That's fair too. I have a PhD in Computational science. I read HN every morning. I've been lurking here since around 2018 and just made an account recently.

Honestly I made my first social media account about 4 months ago just to prove I was a real person after I finished my PhD and was applying for the next steps. I've never been one to post on the internet or engage with social media. I don't really know the etiquette of any other social site so I figured I would reach out here first since it felt familiar.

I took a look at your links. You switched from "Computer images processing" to "Oncology"? Are you applying your thesis to real patients? It looks like you already took a few courses in medicine before graduating.

(I think it's an unusual path, but it looks legit.)

> I don't really know the etiquette of any other social site so I figured I would reach out here first since it felt familiar.

I think your etiquete is fine, but asking for money always raise suspicion.

Regarding etiquette, this comment makes an interesting point: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49982051

keeping that in mind I believe you started at the right place as HN is probably more forgiving, especially when it turns out that the person in question is able to strike the right tone to fit in, which I believe you do.

I am in a similar position having created this account once I decided to move to Africa, and I am still trying to figure out how to promote my work. As part of that I try to engage on topics that are related to Africa to slowly develop my standing and share my experience.