Category Archives: Uncategorized

The dark side

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Rachel

Previously I referred to my experience on NIH study sections as “From the inside” and “From the other side“. Since I designated our science review officer “He Who Must Not Be Named*”, it’s only appropriate that my latest study section … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The dark side

It’s not really insanity

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Rachel

At least in the life sciences, research involves an awful lot of trying the same thing over and over again hoping for different results. Albert Einstein said the same thing about insanity. Insanity = science? It could be. Here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on It’s not really insanity

Sangji’s legacy

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Rachel

January 2009, a lab accident resulted in the death of a lab tech. She and the postdocs who came to her aid were poorly trained to cope with accidents, and her university, UCLA, and the primary investigator, Dr. Harran, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sangji’s legacy

From the other side again

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Rachel

Once again I’m on an NIH review panel. I just read my post from the first time I did this, and I’m a little amazed at how similar the process was. Ok, so we had a lot of the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on From the other side again

Unreliable

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Rachel

Research isn’t done in a vacuum. We rely on the knowledge already out there to decide what questions to ask and how to find answers. While it is possible for a research idea to spring up out of nowhere like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Unreliable

Interview of a Researcher

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Rachel

I love getting interviewed. Mostly I get interviewed about bicycling. Sometimes I’m interviewed about science culture. Less often I’m interviewed about my research. Interviews have been for tv, newspaper, articles, and student projects. Today I was interviewed by a student … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Interview of a Researcher

My ideal student, or Cultural conflicts

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Rachel

My lab is a small lab. I don’t have any graduate students, postdocs, or research technicians. I have me and a handful of students. Two undergraduates and one medical student. They undergrads are due to graduate this year. The medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on My ideal student, or Cultural conflicts

Negative data and positive controls

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Rachel

When I first came to my institution, I inherited a funded project. The project had foundered because no one had the time to work on it. In theory, I had all the resources I needed, the project just needed someone … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Negative data and positive controls

A scientist’s family

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Rachel

Science magazine surveyed postdocs and postdoc advisers about what makes a successful postdoctoral experience (“Postdocs: Striving for Success in a Tough Economy“). One glaring discrepancy between the two groups is the importance of spousal accommodation. 37% of supervisors and 86% … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A scientist’s family

Observer Effect

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Rachel

The observer effect is when the act of observation changes what which is being observed. That probably sounds much snazzier in Latin. Yesterday we conducted our first ever bicycle and pedestrian traffic counts in Kirksville, MO. I was assigned the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Observer Effect