Category: History

Uniting “simulants” over pizza

This semester I am co-organising a seminar on computer simulations (3 ECTS, LOTI.05.076). One of the aim is to gather and unite researchers from different institutes. Our common topic is using computers in research, so we are “simulants”, i.e. simulating reality via calculations. Some of core organisers are pictured in the centre, from left to right: Taavi Repän, Tauno Tiirats, Veronika Zadin, and Juhan Matthias Kahk.

My first talk was about running simulations on HPC, e.g. using apptainers. Probably because of free pizza there were two–three dozen of participants from institutes of Chemistry, Physics, and Technology, which is a surprisingly high number for the university of Tartu. It is a great start and I am looking forward to contribute more into strengthening collaboration between the institutes.

Faculty interview

Recently I have been preparing for an interview for a faculty position. As usual I watched a lot of videos, read some tutorials, chatted with GPT, and talked to people (to whom I am very grateful).

The most insightful video turned out to be by Wenhao Sun UM. See below. It is about having a solid research vision!

Besides I would highly recommend a youtube channel “Life in academia” of a very positive prof. Matthias Rillig.

P.S. Despite preparation, I have not anticipated even a single question.

Some pictures on preparing my MSCA proposal

While preparing the final report on the past MSCA project, I found some memorable pictures. Here me, my wife and nephew are building a LEGO illustration for the project proposal. Yes, we had some fun while I was thinking about the concept.

The results looks pretty.

Still, as the concept illustration, I draw this figure. Today, I have reused it for the report illustration.

Mascot again

A long time ago a student told me that I am a mascot of the chemistry olympiad. Since then I have graduated, made a post-doc, and after that returned to the olympiad business. It is very touching that the Estonian team named its mascot “Vlad”. Apparently, I am a mascot again.

Mascot Vlad and Hanna-Riia.