Yes, I definitely have that calm too. Its a clam after a storm and quite likely, a calm before the storm. I am sitting at my Desk in the University now formatting my main thesis document. Weekends are for thesis formats and introduction writing and weekdays are for research on my last research chapter. I am writing that as I go along. When I think of the enormity of it, I have a gasp - think Munch's 'The Scream' - and then I just continue - because that's all you can do really. Just chug along.

I have 8 weeks to go before I need to submit this monstrosity of a thesis. I was stressed, but I discovered a place beyond stress and a place beyond indifference. I call it zen, others might call it delusion. In any event, I wanted to create a thread for those of us who have last-minute PhD stories or who are grappling with managing the last-minute write up following the last-minute research.

My thesis is in the arena of computational biology and has it's ups and downs. So much didn't work out but now as the the real questions have unveiled themselves, I am rushing to finish off one research chapter. To date, I have a paper under review (just returned my response to reviewers comments), one negative result but interesting chapter written up, an outline and plan for my introduction but still researching my last chapter. I know what I need to do, the big computation is done. Now I just need to find the motivation to get it done and draw the line. I think I can do it (if I stop listening for the sound of one hand clapping and type like a lunatic for the next while).

So, what are your last minute stories? Did you survive? Did you see solutions a bit too late for comfort? Were you polishing research until the bitter end?