When we started the Ph.D. program last spring, all of the first-years, according to department custom, shared an office, charmingly referred to as “the incubator.” It’s a fine enough space and it easily accommodated the three of us, but we always felt somewhat outside the action, not least because the room is outside the corridor where the “real” staff have their offices. Also isolating was the fact that, due to the key-card security system, we always had to keep our door closed, so we were very set apart from the comings and goings around the department.

We had expected to move to our permanent offices in January or February, when the new crop of Ph.D. students will start, but due to some space opening up ahead of time, we were able to move out of the incubator last week. Johan, our third office mate, had already set up shop in his new office, and when we got the green light on Thursday afternoon, Astrid and I wasted no time getting ourselves installed in our new room. There are still some things to be done, but I think it looks pretty good for the work of just an hour or two.