Postdoc Me Now - A "Don't Stop Me Now" Science Parody

We get it, grad school is hard. That's why we made a whole music video about it. When you get to the end of your PhD, it's time to say, "POSTDOC ME NOW!"
Find your perfect postdoc. Join us for the UCSD Neurosciences Graduate Program Social during SfN!
What: UCSD Neurosciences Graduate Program Social
Where: Parq Restaurant & Nightclub, 615 Broadway, San Diego 92101
When: Monday, November 5th, 2018
- 7:00 - 9:00 pm: Private event for UCSD Neuro Grad Program Faculty, Students, and Alumni
- 9:00 pm - 1:30 am: Open party for SfN attendees (no-host bar, conference badge required)
Hey Brainiacs! Thanks for watching this video. We hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of what it’s like to be a grad student near the end of your PhD.
Directed & produced by: Alie & Micah Caldwell
Written by: Kyle Fischer, Micah & Alie Caldwell
Filmed & edited by: Micah Caldwell
Choreography by: Alie & Micah Caldwell
Vocalists (in order of solo appearance):
Micah Caldwell
Meghan Rossi
Ethan McBride
Cindy Liu
Caroline Sferrazza
Tom Gillespie
Alie Caldwell
Cast (in order of appearance):
Marvin Thielk
Vy Vo
Daniela Cassataro
Jess Du
Susan Lubejko
Margot Wohl
Marley Rossa
Catie Profaci
Emily Baltz
Alie Caldwell
Maribel Patino
Kenny Kuhn
James Howe VI
Dr. Gentry Patrick
Megan Kirchgessner
Barbara Spencer
Dr. Christina Gremel
Meghan Rossi
Dr. Tim Gentner
Special thanks to:
The Daneman Lab (for letting us showcase their handprint wall)
Catie Profaci (for coming in on a Sunday and letting us all in)
Erin & Linh (for supporting our antics and planning the party)
Gentry, Tina, and Tim (for playing along)
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Reddit: / neuroyoutube
Website: www.neurotransmissions.science
Snapchat: neuroyoutube
See behind the scenes footage and other extras on Patreon: / posts
This episode is supported by our wonderful Patreon Producers:
Ryan M. Shaver
Carrie McKenzie
Corvi
Thanks you three! You're the smell of a fresh diploma after working on it for seven years.
And thanks to our other supportive Patrons, including:
DJ Brasier
Linda L Schubert
Susan Jones
Ktb
Marcel Ward
Ilsa Jerome
Noah McCann
Ayan Doss
Jareth Arnold
Neuro Transmissions is a channel on a mission to bring neuroscience to everyone. It's not rocket surgery, it's brain science! Subscribe for new brain videos every other Sunday!
Got a question for us to answer? Let us know in the comments - we’d love to explore more of your questions! Share, like, and subscribe for more videos to come! Over and out.
This video is a parody of the song "Don’t Stop Me Now” opb Queen and falls under fair use for the following reasons:
1. The purpose of the video is for nonprofit educational purposes.
2. The song is a parody and is transformative in nature - both with lyrics and intent. Minimal source material was used to indicate that the song is a parody and all lyrics have been changed.
3 It adds new meaning to the song that was not intended or covered in the source material. This song details the trials and tribulations of a graduate student in the sciences, particularly neuroscience.
4. The parody does not infringe on or compete with the source material due to its nature, audience, and message. Any reasonable individual would not confuse this parody with the source material.
All other content is original and/or owned by Neuro Transmissions.

[@upandatom]

This was amazing! But why are there so many great singers in your group?!

[@ziweizhang3933]

Hello, Miss Physics! 😄

[@tomhgillespie]

Because Freddie is a god. We needed every set of vocal chords we could get, unnumbered takes, and Micah working his magic to even come close.

[@neurotransmissions]

Scientists got talent ;)

[@buxeessingh9062]

Could you write one about fields that have such a glut of PhD's that we need multiple post docs before we can get tenure tracked?

[@fernandoreyes1]

When you procrastinate enough, you can even learn to sing and play an instrument before your results are up

[@DavesConceptShow]

When you procrastinate by watching this video.

[@ilya1421]

*when you procrastinates by making this video

[@ItumelengS]

Will leave the best reply later

[@neverworenowadore]

Yup I'm suppose to be writing my networking assignment lol

[@fouriermusic5237]

4 years later, some truths are universal experience

[@lost_boy_from_neverland3925]

Your comment made me go back to studying, thanks

[@ThyZAD]

"Can you stay here just another year maybe two" Brilliant!

[@ldbeastmode0689]

Imagine if you’re these people’s boss and you’re like “So what did you guys get done this week?” And they show you this with a smile

[@hanliewessels9769]

We had a postdoc who did that kind of thing. He'd go on vacation and then present photos of the beach in group meeting. And that was an official recruitment things. So maybe they were told to do it?

[@karmacuisine6959]

Is there someone else whos wondering how many good singers we have lost to sience?😂?

[@KevinMitchell1963]

No, but I’m wondering how many good scientists we’ve lost to music careers...

[@cedricgiraud2679]

@Karma Cuisine please tell me you're joking

[@amanduswestin9211]

Well, it's pretty ironic then that Brian May, the Guitarrist in Queens, the very band that wrote and preformed the original song, was in fact working on his PhD in astrophysics that he abandoned to be a musian full time. Well so I thought, but when I looked up the guy on Wikipedia it seems like he actually got a PhD in astrophysics as late as 2007!

[@136jab]

@@amanduswestin9211 Roger Taylor also studied to be a dentist but got bored and got a Master's in Biology, and I am pretty sure John Deacon is an Electrical Engineer. Queen is probably one of the most well educated bands in history.

[@AimeeColeman]

You'd be surprised how many of us were nearly musicians but settled into science.

[@waterunderthebridge7950]

“I’m gonna graduate before I die.” This song resonated with me on a spiritual level even though I’m not even a PhD student and education is free where I live

[@nomikabiotech8157]

Where do you live that education is free?!

[@danb400]

Nomika Biotech lol, like almost entirety of Europe 😂 And I’m sure other parts of the world have free (university) education too. (Its not actually free though ofc as we pay it with our taxes)

[@Chris-ci8vs]

@@nomikabiotech8157 most civilized nations. The USA is a shit hole.

[@jonathannash8471]

​@@danb400Cries in UK £18k per year

[@user-ib1sq4ns5w]

* Continental Europe + Argentina @@jonathannash8471

[@1986verity]

Original song was by a band consisted of vocal by BA in Graphic Design, guitarist by a PhD in Physics from Cambridge univ, drum by a BSc in Biology, bass by an A-level electrician from King’ College and an inventor. So this parody fits this.

[@worldsfunniestvideosandbes3684]

Huh, didn’t know that. 😮😱 I can’t unsee it now that I know that fact. 😂

[@reinerjung1613]

I don't see the parody. It is a sung documentary. ** Great job. Love it :-D

[@jaeminlee804]

Word

[@voiceforjusticeandproporti5543]

The truth hurts. Don't forget, no one wants you in industry if you don't get that postdoc.

[@marcelosilva2399]

Got to get that uber license heheh

[@Chris-ci8vs]

@@voiceforjusticeandproporti5543 if you are a postdoc it means you were scammed LOL!

[@Virtual_brain]

Ouch, I will start my PhD the next year... this was like the trailer (of a horror movie) haha

[@darkprince3007]

Its kinda like that. XD

[@laeeqahmed1980]

@@darkprince3007 It quite like that.

[@racoonzattack]

Good luck! 👍

[@rockrulz28]

It's only a 1000 times worse lol

[@crazyguyonearth]

Do your PhD, but please don't do a post doc! Trust me!!

[@notsuspicious3906]

This is a high-quality (and painfully sympathetic) music video. "I'll graduate before I die" Are you sure about that? -11/10

[@randomguy263]

Yeah, negative 11 out of 10 seems about right.

[@84naners]

Yeah and BEING in this video lool

[@sintwelve]

This spoke to me in the molecular level.

[@decimated550]

lol underrated comment!

[@Corporis]

This has me in Neurological Rhapsody.

[@KE-qu3ty]

13 dislikes died before they got their PhD.

[@kenyong1745]

Not everyone has a PhD........lol

[@horsey3892]

@V AL They simply couldn't be re-viva-ed... I'll show myself out. I like the fact that they are not speciesist - Dr Horseys - I have role models.

[@zimuzhou3698]

Scary. Why does KZbin recommend this video to me? How does it know everything.

[@elizabethterlinden3078]

I had the same reaction. Like Jesus KZbin, at least wait till I finish comps!

[@zimuzhou3698]

@@elizabethterlinden3078 Yeah when I saw this here I felt my adviser hacked my account

[@Liface]

To be fair, it recommended it to me and I have nothing to do with academia.

[@inmy30s]

cause' it's been here a long timmmee~

[@hmmwila]

Seriously this just happened to me and it's creepy!

[@elliothaugen4621]

I never thought a parody would make me cry! I'm so proud of everyone who goes through this hell!!!

[@AB_Archives]

"Procrastinating that's why I'm writing up my draft at night." That line hits so hard, it describes me so well

[@StephanieButtermore]

Too good 😂 And all the best wishes from a fellow PhD who is a full time KZbinr now 🙃

[@TheOnion619]

What on earth happened?

[@leseten01]

@@TheOnion619She saw what post docs are like

[@ifurlet]

And what happened now?

[@acapellascience]

WOW.

[@kostantinos2297]

Your turn, surprise us!

[@mozkitolife5437]

What do you mean, surprise us? Tim is a god. His very presence here is an honor alone.

[@danielc2310]

acapellascience Thank you for sending us here!!!!! :)

[@onyeomanwosu7381]

Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen has a PhD in Astrophysics so this parody is even more fitting.

[@amanduswestin9211]

I thought the guy had abandoned his career in astrophysics to work full time with the band. Well so I thought until I looked up the guy on Wikipedia because of this video, and it seems like he finally got a PhD in astrophysics as late as 2007!

[@quahntasy]

I am literally procrastinating by watching this video three times. And how do you have so many singers in PhD group? Hell I can't even voice over properly.

[@jkcarroll]

Forget great singers. How did you get so many hot science ba... ... er ... females in your program? Where where they when *I* was in grad school?

[@tirionfordring5580]

Jim Carroll u know, in biology, chemistry 60-70% are women, so chances are pretty high

[@Incamaru20]

As someone currently applying for Postdocs right now, I feel personally attacked and understood.

[@neurotransmissions]

That sounds like a good balance. 😂

[@Chris-ci8vs]

Do not do a postdoc; it is a scam!

[@suzbone]

1:57 I'm merely an admin who works with postdocs and "Can you stay here just another year maybe two" made me screeeeeeaaaaaaammmmmm! Mad props to all you PhD students out there!

[@StrongMed]

What?!? How did it take me over a year to come across this? It was awesome!

[@neurotransmissions]

Haha, so happy you found it!

[@OfisLab]

as a 5th year PhD student it is not possible to not like this

[@KhAnubis]

Neuro Transmissions doesn't always make music videos, but when they do, it's amazing.

[@makcats2842]

KhAnubis What are YOU doing here?

[@gabrielaonate7692]

The amount of broken biosecurity rules in this video ARE HITTING HARD

[@chloemoorhead9863]

I’ll come back in 3 years and give my full reaction as a phd student. Oh god.

[@CA-nf2po]

Chloe Moorhead I wanna see that (well, read in this case) good luck!

[@ivetterodriguez1994]

Meanwhile I'm just trying to get through my first semester of freshman year. I'll get that Bachelors's some day.

[@drsalka]

Two years to go - hows it goin?:)

[@zaeemahsan228]

One more year to go.

[@pedrosampaio7349]

It's been a while, hasn't it?

[@Thesoulofrock]

Submitted 100+ postdoc applications, got 2 interviews and no offers, may be I should make a new round of applications with the link to your video as the cover letter, lol.

[@cangungor4206]

I was just thinking the same :)

[@CathyZhang]

OMG I am worried

[@appa609]

:(

[@voiceforjusticeandproporti5543]

Not enough demand. You're nit going to have much luck in industry either. Quit the online applications and just talk directly to the people hiring by calling, linkedining, emailing etc. Believe me, i've been given the excuse of being overqualified for research position (not only industry jobs). Its all just tailored jobs to someone the supervisor knows and likes. The online posting is just to fulfill regulatory requirements.

[@eugenielegrand8590]

Hello from the humanities side !T This video was awesome. I am about to watch it for the third time. Nice to see we share the same problems and jokes ! A PhD student in history.

[@Absolute035]

Masterfully crafted! I defended my thesis @ UCSD exactly 1.5 years ago and nothing has made me more proud than seeing this video haha. I kept wondering where this was filmed and then I saw UCSD I was so excited.

[@deborahfranza2925]

I feel like this is how Universities should advertise their schools to transfers and graduate students

[@MikeSpaa]

One year on and still not a milion views. How is that possible!? It's Briliant.

[@AlexDainisPhD]

I have now watched this 3 times. It is amazing.

[@AbhiroopTito]

As a person who's about start his PhD this sure is motivating. I wish my lab mates will be this fun.

[@areensen1473]

They wont be

[@AbhiroopTito]

@@areensen1473 haha, i bet.

[@elizabethterlinden3078]

They won't be most of the time. But occasionally you'll have a blast together if you pick right :) definitely consider how much you enjoy spending time with other students/postdocs when choosing a lab. People talk a lot about fit between you and your advisor, but this is also quite important. You'll be spending a lot of time together, make sure you can at least tolerate each other.

[@AbhiroopTito]

@@elizabethterlinden3078 Moving out of my State, so there will be a slight cultural difference, but hopefully things will fall in place.

[@minhtrungle9117]

It's all fun and games until the occupational health and safety officer walks in seeing not a single one of you had safety glasses on.

[@syoudipta]

As a current post-doc, I could take up to "post-doc me now", but "cause I've been here a long time" just broke me. 😂😂

[@ScopeofScience]

Wow. That was incredible. Like, really, really good.

[@neurotransmissions]

Thanks Kurtis!!! We're excited to see your series as it comes out!

[@WryAun]

Very impressive! This must've been a great way to avoid what you were all meant to be doing! I'm dazzled by how well you choreographed so many tired academics!

[@rmy2202]

Wow!! I'm writing the final draft of my PhD and this video is completely relatable... P.S. post doc me now coz. I hv been here for a long time now.... Hilarious!!! Loved it

[@kurtlangberg6143]

RIMPY CHOWHAN Oh, don’t call it your final draft. Call it “version #x”. I learned that the hard way. You never know when more edits will be asked for. You never know.

[@seyeruoynepotsuj]

I was offered a post-doc position yesterday and this pops up on my feed today. Timely!!

[@peterb4891]

Such an amazing video. Congrats and good luck with those post docs!

[@BaldingClamydia]

I just woke up and found this in my feed. I love it! Thank you for making it!

[@edithpoulin4797]

I have so much admiration for each and every one of you !! You've got this !!

[@JamCampus]

Wow. Absolutely incredible music video! Keep up the great work, Alie and Micah.

[@cordeliacarstairs2796]

God why are these kind of videos so incredibly entertaining and why are they all so talented

[@adamjezierski1391]

I am thinking about starting my PhD studies this fall. When weighting out pros and cons, you guys are tipping the balance in favour of it. Great work :D

[@Ronaldcbl1]

The best thing I've ever seen in months! It's inspiring.

[@xinranzhang9345]

The whole time I was watching this, I thought "why does this campus look so familiar..." then I realized! It’s my school!! 😂

[@derricklam5674]

Xinran Zhang me2 go tritons!

[@duchikatan9320]

Thank you for making this!!! In grad school now, this video made me laugh and smile for first time in a long time! Thank you guys! Great work!

[@altos5069]

I love every second of this!!! This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for making this! I am absolutely going to blast this in the lab at 11 every night (right alongside Jekyll & Hyde).

[@docd357]

Heh. STEM PhD here from 2010. This is straight brilliant. Best of luck to all.

[@paulveres305]

This needs more views. Witty, funny, and great production.

[@AtheniXify]

This was the best thing I've seen this this week. Love it!!

[@LaraTarantini]

I was grading and decided to take a break and bumped into this. Thank you so much, you made my day (and night, since I’ll be up late finishing grading) ❤️

[@jgig1329]

This is the first time I’ve seen this channel and this might be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. Everyone who made this is amazing

[@musicbeachdance]

This is phenomenal I’m a pre-MED but totally can relate. Love this!

[@kedvesendre-zsolt7842]

There is hope. I've found three Dr. among the cast.

[@bilgekvrak1771]

remarkable

[@merryprawn]

Discovered this a few days ago and now it's playing in my head first thing every morning... So addictive!

[@chillytastepotato]

u guys just updated my list of breathtaking film

[@user-ry2bc4pl4l]

The quality of this video looks so professional!

[@sarahrtseidel]

OMG! I'm keep watching over and over again!

[@janisvogt3041]

I normally hate queen covers. But this is a masterpiece. Awesome job. Thanks for this

[@thylatrash7668]

funny lyrics and just the musical side with the singing and the nice sound was fricking superb, what a great video

[@kasasaiprem7]

I really love this crazy mix with Postgraduates .Thanks for this video.

[@wienzard36]

how's this not getting at least 1 mil views? the cover is good, killer editing too! i'm glad i found this albeit 2 years late..

[@thiagodch]

This is what I am going through now! Awesome video! "Post doc me now !" Great singers too!

[@YesiPleb]

Absolutely love this. Stumbled on it completely by accident, well done to all, brilliant!

[@MrPdxcfi]

Oh man, you guys rocked this. Just watch the original Queen and you guys nailed it!! Also I am working on a masters for what its worth I found it funny as I want to be done.

[@bbnCRLB]

My PhD supervisor made me work on four different but sightly related topics. He even proposed staying an extra year so we could do more work together. I would have emailed him the link to this song if I had watched it before then. Just "post doc me now, Prof W".

[@adrianomarramirez]

So adorable. Pure magic. Thank you!

[@youkonatsumi1566]

My friend have recently sent me this. When I saw what is this, I didn't regret. This is one of most enjoyable video I have ever watched! Brilliant for my soal! Good luck, guys!🤩 You're so talented!

[@OlorinEa]

Which is why I went to industry R&D after my PhD 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 long live the evil industry 😇

[@Kashinaii]

Can't wait to see you in 15 years for the new video about having a position after 7 post docs !!! x)

[@adamz7038]

Guys, you're amazing! I've got addicted to it!

[@carlamarie9527]

This video deserves more views! Love it

[@TennisFedable]

So awesome! You guys are amazing!

[@Tekker2234]

Im an undergrad who's currently stuck in the middle of finals hell. Ive been super anxious these last few weeks and this song is exactly what I needed right now to calm down and have a laugh. Thank you so much for making this.

[@TheBiologistApprentice]

Great work!! This is awesome, a bunch of talented people :)

[@OsservatorioPsichedelico]

No words! Just clapping! You have almost made me cry! :D

[@Lfppfs]

Awesome video! Congratulations for the effort put in it!

[@o_persoyggg2884]

Amazingly brilliant. The music, the words, the dancing, the shooting. PhD anthem, indeed!!!! Wondering how many hours went in the making, though :-)

[@laeeqahmed1980]

I defended mine today and got this in my recommendations.

[@choccomonde]

Hahaha congrats Ahmed ! You did it !!

[@gabrielle287]

The best parody I've ever heard... Y'all sure you're not music majors?

[@sgsmath-ck3667]

So good, you guys! Good singing and your lyrics cleverly play off of the original song!

[@locomike1219]

Amazing when it came out, but thought I'd finally comment. My last year of grad school?? Holy shit, thank you for giving me something I can show my family and have it explain to them what I went through. After all, you can only explain to your parents when you're going to graduate so many times...also UC Riverside represent!!

[@DomBurgess]

THIS IS SOOOOO GOOD!

[@entomologista]

Well done! I don't really miss grad school and am gladly saying "good bye" to postdocs. "I'm gonna graduate before I die" is my fav part hahaha Hope you guys get a nice PI to postdoc you now.

[@dna2087]

Woooow totally amazing in every aspects!!

[@dharmareyes]

I love you guys!

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

Ha! As a long term, but ex PhD student I empathize! Gonna start my first post doc in a different lab soon.

[@ljj8120]

Excellent! Made me feel your pain, even though I can’t relate to the field, but now I do. Thanks for the window into your field and struggles to get a phd.

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thanks, I needed this

[@glaurent06]

Absolutely awesome 😄 congratulations to all involved.

[@alfredorichardohaurissa801]

Why this not go viral yet?? Epic!!

[@i2harry]

“Oh, a post doc song! Wait...this lobby looks familiar...”

Wow! Awesome! Yeah! Posdoc me now! Thank you so much. Greetings from Popayan, Colombia.

[@albertooo16]

GEEEEEEEE Amazing!! ^^ Hugs of a PhD from Brazil!

[@AdolfoJordan]

Creo que hacía mucho de veras que no me reía tanto! Estupendo el vídeo! Genial! Y encima, cantáis de maravilla. Gracias! Sois la pera! ps: Suscribo todas y cada una de las impresiones declaradas en vuestro cover. Me siento igual!

[@daisyranihazarika7721]

Thoroughly enjoyed!! Cool you guys!

[@markom2928]

This is so amazing! Love it! U guys r great! Tumbs up from me! All three 😁 And there is definitely something about molecular biology/biochemistry and music, there were so many really good vocals during my studies