Hi Patseya - I have Brubaker and Cooper. I have PM'd you a link.

Hi Athena - I have PM'd you with a link.

P.

No luck here, sorry! Might it be worth emailing the author? (http://prc.dartmouth.edu/bond/)

P.

Hi Shiva
Not sure what the background to this is but based on what you say and a few friends' experiences I would say that the interview is another step in the appointment process. Someone will be offered a position, based on the outcomes of the interviews. With any luck it will be you! You clearly have a chance otherwise they would not bother with the interview, so don't worry about the GPA - they must see promise in your experience/proposal. If you are applying for a PhD, yes - be prepared to talk about your proposed topic and link it strongly to your previous experience. Start off addressing them formally (Good morning, Professor X, or Dr Y); if someone says, 'Call me John', fine, take their cue. Work out any time differences. Research the staff lists on the department website to see who is there and what their roles and research interests are, and how they fit with yours. Lastly, have some water handy by the phone. Wear a smart outfit, including shoes, so you feel work-like and formal. Somehow no-one sounds the same in pyjamas!!! Have fun, and the best of luck :)

Hi Satchi - just a word of encouragement about 'long-distance volunteering': it is possible! I have done RA-type work for people in a university 200+ miles away. They got me institutional access (yay!), and with that, email, a shared Dropbox folder and a couple of phone calls we managed a pretty successful collaboration.

If you know people well enough to start an occasional exchange of emails you could ask them to bear you in mind if they hear of anyone needing some voluntary help so you can keep your hand in while you are waiting for your ideal post (ahem!). Academic circles are generally smallish and there are surely researchers who would jump at getting a bit of outsourced lit searching or data analysis done for nothing, by you at home.

Good luck!

Should be in your inbox!

Heartfelt congratulations, Pineapple - you're an inspiration!

I have a vague idea it used to mean recreating or proving something in a lab (i.e. on a laboratory bench) rather than in real life. Take this with a pinch of salt, though - it is from a linguist not a scientist ;)

Might the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs Statistics Bureau website be of any use, Ady?

Me too! (using Firefox on Windows, in case it is relevant).

Have PM'd you a link.

PM'd a link to the first one. The third is embargoed for me until April 2013 :(

Hi Incognito I think you query about the best course of action re. your two problematic corrections would be to consult your supervisor, who knows both your work and the implications of your decision. I would point out though that if you suggest someone else should use this data you might be asked why you didn't access it, if they can! Good luck. You'll get there!

Many congratulations, Beth12!