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.

Diversity skips African Americans in science

Posted on 22 September 2017 by Steve Caplan

On a recent grant review panel, I was struck at the degree of diversity among the reviewers  at the table; with roughly twenty scientists in the group, I noted people who who hailed from at least nine different countries (not … Continue reading →

Posted in affirmative action, African American, diversity, education, grant review, minorities, panels, Research, science | Comments Off on Diversity skips African Americans in science

Science in the Trump era

Posted on 2 September 2017 by Steve Caplan

Shortly after the inauguration of Trump as president of the US, this country has entered a new “post-truth” era. The president, who undoubtedly has serious (and perhaps justifiable) feelings of inferiority and insecurity along with his narcissism–despite outward posturing–claimed that … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative facts, inauguration, kellyanne conway, liar, lies, m, mendacious, mitochondria, narcissistic personality disorder, president, president obama, Research, science, sean spicer, Trump | Comments Off on Science in the Trump era

A student’s guide to finding and securing a desirable PhD mentor in the biomedical sciences

Posted on 6 August 2017 by Steve Caplan

Several years ago I wrote a satirical article titled “How not to get a lab job.” In that piece, designed primarily for graduate students who were looking for post-doctoral positions, I tried to use real-life examples based on the types … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, career, career in science, education, faculty, graduate program, graduate student, how to find a mentor, laboratories, labs, large lab, mentor, mentors, mentorship, new investigator, PhD students, position, post-doc, postdoc, postdoctoral fellow, productivity, publications, Research, rotations, science, scientific career, stress, success in the lab, university, vetting | Comments Off on A student’s guide to finding and securing a desirable PhD mentor in the biomedical sciences

The Chinese Hoax that affects the globe

Posted on 18 June 2017 by Steve Caplan

Something wicked this way comes (R. Bradbury) Our Dear Leader took to Twitter, his favorite media form, some years ago (and one would presume that it is his favorite because reading or writing more than 140 characters may be beyond … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, hail, lightning, Nebraska, president, rain, science, severe weather, thunder, Trump, weather | Comments Off on The Chinese Hoax that affects the globe

Even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut—or does he?!

Posted on 1 June 2017 by Steve Caplan

The new Emperor, Dear Leader, or as he is known in this country, President of the United States of America, is on the verge of proving that even age-old sayings are no longer sacrosanct. Since inauguration in January, we have … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, Paris accord, Research, science | Comments Off on Even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut—or does he?!

The March for Science: Can and should politics be absent?

Posted on 22 April 2017 by Steve Caplan

Since the crowning of the current US administration, the scientific community in the US has not only been reeling from the proposed cuts to almost every type of scientific research in this country, but also from the quandary of what … Continue reading →

Posted in #MarchforScience, education, March for Science, Occam, Research, science, scientists, truth, US | Comments Off on The March for Science: Can and should politics be absent?

Back to the cranes

Posted on 3 April 2017 by Steve Caplan

Although it feels almost treason-like to momentarily hold my tongue and write a blog about unrelated to the war being waged on science and truth in the US, the annual crane-fest is as good a reason as any to distract … Continue reading →

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Back to the Middle Ages

Posted on 18 March 2017 by Steve Caplan

The current administration under the direction of Trumph has published a new budget proposal for 2018 discretionary spending. It does not take a Ph.D. in economics to realize that aside from a huge 54 billion dollar increase to the military … Continue reading →

Posted in budget, cuts, National Institutes of Health, NIH, president, Research, science, Trump | Comments Off on Back to the Middle Ages

SAVING ONE–my 4th lab lit novel is now available!

Posted on 18 February 2017 by Steve Caplan

After a hiatus of nearly four years, my fourth novel featuring biomedical researchers as protagonists has finally been published, and is now available in paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon. Or you can get an autographed copy if you purchase … Continue reading →

Posted in Research, science | Comments Off on SAVING ONE–my 4th lab lit novel is now available!

Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the White House

Posted on 22 January 2017 by Steve Caplan

Full disclosure: I am not a psychiatrist. But it doesn’t take a board certified psychiatrist to see ominous parallels between the behavior of the recently elected president of the United States and a mental illness known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder … Continue reading →

Posted in crowd size, inauguration, narcissistic personality disorder, Politics, president, presidential elections, Trump, US | Comments Off on Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the White House