Ben Franklin famously declared that two things in life were guaranteed – death and taxes. For scientists, Ben may have updated it to “death, taxes and the qualifying exam.” Although graduate programs vary with regard to degree requirements, the qualifying exam seems to be one hurdle they’ve all agreed to include.
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Being a scientist isn’t just about doing experiments, so neither are we. This is where we make breakthroughs beyond the bench for scientists.
The Qualifying Exam: The Earlier the Better?
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Toaster-Oven Trail Mix Biscotti
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A healthy, on-the-go breakfast is a challenge anywhere, let alone the Food Desert. I love biscotti, and had been searching for a recipe that yielded the light, crispy cookies I like best but they eluded me. Finally, one day, I asked the owner of a local upscale Italian bakery – she smiled and said, in her lilting accent “you know, it’s only cake!” Of course – biscotti (Italian for twice-cooked) is really toasted cake, and the lightest cake there is is angel food cake, based on healthy, protein rich, fat-free egg whites!
Chuck Norris, Scientist?
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Many of us may recognize Chuck Norris as a late-night exercise equipment peddler. In fact, he was the undefeated Professional Middleweight Karate champion title for six consecutive years, before retiring with a karate record of 183-10-2. He was the only man in the western hemisphere ever to be awarded an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. That’s serious.
The Lab Family: Benefit or Cause-a-fit?
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Anyone who’s ever been to a wedding or listened to an oldies radio station for more than five minutes recognizes the lyrics to the Sister Sledge classic We are Family. “We are family / I got all my sisters with me / We are family / Get up ev’rybody and sing.” It’s probably unlikely that we’ve ever huddled around with our labmates to sing the words “We are the ___ Lab / I got all my labmates with me / We are the ___ Lab / Get up ev’rybody and work”… but should we?
Hurdles to the Non-Research Career
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At BenchFly, we love science. In fact, our mission is to make science a better career for current and future generations of researchers. Within the larger profession, careers in science may fall into one of two categories, non-research or research-oriented, although the distinction between the two is not always black or white. While those in non-research careers may not physically stand at the bench, their roles in the research process are often just as important. Therefore, as a profession, it is to our advantage to make sure that the best and brightest scientific minds stay in the field in some capacity- whether in a non-research or research capacity.
When Do Top-Tier Publications Lose that Lovin’ Feeling?
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Publications have long been viewed as the currency of scientists. They impact everything from job offers to funding awards to ego boosts. However, in last weeks’ poll (How Valuable is a Top-Tier Publication) an overwhelming majority of scientists thought it was a better career move to finish a postdoc in three years with an average publication than it was to stay for six years and finally land a home-run paper. If the data suggest “Glamour Mags” have lost their appeal by six years, then when does that transition actually takes place?
Ombudsmen: The Best Conversation that Never Happened
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Dear Dora,
I have an issue with something going on in the lab and it could have serious consequences for my PI. Someone recommended I speak with the ombudsman for advice, but I’m worried it will get back to my PI somehow. Are ombudsmen really safe to talk to?
-Anonymous, Grad student
Postdoc Risk-Reward: How Valuable is a Top-Tier Publication?
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One of the most challenging aspects of performing research is knowing when to pull the plug on a project. This is particularly true for postdocs, who have a limited amount of time to obtain the results that will act as a springboard for their career. After graduate school, many of us walk into our postdoc dreaming about the huge paper we’re going to publish and the flood of career opportunities and funding awards that will follow. No wonder it can be tough to wake up from that fantasy…
3 Scientific Products that Would Change Your Life
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We know how hard research can be so we’ve been working hard in the BenchFly Labs to develop a few scientific products we think will significantly improve the lives of researchers in the lab. Excited about the prospects, we’ve leaked news of these products in our new newsletter we launched a few weeks ago. Due to the tough economy and limited resources, we can only scale-up production on one of these, so let us know which product you’d like to see on the shelves at your local store.
Become an Instant BBQ Master With Two Accessories
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Summer is synonymous with one thing: Body odor on the subway?… Yes, but no. Unfortunately large men sporting unfortunately small speedos?… Again, yes, but not what we’re looking for. BBQ?… Bingo. A BBQ is the quintessential summer activity. But unlike pouring gels or running flash columns, firing up the grill is not something we practice everyday. So the idea of a group of people standing around watching us freestyle on the grill can be stressful, even to those of us who love a BBQ. Here are two essential grill accessories that will transform us into an instant BBQ master and trick our friends into thinking we know what we’re doing…
