Happy New Year, BenchFlies! It’s that time of year again, when people around the world promise themselves they’ll drop 20lbs, or kick their pack-a-day habit, or actually use the gym membership they purchased months ago.
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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.
New Year’s Lab-olutions
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Should You Buy Your PI a Holiday Gift? (If You Want to Graduate…)
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It’s hard enough to finish holiday shopping for friends and family, so the idea of adding another person to the list, who likely does not fall into either of those categories, may seem to defy logic. But our PI is not just some stranger we met on the bus. For three to five (or six, or eight) years, they are the steward of our career and our relationship with them will govern the professional opportunities we will enjoy for years to come. So sure, they may have chewed us out when we accidentally performed the assay on the wrong cell line, but they also gave us a chance to do research in their lab and made sure the paychecks didn’t bounce. What better way to show our appreciation and let bygones be bygones than by closing out the year with a holiday gift for the PI…right? Bueller?…Bueller?…Bueller?…
Effortless Gourmet: The Fig and Stilton Holiday Appetizer
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Basal stress level feel twice as high as normal? Bank account looking unusually meager? Energy level feel like 2011 was a marathon and you’re just trying to roll across the finish line? Of course they do – it’s holiday crunch time, we’d expect nothing less. For many of us, this weekend promises house cleaning, grocery shopping, menu planning and gift purchasing all in anticipation of the coming holiday festivities. And if we’re lucky, a holiday party or two will add some eggnog to the mix. So we’re especially thankful to Jean Calvert, who contributed this delicious – and easy – appetizer that will impress friends and family alike.
A-Mean-Ol-Acid
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We know that acids can generate some pretty stunning results when mixed with the right agents. However, the wrong combination of acids can also generate the none too pleasant result of stains and wretched breath. None of us are immune and all of us are affected when this reaction occurs. With the holidays upon us, gluttonous eating and drinking is inevitable. Cranberry sauce, red wine, coffee and sufganiyah bring merriment and joy, but also deleterious acidic aftereffects. Whether you plan on cozying up next to a Thanksgiving fire with someone, kissing someone under the mistletoe, or lighting the menorah candles next to a special someone, it is imperative that you eliminate all residue of gastronomic chemical reactions. This holiday season give the gift of inhalation intervention. Leave the stink to Mr. Scrooge.
Bringing Style to Science, Literally. Introducing: FlyGirl
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Today our efforts here at BenchFly to makeover the image of the scientist take a huge leap forward and we couldn’t be more excited. We are completely honored to announce that one of New York’s premier make-up artists and stylists has agreed to help with the transformation. In her new monthly column FlyGirl (as she will be known to avoid contractural disputes with current employers), will share industry-insider information, tips and tricks for seriously updating our image with minimal cost and effort – clearly, she understands scientists…
The Evolution of Lab: What Came First?
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What, by definition, is capable of response to stimuli, growth and development, reproduction, and maintenance of homeostasis? That’s right, a lab! Wait, isn’t the answer ‘an organism’? Sure, but in many respects a lab is an organism. It responds to stimuli (getting excited about the arrival of a new piece of equipment), grows and develops (increasing the size of lab and the complexity of questions asked), reproduces (creating scientific offspring that go on to start their own research careers) and maintains homeostasis (not letting that one obnoxious labmate ruin the group for everyone).
Your Road to the PhD: Who Are You Thankful For?
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Whether a Derby-winning horse, a Grammy-nominated musician, or a PhD-obtaining scientist, there exists a cast of unsung heroes who have made the individual’s success possible. We might not have three trainers, a jockey and eat carrots all day long, but we certainly have people who have popped us with the whip every once in a while to keep us going. Fortunately, they’re usually the same people that are there to catch us when we stumble as well. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, let’s take a moment to remember, appreciate, and thank the entourage that made our pursuit of science possible.
Giving a Great Talk Begins With the Right Software
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Communicating our work is one of the most important responsibilities of our job as scientists. Although traditional publication is one mechanism of sharing our findings, more commonly we’re called upon to present our research orally. Whether speaking at a small group meeting or a large international conference, the success of our talk may hinge on our ability to craft an engaging performance.
Lab Techniques Wordsearch: You Can Do Them, But Can You Find Them?
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The weekend is upon us and what better way to ring it in than with ‘an experiment’ that can be completed with a cold beverage in hand. You’ve spent years learning, practicing and teaching laboratory techniques, but now it’s your responsibility to find them.
Exactly How Flexible is the Co-First Author Asterisk?
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Talk to any set of identical twins for the first time and at some point in the conversation you’ll undoubtedly ask whether they ever switched places in order to play a joke on their parents, teachers, girlfriends or boyfriends. While each set of twins may answer differently, they’ve usually drawn an ethical line somewhere in the sand as to how far they think it’s appropriate to take the undercover mission. In science, ask co-first authors whether they switch the author biline on their CV and the line in the sand might not be as clear.
