# Week 40 — final retrospective and career decision

[**Full learning notebook: explanations, step-by-step challenges, stashes and evidence**](./learning-notebook.md) · [NotebookLM export](./notebooklm.txt)

Status: NOT_STARTED. Calendar dates: not assigned. Owner: Peter Ciancaglini. Planning authority: v5 Part 7 with retained v4 details. Deeper walkthrough: [v6 · Week 40 · GATE 40: retro and decision](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#week-40--gate-40-retro-and-decision). Active project/repository: cockpit; portfolio; private commercial records.

[Programme](../../README.md) · [Model instructions](../../specs.md) · [Decisions](../../DECISIONS.md) · [Resources](../../SOURCES.md) · [**v6 walkthrough**](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#week-40--gate-40-retro-and-decision) · [Previous week review](../week-39-fund-portfolio-offer/review.md) · [Next 90 days requirements](../../CAREER-ASSETS.md)

## Outcome and relevance

This week delivers the three concrete artifacts below and the supporting learning/branding/opportunity pack. The scientific or commercial outcome follows the preserved source brief, while the acceptance checks make its evidence testable. The career objective is to turn this work into something a scientist, hiring manager or buyer can inspect.

- Scientific/build priority: Audit all paper, release, talk, collaboration and engagement evidence; separate submitted/public/accepted and invoiced/received income.
- Public/profile priority: Prepare final portfolio/CV/LinkedIn refresh with an accurate scientist-development narrative and links to earned proof.
- Career/relationship/commercial priority: Close or schedule every live opportunity; define income and role acceptance criteria from Peter's stated preferences and actual terms.

## Deeper walkthrough (v6)

Read [v6 · Week 40 · GATE 40: retro and decision](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#week-40--gate-40-retro-and-decision) before Monday. It expands this week's one-row v5 brief into daily build steps and adds the **Welcome** analogy, **Learn it** (▶ core and ＋ deeper sources), **Run it** (repos with a 20-40 minute exercise), the **NotebookLM kit** and the mentor check below. Standing v6 rules: [resource rules](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#prologue-3--the-resource-rules-so-you-never-waste-an-evening-on-a-bad-source), [NotebookLM protocol](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#prologue-4--the-notebooklm-protocol-one-notebook-per-week-zero-decisions), [chapter anatomy](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#prologue-5--how-to-read-a-chapter-the-anatomy-identical-for-all-41). v6 adds depth only; it does not change a goal, gate, output or the 600-minute cap, so this specification still governs execution.

**Act VIII (finale) · Threads: all · GATE 40**

**Where this week sits.**
- ← **From:** everything.
- → **Feeds:** Half 3 (month 10+): retainers, fractional role, or a new job; L6 "used" as others adopt FermLit and batchlens.
- ⟳ **Returns in:** your next plan, which starts from evidence rather than from zero.

**Goals.**
- 🎯 **This week:** retro with gauge, income, pipeline and offers; written decision; public retro.
- 🏁 **This gate (40):** see the pass criteria below.
- 🌟 **Final:** you are, verifiably, an AI scientist for biotech with a practice or a role of your choosing.

**The plan (from v5 Part 7, expanded; gate and output unchanged).**
> *v5 row:* 40 | GATE 40: retro and decision | none | Gauge level, income to date, pipeline, offers. Decide: consultant with retainers, or employee, or both | Public retro
- **Goal:** a decision written down, backed by evidence.
- **Build:** [ ] Mon: evidence table: every gate, artifact link, DOI, date; gauge level; income; pipeline; offers; lost weeks. [ ] Wed: decision memo (one page): options, evidence for each, culture filter scores, energy log patterns, what you choose and what you stop. [ ] Fri: public retro (LinkedIn article + site): what worked, what failed, what you would tell someone starting week 0.
- **Sun:** public retro posted. Plan Half 3 in one page, no more.
- **Gate 40 passes when:** three preprints (one co-authored), two journal submissions, one JOSS submission, three instruments with DOIs, one talk delivered, at least one paid engagement delivered, and a decision written down.
- **Only one thing:** the decision memo.

**Mentor check.** *"I know what I built, what it proved, what people paid for, and where I am going next. It is written down."*

## Required inputs and dependency check

- [Week 36](../week-36-journal-and-joss-submissions/specs.md): inspect its actual evidence and review; source/code artifacts must exist before the dependent task begins.
- [Week 37](../week-37-pilot-or-job-process/specs.md): inspect its actual evidence and review; source/code artifacts must exist before the dependent task begins.
- [Week 38](../week-38-scientific-talk-and-proof/specs.md): inspect its actual evidence and review; source/code artifacts must exist before the dependent task begins.
- [Week 39](../week-39-fund-portfolio-offer/specs.md): inspect its actual evidence and review; source/code artifacts must exist before the dependent task begins.
- Read [commitment](./commitment.md), [evidence](./evidence.md), [review](./review.md) and the current root TODAY/PROGRESS/QUESTIONS files.
- Read this week's chapter, [v6 · Week 40 · GATE 40: retro and decision](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#week-40--gate-40-retro-and-decision), then the standing sections: [Part 0 · how to use the document](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-0--how-to-use-this-document-read-this-every-monday-for-the-first-month), [Part 3 · the scientific thesis](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-3--the-scientific-thesis-explained-twice-like-a-kid-then-like-a-reviewer), [Part 4 · curriculum](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-4--curriculum-from-zero-four-tracks-all-free-exact-units), [Part 8 · the prompt pack](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-8--the-prompt-pack-copy-paste-fill-the-brackets) and [Part 9 · branding and endorsement](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-9--branding-connection-ladder-endorsement). The same sections exist in the [v5 master](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v5.md), which remains the governing sequence; v6 reproduces them and adds depth. Retained commercial/instrument details come from [v4](../../../AI-Upskilling-Plan-Biotech-v4.md).
- Inspect the actual canonical repository state, available data, existing figures and required human/external inputs. Never assume a previous week succeeded from its folder name.
- Verify current resource links, versions, dataset rights and any live company/venue information before relying on them. Use [source catalog](../../SOURCES.md); explicitly record inaccessible resources.

## Seven-day plan: 600 minutes maximum

The model must turn these into exact physical actions using the observed files and available inputs. Each 90-minute block includes start/stop rituals. All calls, posts, debugging, reading and exercises consume this same capacity.

| Day | Budget | Work and stopping condition |
|---|---:|---|
| Monday | 90 min | Audit all paper, release, talk, collaboration and engagement evidence; separate submitted/public/accepted and invoiced/received income. Stop when: Write the evidence audit, career decision and next 90 days from actual outcomes, with every unmet gate and ongoing commitment explicit. |
| Tuesday | 90 min | No new course. Review the forty-week evidence and unresolved learning gaps. Produce: One concise applied note, a worked decision/example and unresolved questions. |
| Wednesday | 90 min | Compare consulting, employment and hybrid options using actual offers/pipeline, income, capacity, scientific growth and the culture filter. Stop when: The choice and its reasoning are written; no offer is invented. Reserve the last 10 minutes for the optional Wednesday note. |
| Thursday | 90 min | Compare actual career options, rehearse the scientific narrative and prepare the next 90 days. Apply the Half 2 one-formal-study-block rule. |
| Friday | 90 min | Prepare the public retro and a 90-day continuation with ongoing pilot dates, journal revisions, next research question and hiring actions. Stop when: Owners and next dates cover every open commitment beyond week 40. |
| Saturday | 90 min | Resolve the earliest critical spillover or dependency. Prepare any long-form publication draft from existing figures here if needed. Sandbox only after commitments are met. |
| Sunday | 60 min | 20 min build-log draft/publication when authorized; 5 min evidence/checklist; 20 min source-grounded gap review; 15 min next week's six physical actions. |

Half 2: Tuesday is the formal study block unless this is a selling/submission/decision week. Thursday supports applied review, partner work or the market task; do not add another full course.

## Learning specification

### Biology/domain unit

Material: No new course. Review the forty-week evidence and unresolved learning gaps.

Produce: One concise applied note, a worked decision/example and unresolved questions.

Understanding check: The note directly supports this week's experiment, collaboration, delivery or career action.

During preparation, write one worked example connected to the week's actual task, one exercise with a separate answer key and five questions. Peter supplies answers; score explanation quality and flag misconceptions in QUESTIONS. Numeric/scientific conclusions require actual data or explicitly synthetic teaching values.

### AI/scientific-method unit

Material: Compare actual career options, rehearse the scientific narrative and prepare the next 90 days.

Produce: One concise applied note, a worked decision/example and unresolved questions.

Understanding check: The note directly supports this week's experiment, collaboration, delivery or career action.

Use the [prompt pack](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-8--the-prompt-pack-copy-paste-fill-the-brackets): P1 explanation ladder, P2 concept-to-project bridge and P3 quiz. Coding practice belongs within the allocated study/build block. Where the source asks for a favorable scientific result, substitute an honest measured comparison as explained below.

### Founder/scientist paper

Select one verified founder/scientific-lead paper relevant to this week's domain. Use [P11](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-8--the-prompt-pack-copy-paste-fill-the-brackets); save the question, method, numerical result with context, data workflow, three author questions and one connection sentence in founder-paper.md. Keep abstract-only access limitations explicit. On source weeks with no study, prioritize the commercial/submission task and log any skipped digest.

## Artifact contracts

These filenames are outputs to prepare during this week's execution; this scaffold does not claim they already exist. Drafts and measured results have different states. Technical code/data stay in the canonical project repository and are referenced from these coordinating files.

| Artifact | Required content / acceptance | Primary responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| `final-evidence-audit.md` | Audit all paper, release, talk, collaboration and engagement evidence; separate submitted/public/accepted and invoiced/received income. Acceptance: Write the evidence audit, career decision and next 90 days from actual outcomes, with every unmet gate and ongoing commitment explicit. | Model assists; Peter checks and owns the outcome |
| `career-decision.md` | Compare consulting, employment and hybrid options using actual offers/pipeline, income, capacity, scientific growth and the culture filter. Acceptance: The choice and its reasoning are written; no offer is invented. | Model assists; Peter checks and owns the outcome |
| `next-90-days.md` | Prepare the public retro and a 90-day continuation with ongoing pilot dates, journal revisions, next research question and hiring actions. Acceptance: Owners and next dates cover every open commitment beyond week 40. | Model assists; Peter checks and owns the outcome |
| `study-notes.md` | Selected exact free resources; bounded lesson/exercise; separate solution; quiz and grading rubric; Peter's answers and gaps when executed | Model prepares; Peter learns |
| `founder-paper.md` | Verified source and P11 digest; authentic question and connection sentence; access limitations | Model assists; Peter checks |
| `branding-pack.md` | Wednesday note, Sunday build log, X adaptation, figure/caption/alt text and the week's special asset; each claim linked to real proof | Model drafts; Peter owns voice/public claims |
| `opportunity-actions.md` | Qualified target/role, source/date, ladder stage, next action, message/interview/proposal draft and actual status | Model prepares; Peter owns external relationships |
| `evidence.md` | Actual paths/URLs, versions, checks/metrics, preparation versus execution state and external receipts when applicable | Updated after each deliverable |
| `review.md` | Checklist, learning assessment, gate status, shortfalls, next actions and carryover | Peter and reviewing model |

During preparation, future measured tables get column definitions, input requirements and run instructions with PENDING status. During execution, replace pending values only with measured outputs. Do not create realistic-looking fake evidence.

## Branding and opportunity execution brief

Branding: Prepare final portfolio/CV/LinkedIn refresh with an accurate scientist-development narrative and links to earned proof.

Opportunity action: Close or schedule every live opportunity; define income and role acceptance criteria from Peter's stated preferences and actual terms.

Use [career asset contracts](../../CAREER-ASSETS.md). Publish at most the agreed cadence; one figure and one supported number or admitted failure can support multiple drafts. In long-form weeks, prepare a 1,500–2,500-word article from existing evidence within the build/buffer allocation. In release/demo weeks, prepare a 60-second script: problem, input, command/action, result, limitation and proof link.

Verify individuals, jobs and affiliations at execution time. The [GridX list](../../../GridX%20Startups.csv) and v4 company map are research seeds, not current facts. Do not reveal named company weaknesses or employer/client confidential information. Keep drafted/sent/replied/booked/held statuses separate. The planning request alone does not authorize external messages or publication; honor explicit authorization in the execution session.

## Quality risks and week-specific constraints

Completion targets include three preprints (one co-authored), two journal submissions, one JOSS submission, three instrument DOIs, a delivered talk and paid engagement. If any are unmet, record an incomplete gate and a recovery route; an early suitable job can be a valid alternative outcome per v5.

Apply the root scientific evidence contract: provenance; meaningful independent splits; no future-data leakage; baseline comparison; actual denominators/uncertainty; failed cases; human review where required. State whether data are simulated, public experimental, synthetic or partner-provided.

Keep source gates intact, and log scope/time conflicts in review. Missing people, money, access or results must not be replaced with invented evidence. Reduce optional polish first. A specific essential external dependency stays pending while independent preparation continues.

## Completion and gate review

This is Gate 40: **Evidence and decision**.

Required proof: Three public preprints, one co-authored; two journal submissions; one JOSS submission; batchlens/trialkit/labdocs release DOIs; one delivered talk; at least one paid engagement delivered; written career decision.

Reputation interpretation: L5 only with actual reviewed/accepted and invited evidence. Record target, forecast, actual date and evidence link. The original gate stays incomplete until the required external proof exists.

- [ ] Monday artifact satisfies: Write the evidence audit, career decision and next 90 days from actual outcomes, with every unmet gate and ongoing commitment explicit.
- [ ] Wednesday artifact satisfies: The choice and its reasoning are written; no offer is invented.
- [ ] Friday artifact satisfies: Owners and next dates cover every open commitment beyond week 40.
- [ ] Study pack is prepared; Peter's actual learning/quiz result is recorded separately.
- [ ] Branding and opportunity drafts use supported claims and the correct external-action state.
- [ ] Reproduction or document checks are recorded with file/version references.
- [ ] This week's special gate, if any, has real evidence or remains explicitly pending.
- [ ] Review, root progress/log and the next physical action are updated.

## Minimum viable week and recovery

Expanded minimum derived from the source goal: Write the evidence audit, career decision and next 90 days from actual outcomes, with every unmet gate and ongoing commitment explicit.

Operational first step if stalled: open `final-evidence-audit.md`, write the required inputs and produce the smallest checkable example in ten minutes. If a more urgent missing gate dependency controls the week, use the source minimum above.

If the full week does not fit, use [P14](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#part-8--the-prompt-pack-copy-paste-fill-the-brackets): retain one gate-critical deliverable and one directly supporting study exercise; record what is skipped versus moved. Do not mark the original full gate passed merely because the minimum was completed. After a missed week, reforecast from actual evidence and avoid a second unexamined lost week.

## Handoff to the next model

In review, state exactly what exists, what was verified, what Peter can now explain, which external events remain pending, where the canonical code/data live, and the next file/function or draft paragraph to touch. Link each fact to evidence. Carry scientific assumptions, split definitions and rights constraints forward explicitly.

## Ready-to-copy model prompt

```text
Prepare Week 40 of this LABLOOP execution plan.
Read execution-plan/specs.md, execution-plan/DECISIONS.md,
execution-plan/GATES.md and
execution-plan/weeks/week-40-final-retrospective-and-career-decision/specs.md, commitment.md, evidence.md and review.md.
Read prior prerequisite reviews and inspect actual repository/data state.
Use v5 as the governing sequence, the v6 Week 40 chapter
(LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md) as the deeper walkthrough, and v4 only for
retained details.
Produce the full local preparation pack and the exact week-specific files named
in the artifact table. Give me a bounded lesson with exercises/answer key,
daily physical actions, technical runbook or draft, branding drafts and
career/commercial actions. Keep the total to 600 minutes.
Separate prepared artifacts from measured results and my learning completion.
Verify sources and do not invent metrics, citations, papers, people or outcomes.
Do not execute external communications, publication or spending unless the
current session already authorizes the specific action.
Finish by updating evidence/review and TODAY with the next physical action.
```

## Preserved original v5 weekly brief

v6 expands this row into a full brief, with the gate and output unchanged, inside [v6 · Week 40 · GATE 40: retro and decision](../../../LABLOOP-Master-Plan-v6.md#week-40--gate-40-retro-and-decision).
The following is source planning text, not a claim of completion. Apply the explicit evidence corrections in this specification and DECISIONS.md.

| Week | Goal | Study (Tue) | Build (Mon/Wed/Fri) | Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | GATE 40: retro and decision | none | Gauge level, income to date, pipeline, offers. Decide: consultant with retainers, or employee, or both | Public retro |