Author Archives: Steve Caplan

About Steve Caplan

I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska where I mentor a group of students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers working on endocytic protein trafficking. My first lablit novel, "Matter Over Mind," is about a biomedical researcher seeking tenure and struggling to overcome the consequences of growing up with a parent suffering from bipolar disorder. Lablit novel #2, "Welcome Home, Sir," published by Anaphora Literary Press, deals with a hypochondriac principal investigator whose service in the army and post-traumatic stress disorder actually prepare him well for academic, but not personal success. Novel #3, "A Degree of Betrayal," is an academic murder mystery. "Saving One" is my most recent novel set at the National Institutes of Health. Now IN PRESS: Today's Curiosity is Tomorrow's Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research (CRC PRESS, 2021). https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B006CSULBW? All views expressed are my own, of course--after all, I hate advertising.

Reserving judgment [17]

Posted on 13 December 2011 by Steve Caplan

I would probably prefer to write another blog on the sense of entitlement that seems to be permeating through the ranks of today’s graduate students. However, unlike some pseudonym-wielding bloggers, who hide their identities behind closed doors in order to … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, decisons, entitlement, judgment, PI, psychology, Research, science | Comments Off on Reserving judgment [17]

Winter cometh [11]

Posted on 11 December 2011 by Steve Caplan

Winter cometh to our lilac bush, recently The problem with being a scientist, and a cell biologist as such, is that everything reminds me of cellular organelles. These icicles remind me of the membrane bound tubules involved in endocytic recycling…

Posted in icicles, lilac bush, membrane tubules, omaha, science, winter | Comments Off on Winter cometh [11]

…And so say all of us…and so say all… [11]

Posted on 10 December 2011 by Steve Caplan

My belated congrats–couldn’t resist joining in, although I was a latecomer. So a quick ramble: One day, I was minding my gap, when someone came up to me and said, “I have a confession–I was driving by the city limits … Continue reading →

Posted in happy birthday OT, humor, Silliness, utter silliness | Comments Off on …And so say all of us…and so say all… [11]

It’s that time of year [9]

Posted on 3 December 2011 by Steve Caplan

Nearly every year I try to make my way to the American Society for Cell Biology meeting. This year, it’s surprisingly close to home, being held in Denver, Colorado. Recent years have seen it traditionally in San Francisco, San Diego … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, cell biology, hotel, Research, science, scientific meetings | Comments Off on It’s that time of year [9]

BOOK LAUNCH!

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

It’s finally here, the “Book Launch” for my new novel, “Welcome Home, Sir,” published by Anaphora Literary Press! After the 13 year struggle for publishing “Matter Over Mind,” this time I seem to have done it with the speed of … Continue reading →

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Playin’ Possum? Impossumble…

Posted on 25 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

An opossum, recently For some time now, I have been treading carefully when mowing the lawn (which is now no longer necessary despite our mild weather this year) and raking the leaves. The reason for this is that a mysterious … Continue reading →

Posted in gun culture, hunter, neighbor, opossum, possum | Comments Off on Playin’ Possum? Impossumble…

Where the hell is regulation when it’s actually needed?!

Posted on 21 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

Anyone with any relationship to science will tell you horror stories about bureaucracy and regulatory issues hindering science. One classic example of how ridiculously out-of-touch bureaucrats have become was described here by Jenny Rohn fairly recently, with rules mandating that … Continue reading →

Posted in bureaucracy, doctors, Eltroxin, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Medicine, regulation, replacement, Research, science, thyroid hormone | Comments Off on Where the hell is regulation when it’s actually needed?!

Rational goals for science education

Posted on 13 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

There were two events that conspired this past week to lead me to the topic of education–and particularly science education. The first was the unlikely event in which I actually watched television. Although we do have a small screen telly … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Finland, math, rational thinking, Research, S. Korea, School, science, STEM, US | Comments Off on Rational goals for science education

Transferance in performance jitters

Posted on 9 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

Being in science since 1986–which would mean about a quarter of a century since I began to study in university–I have spent a lot of time learning to communicate, both in writing and orally. I’m not sure when I lost … Continue reading →

Posted in defecating bricks, education, nervousness, over-empathizing, postdocs, presentations, Research, science, students, sweaty palms, transferance | Comments Off on Transferance in performance jitters

Truth Serum

Posted on 7 November 2011 by Steve Caplan

Scientists have been given a bad reputation by being inherently literal. But there is a limit to the amount of bullsh*t that I am willing to hear without fighting back. I can recall having endless dead-ended conversations about “carbs” this … Continue reading →

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