It’s done

14 August: dissertation submitted
23 September: “viva voce” — minor corrections
24 October: graduation
25 November: turned 26 ;)

Four years ago I posted a picture of a door, repeating what my supervisor told me: “when you go out this door, you’ll have your PhD.” Here is is again…

… four years later, here’s me going through it…

DONE! — here is it.

It has been a bumpy ride, and I can’t say it was all enjoyable or “fun”. It was intellectually and mentally challenging, and required a lot of patience and self-driven determination. In the process I learned a lot, and I’d like to think that I also made a contribution. Someone described it also as a humbling experience, and I tend to agree. It has been quite an experience, and one that not many have — I have no regrets, though I sometimes play with the thought of whether it was worth it.

I’d like to thank my family, Caroline, and the friends who supported and encouraged me along the way; it meant more to me than they perhaps realize. I’m also grateful to Xilinx for funding my research and for being supportive technically. Please read page 4 of my dissertation for a more detailed acknowledgment.

Some obligatory pictures…

With graduation garbs (red hood means PhD with the last academic degree not being from Cambridge):

Mom, dad, and brother at the Senate House lawn:

With Markus, diploma in hand: