Despite it’s importance, reaction monitoring can be lax, in part because of the hassle of getting into a sealed round-bottom in the middle of a reaction. We have to unclamp, flip-up septum, re-clamp, remove septum, take sample, replace septum, unclamp, seal septum, reclamp then get on with the TLC. After all that work, it’s time for a nap…
Flyceum: Your Science. Your Career.
We’re following in the tradition of open discussions among scientists that has resulted in important advances in both science and society.
Switching Careers? Try the Sampler Platter: Internships
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Many of us know what it’s like to sit at the bench and dream of what else is out there. Maybe it’s industrial experience that intrigues us, maybe it’s something far more removed from the lab. In either case, the idea of taking a chance and diving in to a new career can be terrifying. What if we don’t like it? Are we giving up everything we’ve worked for on a whim? Who would hire us with no experience? The overwhelming feeling of uncertainty can be paralyzing and ultimately, prevent many of us from finding our true calling.
Five (Plus) Web Resources You Should be Using Right Now
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Being a scientific researcher has gotten much easier than it was 15 years ago. Literature searches can be performed online, and many times full text for articles retrieved from these searches is also readily available. Electronic database searching has streamlined research and made writing the Background and Introduction sections of manuscripts much easier. Here are some more tools that will help reduce the time you spend on writing, searching the literature and finding methods. They’re all free, too.
DNA Electrophoresis Sample Loading
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The Video:
The DNA electrophoresis video is in two parts. The first being the overview of electrophoresis and the second being an up close loading of samples in a gel. The reason for the first part is because I needed to fill in time and I wanted to see how well the video would time compress. I like playing around with that stuff, so I just did it. The second part was to take advantage of my new High Definition(HD) camcorder.
Scientist Turned Comedian: Tim Lee
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Standing in front of a packed seminar room and sharing your ideas using Powerpoint is an important part of research. In that respect, Tim Lee is like any other scientist. Now, the fact that his seminars start at 10pm on Saturday nights and require a two-drink minimum- well, that’s a bit more unusual…
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Authorship, Feuding and Career Doubts
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Thanks for all of the great questions! We’re addressing three questions each month, so If you don’t see your question this time, keep an eye out for our future issues where it will likely show up! Send your questions to [email protected].
5 Library Resources You Should be Using
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Before I became a librarian, I worked as a neuroanatomy and immunohistochemistry technician for almost 20 years. After I completed my library degree, I found that working in a research library affiliated with a medical school allowed me to stay in touch with the research community while giving my hands a break from benchwork. The amount of research at my institution that I am now involved with is more varied than in my prior life as a tech.
Model Organism Week: EEK! The Mouse.
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The mouse has been used for years as a model vertebrate organism and as such has allowed for not only groundbreaking work in the basic sciences but also the development of treatments, as well as cures, for many notorious diseases.
Model Organism Week: Getting to Know Your Worms (C. elegans)
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What is so impressive about microscopic nematodes as a biological model? Sidney Brenner first answered that question in his 1974 paper “The Genetics of Cenorhabitis elegans” where he introduced the nematode as an ideal model for studying genetics. The purpose of this blog is to enlighten the community about C. elegans and their contribution to science.
Model Organism Week: Research’s Next Top Model
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Only in the past three decades has Danio Rerio (Zebrafish) started to call the lab their home. Since then, they have helped in finding cures for cancer, understanding more about embryological (vertebrate) development, and vertebrate behavior. One lucky zebrafish has also gone where few humans have been: space. On June 22nd 1976 the space station Salyut 5 was launched, with one of the crew members being a zebra danio.
