# Chateau de la Tobler

## Friday, October 07, 2005

### Knock, knock, knock

G'Day family,
Let me tell you of an opportunity that just knocked on my door this week. It all started about 2 weeks ago at a free dinner to the new graduate student in the physics department. Faculty were invited to this dinner to meet the new grad students. I went, of course, for the food. I was not expecting anything because I am already doing research this semester with several subatomic professors. I met several people and ate some good food. Then I went home to talk to my wife. (She was still in Vegas at this time.)
Then it happened. Last week on Thursday, I recieved an email from one of the professors I met at the free dinner event. He expressed that he was looking for a new grad student to join his group and was interested in me. He informed me to go talk to him during the next few days. This particular Thursday was the same day I took my first test and was traveling to Vegas to spend time with my family. I went to his office and arranged to meet with him the Tuesday after my return.
Then came Tuesday, this being a few days ago. I met with him and we talked about the research he was working on. As a minor note, he is working on Silicon nanowires, or REALLY small wires. We even went to his lab and took a little look around. During the discussion he mentioned that there was a possibility of becoming a research assistent starting as early as next semester. He made it clear that this was not an offer but could turn into one. I said great and I would love to do a little here and there to become more familiar with his research.
Then yesterday, Thursday, came. I was checking my email right before going home and I found another email from this professor. He made the official offer the do research starting next semester. This means I will not be required to TA for physics classes to get paid. I went and talked to him today to confirm the offer and say that I was interested in the offer. This offer will be treated as a trial run with nothing long lasting beyond the semester. If it does turn into the research that I will do my discertation on then great.
Useful things that I was not aware of that will come with this offer. This professor has great connections with IBM research and at a national lab. If this does turn into the research I will do then these could become future jobs.
Needless to say, Caren and I are happy and excited about this. I just wanted to share this news with those in my family.

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