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.

Ph.D. survival: is a jack of all trades a master of none?

Posted on 6 May 2011 by Steve Caplan

Over the years science has changed a great deal. In just the last 50 years or so we’ve seen a major revolution in scientific research, due primarily to our understanding of DNA and ultimately how it codes for protein. But … Continue reading →

Posted in biochemistry, cell biology, coffe bean (just checking if you are awake), detergent, DNA, education, gel electrophoresis, graduate students, immunoprecipitation, jack of all trades, kits, lysate, mentor, Ph.D., PI, postdoc, protein, Research, science, students | Comments Off on Ph.D. survival: is a jack of all trades a master of none?

Good Mentorship, Passover and “Let my people go!”

Posted on 29 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

Several days ago I had scheduled a lab lunch with my group, where I was supposed to treat everyone to Sushi in honor of a paper that one of my students recently had accepted. However, someone was sick, and we … Continue reading →

Posted in education, egregious, Let My People Go, matzah, mentor, mentorship, Passover, postdocs, Research, science, student, students | Comments Off on Good Mentorship, Passover and “Let my people go!”

“Anne Frank and Me”, Science and Humanity

Posted on 23 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

I cried. Not just a lone tear running down my cheek, but a wet stream that went on and on, long after the actors took their final bows, and my daughter came down from the stage. The scene was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anne Frank, education, Ethics, genocide, Holocaust, Nazi, Nazi scientists, science, torture | Comments Off on “Anne Frank and Me”, Science and Humanity

NIH and my moral compass

Posted on 19 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland for the first time in 7.5 years since I completed my postdoctoral research there in 2003. I will always remember … Continue reading →

Posted in basic research, biochemistry, cell biology, clinical research, diverging research, fundamental research, model organisms, moral compass, NIH, Research, science, translational research | Comments Off on NIH and my moral compass

The dual nature of gender bias

Posted on 13 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

I wasn’t intending to write this blog. Not at all. I’d rather write about science–in fact I have two or three drafts that I have been thinking about for some time, and would much prefer to write. But like a … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty pageants, education, feminism, Israel, religion, society, values--or lack of them | Comments Off on The dual nature of gender bias

Parental Science Geeks, Beware-2

Posted on 13 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

Are YOU a science geek? Have you ever wondered what impact this might on your family? It’s another scene of revenge from the “Children of Science Geeks”! Beware!

Posted in beware, comics, education, humor, parental science geeks, parents, Research, science | Comments Off on Parental Science Geeks, Beware-2

Occam’s Thermometer

Posted on 7 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

Way back when I was an Occam’s Typewriter Irregular—that is to say, before Henry supplied me with his magic evolution-enhanced pellets—I wrote a blog about critical thinking and children. Now as a Regular—thanks to the Gee pellets—I would like to … Continue reading →

Posted in bacteria, growing bugs, humor, incubator, Occam's Razor, Occam's Thermometer, Occam's Typewriter, Occam's underwear, plates, Research, science, simplest model, students, trouble-shooting | Comments Off on Occam’s Thermometer

Beating anger, damnit!

Posted on 5 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

I wasn’t intending to write this post–it just came to me in a sudden flash. Damn! Xv$$#5&&&!! That feels better.

Posted in anger management, beating anger, cursing, humor, please-I beg you, unsubscribe me | Comments Off on Beating anger, damnit!

An image that’s hard to shake

Posted on 2 April 2011 by Steve Caplan

Reading (King) Richard’s blog “Silence is Golden” that addresses his very interesting short story published on LabLit.com, I couldn’t help thinking about an issue that has been bothering me these past couple weeks. Richard’s story occurs in a “lablit” setting—but … Continue reading →

Posted in ABNA, Amazon, book, critiques, fiction, geeks, image of scientists, lab lit, Literature, novel, Research, researcher, reviewers, science | Comments Off on An image that’s hard to shake

A sense of entitlement

Posted on 26 March 2011 by Steve Caplan

Some years ago when I was looking for a job, I had an interview at a university on the East Coast of the US. One of the search committee members picked me up, and on the way we had a … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, easy-life, education, exams, feet-up-in-the-air, Research, science, students, where did we go wrong | Comments Off on A sense of entitlement