Nobody will ever accuse research of being easy. However, interspersed among the challenges we face in lab are a number of events worth celebrating- events that keep us going. When buried under a seemingly endless list of experiments, it can be difficult to take time to appreciate the accomplishments along the way. So in this week of giving thanks, we want to know which of these lab-related milestones you’re most thankful for.
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.
Giving Thanks in Lab
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3 Scientific Products We Need in Lab
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Today kicks off Global Entrepreneur Week, and to celebrate we’ve called in three budding young companies to pitch their new scientific products to us. So please take a look at what they’ve got to offer and vote for the one you’d like to see in your lab in the next few months.
LabLibs: The Qualifying Exam Courtesy Note
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Few events strike fear in the heart of a grad student like the qualifying exam. Many students begin stressing about it shortly after starting grad school- a good two years early. So it’s not surprising that as the time nears to pay the piper, students take studying seriously. In fact, they often leave the lab altogether for 2-6 weeks, leaving an empty (and vulnerable) bench…
Scientists’ Favorite Scientists
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The state of modern chemical and biological research is a direct result of countless contributions, large and small, by individual scientists who have preceded us. We’ve identified twenty of the proverbial giants upon whose shoulders we now stand. Now we want to know which ones are your favorite scientists.
BenchFly’s Bloody Dry Ice Halloween Punch
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What’s scarier: Michael Meyers chasing you down the street with a knife -OR- Getting scooped as a 6th year grad student one week before submitting your manuscript? Being submerged in a pool of bloodsucking worms -OR- Contaminating the cell line it took you nearly two months to make? Spending the night in a haunted mansion alone with no electricity -OR- Discovering the plasmid you thought you were working with for the last five years is actually a completely different construct? Seems like every day is Halloween in lab…
When I Grow Up I Want to Be… A Scientist.
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One way or another, we’ve all ended up in science. As you talk to fellow scientists about how they got to where they are today, the answers are as diverse as the projects we work on. Some were influenced by a great teacher, some by their friends and others, it seems, were just born with a passion for science.
Has the Internet Ruined Vacation?
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Occasionally, we need to drop the assay, turn off the HPLC, freeze the cells and take a vacation. At first pass, disconnecting from lab sounds easy- as research seems like a profession in which making progress is heavily dependent on physically being in lab. After all, it’s hard to express and purify protein (other than melanin) while sitting on a beach in Aruba. Yet there are always papers to read, emails to respond to or friends to keep up with – and the internet has made it very hard to escape these responsibilities.
Take Your Dissertation Research Mulligan
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In golf, a horrible tee shot can often be remedied by a mulligan – a do-over – that gives the offender a chance to improve upon the recent catastrophe. Knowing how the first shot ended up, the golfer will usually make the proper adjustments to avoid repeating the same mistake. The result is usually a better shot that allows the golfer to keep moving forward, as opposed to searching for their ball in the woods for 15 minutes. Here, we’re issuing a mulligan for your dissertation research…
Kirem’s Carrot Ginger Soup Kreation
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Now three weeks into fall, gone are the warm summer BBQs and refreshing salads. We’re in soup season now and while that usually doesn’t mean much to me, this deliciousness made me a convert. Furthermore, between the pepper and ginger, this soup packs a spicy punch that’s great for fighting off the impending cold and flu season.
How Much Do You Really Like Your Labmates?
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Recently, we asked whether labs should operate more as a family unit or as a group of individuals and the overwhelming majority of respondents came down on the side of family. It seems people do best in a lab environment where ideas, questions and support can flow freely among members for the good of both the individual and the group. However, while it’s easy to say things should be like a family, our reality in the lab may prevent it.
