

In summary, knowing your personality type is a way to get to know yourself.
It's undeniable that your personality type can tell a lot about you, but do not let it define you.
Getting to know yourself is only the first step.
More importantly, you can use the information to look into yourself and learn about others.
To know when to use your dominant traits and when to use their counterparts.

Most importantly, to live a happy, fruitful, and rewarding life.

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I definitely sound like an INTJ writing this post, but I guess that's not a bad thing :)

Growing old healthily - start exercise as soon as you can, and do not stop

Have you ever wondered how old people in your sport club are so good?

If so, you might also have these kind of thoughts crossed your mind:
-- "He is thirty years older than me and can beats me to pulp."
-- "I wish I can be as strong as that guy when I am older."
-- "He has been at it for hours. How can he do that? I'm already out of my breath."

Do you want to know how do they do that?
I think I have an idea. Try reading my story.

An example drawing of a muscular old man,
Senzaemon Nakiri from a Japanese cooking manga - Shokugeki no Soma
(I do not own any rights to the image, just use it for demonstration purposes only) 

I am quite an active person exercising 4-5 or sometimes 6 days a week doing things like badminton, swimming, body workouts, and occasionally running.
Since I started my active lifestyle, I have met two amazing old dudes (sorry for calling other people 'old' but I have no bad intention and I think it's easy to understand).
One is an incredible badminton player, another is a phenomenal swimmer. Both of them are ~30 years older than me.

Putting their ages aside, they are so much better in the sport than me.
Of course they have been doing what they are doing long before me and have advantages in term of experience but it is not only that to make them great.
They are both physically and mentally very healthy. That is the thing that makes me admire them and wish I can be as healthy as they are when I get older.

Thinking of how can I achieve that, here are what I got from getting to know them.

They started doing their sport since they were much younger and, this is the most important part, they don't stop. Both of them are very disciplined, coming to exercise very regularly. I hardly see them absent unless they have something really important
-- That's the physically healthy part.

In addition to that, they also enjoy talking and teaching any newbies they see might need help. They make friends and share their experiences.
-- That's what keeps their mental health in check.

Seeing these two men inspire me to live a happy and healthy life as they do.

We all can't stop growing older, but we can choose how we will get older.

From what I have seen, if you do it right you can even be physically stronger than you are today when you are old.

So what are you waiting for?
Start today.
It doesn't have to be a physically demanded sport or activity.
Find something you enjoy and keep doing it.
Push yourself little by little. Make friends. And stay healthy.
Let's grow old healthily together.

Blog writing - a step to becoming a good storyteller

Recently, I have been reading an interesting book 'Finding Success in Failure: True Confessions From 10 Years of Startup Mistakes' by Lucas Carlson. I will talk about the book in some other time as I find it very charming and I like it quite a lot.

Anyway, one of the topics in the book is the importance of becoming a good storyteller. Although the book focuses on business startup founders, it establishes a perception that becoming a good storyteller will be beneficial to anyone who has mastered the art of storytelling.

Storytelling has been around for a long long time and have been presented in many many forms. Words, sounds, images, touches, or a combination of these could be presented as the medium to convey a story from one person to others. It is a way people communicate and transfer information. Realizing it or not, we are all storytellers and we tell stories in our daily lives. The question is, are you a good storyteller?

from wikipedia:
The Boyhood of Raleigh by Sir John Everett Millais, oil on canvas, 1870. A seafarer tells the young Sir Walter Raleigh and his brother the story of what happened out at sea

Answering 'yes' or 'no' can gauge how successful you can become in life (although successful is subjective, I think you know what I mean).

Great storytellers can sweep people off their feet, successfully negotiate business deals, inspire people to do great things, give them hope, tell them not to give up on their dreams, and many more.

By now, I think you agree that mastering storytelling is something you should do. And unless you are a natural born genius, the only way you can master any skill is to practice. Practice hard.

There are many ways you can practice your storytelling skill and one of them is writing a blog. That's the reason I started this post.

I actually have no idea yet of what I am going to write about after this first entry, but I hope from now and then I will come up with something to share.

A simple game written in javascript - destroying the boxes

I learned a bit of html/css/javascript and wrote this simple game. Good for passing time.

Let's find out how fast you can click on the boxes!

Your reaction time will be shown here.

Your Statistics

0 < t <= 0.5 sec	0.5 < t <= 0.8 sec	0.8 < t < 1.5 sec	t > 1.5 sec
0	0	0	0