Category Archives: humor

How *NOT* to deliver a seminar

Posted on 8 March 2019 by Steve Caplan

It seems that people are apt to try and recreate or relive their greatest successes, and it turns out that I am not immune to this behavior. Some years ago, a combination of exasperation and disbelief coupled with an attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in education, How NOT to get a lab job, how to deliver a presentation, How to give a seminar, humor, postdoc, postdoctoral fellow, presentation, Research, science, talk, tips on presenting a seminar | Comments Off on How *NOT* to deliver a seminar

Even scientists have birthdays

Posted on 24 February 2018 by Steve Caplan

What do you get for a scientist who has everything? Except, perhaps, all the grants and papers he wants….

Posted in Birthdays, grants, humor, manuscripts, peer review, Research, reviews, science, scientists | Comments Off on Even scientists have birthdays

No escape from the geeky scientist phenotype–or is that stereotype?

Posted on 19 January 2017 by Steve Caplan

Professor John Nerdelbaum Frink, Jr., scientist from “The Simpsons.” A familiar stereotype.

Posted in doddering fools, exxon, Geek, humor, intoverts, nerd, phenotype, Research, science, scientist, spotify, stereotype, the simpsons | Comments Off on No escape from the geeky scientist phenotype–or is that stereotype?

Hey, I didn’t even get the grant!

Posted on 15 January 2016 by Steve Caplan

Scientists today spend a considerable chunk of their time writing: grants, protocols, manuscripts, reviews, grant reviews, etc. One of the bureaucratic requirements that most of us are familiar with is the “progress report.” Every year — or even after every … Continue reading →

Posted in awardee, bureaucracy, foundation, funding, grant, humor, No, progress report, Research, science, scientist, Writing | Comments Off on Hey, I didn’t even get the grant!

Flushing out the culprit

Posted on 22 August 2015 by Steve Caplan

Over the years in academia, I’ve learned a trick or two about good administration. And here I am, rising to the task: a serial leaver-of-paper on the men’s departmental toilet seat needed to be taken care of. At first, I … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, administration, cleanliness, humor, Research, science, toilets | Comments Off on Flushing out the culprit

Being an expert in (membrane) recycling has perks!

Posted on 8 May 2015 by Steve Caplan

This morning I awoke to the following email (and yes, “OMICS” does it again): Dear Dr. Steve Caplan, Greetings of the day. Hope you are doing well.

Posted in barcelona, emminence, endocytosis, humor, mitosis, OMICS, recycling, Research, science | Comments Off on Being an expert in (membrane) recycling has perks!

Moved to poetry by….OMICS

Posted on 24 January 2015 by Steve Caplan

Yes, the unfunny joke of a company called OMICS has moved me. Debating between tears and poetry, I opted for the latter, writing my “Epic Omics Limmerick,” provoked by the email pasted below. Here is my verse: There once was … Continue reading →

Posted in BS, fraud, humor, limmerick, OMICS, Open Access, poetry, Research, science, science journals, Science research, sucker born every minute | Comments Off on Moved to poetry by….OMICS

“Dogged Science”

Posted on 26 October 2014 by Steve Caplan

No, this is not posed or photoshopped. But it is apparent that Ginger is somewhat less enthusiastic about calculations in single molecule imaging than I am.

Posted in competing interests, dogs, dSTORM, Ginger, humor, Labrador Retriever, Research, science, single molecule imaging, vizsla | Comments Off on “Dogged Science”

World Cup SNOUT

Posted on 15 June 2014 by Steve Caplan

Caption, please?

Posted in doggy, Football, humor, World cup | Comments Off on World Cup SNOUT

The ease of publishing does not reflect the realities of science

Posted on 24 April 2014 by Steve Caplan

Almost every day I am besieged through email to either join editorial boards of new ‘up-and-coming’ journals or submit manuscripts to them. Neither is a trivial matter for me. A submitted manuscript often comes after several years of research by … Continue reading →

Posted in article, fly-by-night, humor, journals, online, Open Access, paper, Research, science, Submission, waste of time | Comments Off on The ease of publishing does not reflect the realities of science