Graduate school can be pretty overwhelming at first. So many questions, so few answers. With all of these new responsibilities, it’s hard to know how to prioritize them. As a result, every decision can seem epic and therefore incredibly stressful.
BenchLife
Being a scientist isn’t just about doing experiments, so neither are we. This is where we make breakthroughs beyond the bench for scientists.
What’s the Most Valuable Part of Grad School?
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Bananas: Chemists in Little Yellow Labcoats
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Until we perfect the teleporter, transporting fruit will always pose a problem – particularly when the transport involves thousands of miles. However, by elucidating the mechanisms of ripening for individual fruits, producers have developed reliable methods of transportation, which is why we can enjoy a banana split in the middle of winter.
Say it with us: Vay…cay…shin
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Circle the word that doesn’t fit: Notebook, Bacteria, Spreader, Transform, Vacation.
If you selected “Vacation”, you’d be…
The Emergency Meal: Indian Food
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You’re tired. Possibly cranky. Definitely starving.
It’s been a long day in lab and as you gather your bag to head home, your mind shifts to dinner. The local grocery store closed about an hour ago and the pizza delivery guy knows you so well he’s starting to ask you to hang out on weekends, which is getting uncomfortable…
What to Expect When You’re Expecting…In Lab
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It’s hard to get more literal in the BenchLife channel than actually creating a Life while at the Bench! For many women, the decision to have a child while still a postdoc brings up more questions than an undergraduate summer student… We turned to new mom and former MIT postdoc Joanne Gibson to find out about her experience balancing pregnancy and the lab.
There’s Nothing Fishy about this Protocol
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We’re always looking for a good protocol. In the lab, a proper technique can be the difference between a successful or a failed experiment. In the kitchen, it may be the difference between a moist, delicious piece of salmon or a dry, tasteless hunk of pink stuff.
That’s why when a good friend of mine, Bill Macaitis, first showed me how to use a digital infrared kitchen thermometer to cook salmon, I knew my life would never be the same…
Group Meeting Food: What Do We Really Want?
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I’m not sure when I’ll be able to eat Au Bon Pain again. Probably not for years. There are only so many bagels and pastries one can eat in their life. And thanks to group meeting, I’ve filled my quota for a while.
I’m the first to admit that I lack all imagination when it comes to supplying the lab with food. Generally, my mornings to get food unfold as follows:
Our New Feedback System
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This type of inhibition is used in blood pressure regulation, amino acid synthesis and glucose degradation. If it’s good enough for our bodies, then it’s good enough for our site… what are we referring to?
Choosing Video Equipment: What Really Matters?
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We’ve been getting a lot of questions about which cameras to buy for filming in the lab. There are a dizzying array of camcorder types and functionalities available these days. Sites such as cnet provide general information in addition to detailed reviews on specific makes and models.
Here we help sort through the information in order to focus on a limited number of functions relevant to filming in the lab.
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Managing Your Online Reputation
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The Problem:
You’ve been on the job market for nine months now and not a single bite from anyone… don’t they see the two Science papers?! They do. Unfortunately, they also see the 15 keg stands, the six mug shots and the four streaks across campus…
Yikes.
The Solution:
We’ve all made mistakes. Not managing our online reputation would be another one. A few simple steps can have us back in control in no time.
