Author Archives: Erika Cule

Impressions of ASHG 2012

Posted on 15 November 2012 by Erika Cule

Whilst most of the science blogosphere my science blogging colleagues were getting stuck in to Science Online London 2012, I was at the closing plenary of the 62nd meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics. If solo12 is the home … Continue reading →

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An unexpected delight in the form of careers advice

Posted on 10 November 2012 by Erika Cule

Fellow Occam’s Typewriter blogger Jenny Rohn‘s book on sale at ASHG 2012. This week I am attending the 62nd meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics here in San Francisco. Being a PhD student, I registered for several of … Continue reading →

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Listen while you work

Posted on 9 September 2012 by Erika Cule

I feel sorry for PhD students who prefer to work in silence. Most students (and postdocs) will be assigned a desk in a shared office. Lab-dwelling students cannot realistically expect a quiet working environment. Jenny describes the sounds of science:

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Londoners by Craig Taylor and the A to Z

Posted on 11 August 2012 by Erika Cule

I moved to London in 2005. After a few weeks living here I concluded that the two most useful things to give a new visitor to the capital would be an Oyster card and a London A to Z. An Oyster … Continue reading →

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Talkin’ ’bout my PhD-work

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Erika Cule

Smashing up your equipment on stage (as done by Pete Townshend) is one way to make your performance memorable, but may not be recommended for academic presentations. For many (most?) PhD students, there comes a time when they must present … Continue reading →

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You’re turning into your supervisor

Posted on 2 May 2012 by Erika Cule

This week I met up with some collaborators. This was the trip that led to a chance encounter with fellow OT blogger Austin: Small world, science – just bumped into @occamt‘s London-based PhD student blogger Erika Cule occamstypewriter.org/erikacule/ in the … Continue reading →

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Book Review – Stefan Collini asks What Are Universities For?

Posted on 18 March 2012 by Erika Cule

I picked up What Are Universities For? by Stefan Collini for two reasons. I had been impressed by Collini’s article in the London Review of Books last summer critiquing the Browne review. (I also enjoyed William Cullerne Bown‘s comments on … Continue reading →

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Have you started writing yet?

Posted on 29 January 2012 by Erika Cule

Have you started writing yet? is a question I get asked (what feels like) often. Normally, it is a follow-up to What year are you in [of your PhD]?

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Stocktake

Posted on 9 December 2011 by Erika Cule

One year since the launch of Occam’s Typewriter, one year since my MPhil to PhD upgrade exam, and one year (more or less) to go until the end of the PhD. This seems a suitable place for stocktaking. This year’s … Continue reading →

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Creativity

Posted on 3 December 2011 by Erika Cule

5th edition When I was revising for my undergraduate exams, I was exasperated by the sheer volume of stuff I needed to know. I was intimidated by the number of facts I would need to have to hand when I … Continue reading →

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