With the start of RSI getting closer, I’ve been spending the past few weeks preparing — both academically and logistically. There’s more to get ready for than I expected, and the process has been equal parts exciting and overwhelming.

One area I’ve been focusing on is computer science. While I’ve had some exposure to coding in school, I realized early on that my knowledge was limited compared to what some other participants might bring. Since many research projects involve data analysis or programming in some form, I’ve started working through an online course in Python. It’s a bit of a crash course, but it’s helping me build some confidence and familiarity with tools I might need once I’m in the lab.

Outside of academics, there’s also a surprising amount of paperwork involved — forms, consent documents, visa-related steps, housing preferences, and health information. It’s manageable, but it does take time and attention.

Another unexpected detail: everyone has been asked to read The Great Gatsby in advance of the program. I assume it will be discussed during the orientation week — probably as a way to create a shared starting point for conversations that go beyond science. I’m hoping it’ll make it easier to connect with people early on, especially since most of us won’t have met before.

And finally, I now know which research project I’ll be working on during RSI — but I’ll keep that for the next post. I’m looking forward to sharing more once I’ve had time to read through the material and get a better sense of what the project will involve.

More soon,

Aliocha Faurisson