<p>I’m interested in both stem cell research and pure mathematics, which are totally incompatible with each other. Yet I have no interest in any applied math which have connection with bio. In spite of my enthusiasm and (somehow) bright talent in math, I will probably study about stem cell in graduate school. So, it is quite regrettable for me to become a less competitive mathematician by spending most of my time for stem cell research. </p>
<p>The ideal solution for this problem is to duplicate my body, but it’s impossible with the current technology. So, could you give me some advice to solve my inner conflict between my enthusiasms for math and stem cell research? Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m interested in HIV prevention research and World War II history. However, I’m far more interested in the former than the latter, especially on a scholarly level. So I am pursuing a PhD in public health to do research on HIV prevention, and I read historical novels and nonfiction about World War II in my spare time.</p>
<p>There’s no inner conflict; everyone is interested in more than one thing. Just because you’re interested in something, though, doesn’t mean that you have to study it. If you want to pursue stem cell research for your PhD, then do that - as long as you are selecting that one for reasons of actual passion.</p>
<p>Then read some pure math articles in your spare time. You could take a class or two when you have time or make friends with some of the pure math grad students and talk proofs with them. You could go to some lectures on pure math at your new university. Of course, most of your time will need to be dedicated towards getting ahead in your own field, but that doesn’t mean that you have to completely abandon your other passions. In fact, a university is pretty much the perfect place to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you. I’m glad to receive response from an actual PhD student with multiple academic interests. By following your advice, I will somehow manage to focus on stem cell research while spending my spare time on math. Probably my attempt will eventually be a great success, since the time is the great healer of this kind of problem.</p>