Category Archives: Uncategorized

The dark side

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

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It’s not really insanity

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

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Sangji’s legacy

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

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From the other side again

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

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Unreliable

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

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Interview of a Researcher

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

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My ideal student, or Cultural conflicts

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

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Negative data and positive controls

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

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A scientist’s family

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

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Observer Effect

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

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