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Author Archives: Erika Cule
Bafflement and effort
From Robbins to McKinsey – The Dismantling of the Universities by Professor Stefan Collini (Faculty of English, University of Cambridge) is a thoughtful, articulate and damming critique of the Browne report (pdf) and subsequent Higher Education White Paper (pdf). © … Continue reading
Posted in 1984, bafflement, Browne report, effort, George Orwell, Higher Education White Paper, longreads, university
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What does a PhD mean beyond academia? [12]
If a PhD graduate decides to pursue an alternative career apply for a job outside of academia, in some fields, recruiters will understand what is meant by the PhD on their CV. For a research career in industry a PhD … Continue reading
Posted in alternative careers, careers, CV, Life, PhD
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Book Review – Misha Angrist Here is a Human Being [1]
I was reading this book on a train. My friend and fellow passenger asked me what I was reading, and then, whether it was for work or for pleasure. I was momentarily flummoxed. There’s meant to be a difference?
Posted in book review, book reviews, Fun, genetics, genomics, Here is a human being, Misha Angrist, personal genetics, personal genome project
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Expressive behaviour [14]
I first came across the term “Expressive behaviour” in my latest self-help book, The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research. There is a review of this book here. The authors, Dr Marian Petre and Dr Gordon Rugg, introduce expressive behaviour and … Continue reading
Posted in Expressive behaviour, PhD
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Dilemma [17]
As well as a dilemma, we have the potentially useful term trilemma and even tetralemma (the choice between two, three or four options respectively). But a lemma, in mathematics anyway, is a stepping-stone in a proof, and does not mean … Continue reading
Posted in alternative careers, career, dilemma, Life, PhD
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What are you worried about?
If you are naturally someone who worries, then being a PhD student gives you plenty of opportunities to exercise your habit. You will have research-specific concerns about experiments working and deciding which approach to take. Inherent uncertainty comes with the … Continue reading
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Book Review – Lewis Wolpert on aging
I first came across Lewis Wolpert via his textbook Principles of Development which, to my mind, struck the right balance between seriousness and humour. “Principles of Development” captured the sense of wonder Wolpert feels for his research area, developmental biology. … Continue reading
Posted in book reviews, Elderly, Fun, Lewis Wolpert, Life, musings on life and death
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What is the alternative?
Next month, a referendum will ask voters in the UK At present, the UK uses the “first past the post” system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the “alternative vote” system be used instead? Official Poll Card
Posted in Alternative Vote, Life, No, Politics, Referendum, Yes
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How to throw a pancake party
Tuesday night is not traditionally a great night for a party. Your invitees have recovered from the weekend, and who wants to go out on a school night? It is not my fault, though, that Shrove Tuesday falls midweek. Known … Continue reading
