24 hours in the life of Rajesh Koothrappali, postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge.

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Cambridge University 2003. Raj spent the morning in the student apartment that he shared with his sister Priya. He had now done all the observations and analysed all the data for his Ph.D thesis, he was now deep into writing up his Ph.D thesis.

After lunch he went to the University as there was going to be an interesting seminar later that afternoon. Raj went to his group office, he made a cup of tea and was soon in an animated cricket discussion with Australian Postdoc Dr. Barry Bruce. Raj was in the middle of explaining to his Australian friend why Sachin Tendulkar was a better player than Shane Warne when he suddenly clammed up, German Postdoc Dr. Karen Doppel came into the room.

"Hello boys, talking about your silly English game again. Dr. Brown wants you to go and see him Barry, he wants a word with you about your telescope trip next month. Don't worry Raj, I am leaving now, see you at the seminar."

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3.00pm. Raj joined the rest of the Cambridge Astrophysics department in the biggest seminar room. Raj sat as far from any female scientists that he could. Head of department Professor MacKenzie introduced the speaker.

"Hello everyone, thanks for coming to this week's seminar. It gives me great pleasure to introduce my old friend Professor Sam Hassan, he is head of the Astrophysics department at Caltech, way over the pond in California. Professor Hassan and I first met many years ago when I was a Ph.D student and he was a Postdoc at Edinburgh University. Professor Hassan will speak on 'New observations of the Outer Solar System', all yours Sam."

"Thanks John, it's great to be back in this Cambridge again. For many years I worked in the other Cambridge at a little place called Harvard….."

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6.00pm. Raj was back in his student apartment, his sister Priya had just got back from her Law studies.

"Greetings dear sister, how was the world of Law today?"

"Same as ever dear brother, how was your day?"

"I got a lot of work done on my thesis in the morning and then I went to the University for an interesting seminar in the afternoon. Dinner should be ready in about 30 minutes, spaghetti and meatballs."

"Sounds good Raj, it's going to be a shock to go back to Indian food when we return home. I will make us a cup of tea."

After dinner it was time for their weekly video chat with their parents back home in India

"Hello Mummy and Daddy, greetings from Cambridge, how are things in Delhi?…."

When the video chat was over Raj returned to his computer to do a bit more thesis before bedtime. He checked his email and there was a message from the Head of Department.

"Dear Mr. Koothrappali, please come to my office at 10.00am tomorrow.

Professor John C.J. McKenzie B.A. (Cantab), Ph.D (Edin), FRAS, FRS, OBE…"

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After a sleepless night, Raj couldn't think what he had done wrong to upset his Professor, Raj arrived at Professor McKenzie's office. At 9.59 am he nervously knocked on the door of the Professor's office.

"COME IN"

Miss Jones, the Professor's secretary, knew all about Raj's problems talking to women

"Good morning Mr. Koothrappali, go straight through to the inner office, they are waiting for you."

Waiting for Raj in the inner office were Professor McKenzie and Raj's Ph.D supervisor Dr. Brown, they both shook hands with Raj when he came in.

Professor McKenzie said "Welcome Raj, I am sure you remember Professor Hassan from yesterday."

Professor Hassan shook hands with Raj who said "Pleased to meet you Sir, I enjoyed your seminar."

"Thank you Mr. Koothrappali, Professor McKenzie and Dr. Brown were telling me all about you."

McKenzie "That's right, I was telling Sam here about our genius Ph.D student from India who is on course to finish his Ph.D in only 2 years."

Hassan "Where is home in India?"

Raj "I am from Delhi Sir."

Hassan "My father left Calcutta in the late 1940s to study at Harvard, there he met my Italian-American mother and I turned up a couple of years later. Professor McKenzie tells me that he thinks you should be soon finishing your Ph.D thesis?"

Raj "I hope so Sir, although there is still a lot of writing to do."

Hassan "I am sure there is, I was once a Ph.D student trying to get my thesis finished. When you do get your thesis finished how would you like to come and do a Postdoc with me in California?….."