Note 87

Okay, so currently I think I won't be pursuing a joint MD PhD degree. I think the simple answer as to why is because I think what I want to work on may not have clinical applications. And if I choose the joint option then the two NEED to be tied together, even if the work I do prior to starting the program isn't. I'm definitely interested in computational biology and working with proteins. I think there's currently and always will be a lot of promise there, and it was something I had a very, very small taste of in high school.

Now quite frankly, I have NO experience doing this kind of work at even an undergraduate level. So who knows if I'll even enjoy it. But it SOUNDS REALLY FUCKING FUN. Like, I think it's really interesting to be able to develop machine learning methods for a purpose, while also having that purpose be for something that is a straight up net positive on society. Or at least, you would hope it is. Because the alternative would be to focus on alignment. Which, don't get me wrong, is still interesting. I just don't know if that's something I want to be pursuing anymore. Maybe in the future!

As it stands, I don't really know what the computational biology w.r.t. protein field looks like at the moment. I think it would be worth it to use AI for a quick literature review on the current state of the field just to understand where things are going. I suppose it would also be useful to know how I could get involved in said field at my current university.

It's a bit odd, I don't think I've felt this motivated in a bit. But also I feel like I should pare back? I'm not completely sold on the idea yet, but having a new route to explore is cool. Granted I always think having a new route to explore is cool, picking one and sticking to it is the hard part.