Balciunas Lab
  • Research
    • Projects
    • Publications
    • Research Opportunities
  • People
    • Lab Life
  • News
  • Lab methods
  • Science picks
  • Publications

April 25, 2014

4/25/2014

0 Comments

 
A couple of very cool papers in the current issue of Development:

On dual nature of transcriptional enhancers...
http://dev.biologists.org/content/141/9/1906.full

...and a technique paper describing multi-color labeling of the retina
http://dev.biologists.org/content/141/9/1971.full

And onto "not directly scientific but kinda important" stuff.

An excellent “prospects” diagram for those considering getting a PhD in life sciences.
http://www.ascb.org/ascbpost/index.php/compass-points/item/285-where-will-a-biology-phd-take-you
The conclusion? Don’t do it. Unless you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else. And here is your catch-22: imagination may be important for a PhD-level career...

A bit on the dream job of teaching in academia:
http://www.philly.com/philly/jobs/Adjunct_professors_see_selves_as_colleges_temp_workers.html
Teaching K-12 is way better...

After reading the above, being a postdoc doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2002_08_30/nodoi.4149859741665864757
Every research-active faculty member will gladly tell you that postdoc was the best time of their career. Because they were lucky enough and good enough to land a decent faculty position after their postdocs.

Not to say some that the process is entirely anguish-free:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v508/n7497/full/nj7497-555a.html

Of course if you wish to be positive, you could counter that libreal arts grad students have it worse:
http://news.temple.edu/news/2014-04-15/public-history-partnership-leads-full-time-work-temple-graduate?utm_source=templetoday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Print_Center_Internship
I gather a one-year job offer is a big deal in that field.

I will try find some more positive news next time.
0 Comments

March 28th, 2014

4/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Here is a massive (and outstanding) piece of work on promoters:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nature13182.html
Too many authors to list…

And as if identifying transcription start sites was not enough, they used presence of bidirectional unspliced transcripts to identify a few enhancers:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nature12787.html
Well, “only" 43,011 of them.

Now onto the easy stuff:

Is your dad a neanderthal?
http://www.nature.com/news/human-evolution-the-neanderthal-in-the-family-1.14932
Seriously, the picture enforces every damn stereotype about men. Pure sexism. I guess I should be upset.

More on online lab notebooks
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nj7493-523a.html
I did consider making all lab notebooks electronic back in 2007, but perhaps now is the time. Fully searcheable etc.

We absolutely do need a pipeline of talented students going into biomedical careers:
http://news.sciencemag.org/education/2014/03/panel-launches-study-precollege-role-nih?rss=1
Of course most of them will be going nowhere with their careers in the current/foreseable funding environment, but who cares?

And here is why grad students must get some teaching experience:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2014_03_24/caredit.a1400076
Contrast it with the article/experience cited within.

Have a great weekend.
0 Comments

    Weekly sciencey bits

    Disclaimer: This started as a "weekend reading list" meant to encourage students in the lab to think about science and their own future in it. Do not take it seriously: I myself may no longer agree with whatever I wrote here last week.
    - Darius

    Archives

    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.