Regardless of what your favorite model organism, pet-molecule, or area of study is, there are unspoken and universal ways to get the most out of a conference. Although I have always thought of myself as an intelligent person, it took me no less than five conferences to finally figure out a strategy or two that could help me get what I want.
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.
How to Get the Most out of a Conference
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The Road More Hesitantly Traveled
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My perception of what the road to graduate school was supposed to be like was molded by three things: 1) my father’s experience earning his PhD, 2) the incessant cheerleading of high school teachers and counselors to pursue continued education, and 3) the professors who framed my liberal arts university experience.
So You Want to be an Entrepreneur…
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You have decided that you what to be an entrepreneur. Wait…what is an entrepreneur? Webster’s defines an entrepreneur as one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. Sound familiar? As graduate students and post-docs we develop a hypothesis, organize experiments, and then manage those experiments, all the while assuming risk for the outcome (please let this work!) So, you are already on your way to becoming an entrepreneur. Not enough? I didn’t think so- here are some suggestions for helping you learn more about entrepreneurship and how to start.
Professor? It’s ‘Academic Entrepreneur’ to You
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As we mentioned on Monday in 3 Scientific Products We Need in Lab, this is Global Entrepreneurship Week. It’s a time to raise awareness for, provide resources to and celebrate the individuals who take the step to start a company and follow a dream. So academics- it’s time to put on your party hats because like it or not, we’re all in business now.
The LinkedIn for Scientists: LinkedIn
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As it turns out, there is a “LinkedIn for scientists” we should all be using. It’s called… LinkedIn. With over 80 million users, LinkedIn provides the infrastructure to build a large and diverse network of professional contacts that benefits scientists as much as any other profession.
Just Two Weeks to Study for My Qualifying Exam?!
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Dear Dora,
One of my friends got to take off 6 weeks to study for their qualifying exam, but my PI says I should be in the lab until 2 weeks before it. I’m not sure that’s enough time and I’m getting stressed out. Is there any kind of rule that says how much time we should get to study for it?
– D, grad student
The 4 Steps to Finding Your Passion
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Growing up, I was a stellar student. I majored in biochemistry/cell biology as an undergraduate and, immediately after college, entered a PhD program in cell biology. With my academic success and interest in science, it was an easy choice for me to follow a respectable career path that everyone, myself included, assumed would lead to a successful and stable career as a scientist. What could possibly go wrong?
Lessons from a Recovering Postdoc
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Hi. My name’s Belle. And I’m a recovering postdoc.
Maybe you think it will never happen to you. You were a successful graduate student. You got along with your dissertation adviser and your committee members. Your project progressed, and when it was stalled, you had something else to work on. You worked, you published, you defended, and you moved to the postdoc position of your dreams.
Publishing Without the Boss’ Blessing?
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Dear Dora,
I finished my PhD with a single publication, which was based on one of my 4 projects. The other projects were not completely finished, but I still generated useful data. My boss does not want to publish them. Can I go at it alone?
– Md Sha
H-Index: What It Is and How to Find Yours
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To illustrate the value of the H-index, we turn to a classic educational movie…Caddyshack. The uptight and competitive Judge Smails (played by Ted Knight) asks his new competition, Ty Webb (Chevy Chase):
Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today?
Ty Webb: Oh judge, I don’t keep score.
Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers?
Ty Webb: By height.
As scientists, we’re always looking for new ways to analyze, measure and compare things – including our own performance as scientists.
