Category Archives: mentor

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

Improvising As You Go

Posted on 31 October 2014 by Athene Donald

Just occasionally one sits down with a new book, starts to read and a great sense of calm, of recognition and of identification with the words in front of you descends. It’s all too rare but is wonderful when it … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, Catherine Bateson, mentor, Wow | Comments Off on Improvising As You Go

The Circle Game

Posted on 24 August 2013 by Steve Caplan

Over the last 6 weeks, 2 of my 6 graduate students have defended their dissertations and graduated–which brings me great joy in that they were each highly sought after and both will be heading to outstanding research labs of their … Continue reading →

Posted in education, graduation, Guest posts, mentor, PhD, Research, science, student | Comments Off on The Circle Game

Mentoring: Getting Personal?

Posted on 30 July 2013 by Athene Donald

Should one worry about confidentiality in the context of a mentoring relationship? Should line managers be one’s mentor? These were amongst the questions posed during the panel discussion in which I participated (along with Lab Director Jim Smith and Anne … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, career progression, Communicating Science, mentor, Rosalind Franklin, wikipedia, Women in science | Comments Off on Mentoring: Getting Personal?

Advice on taking advice

Posted on 20 August 2011 by Steve Caplan

Last week I pontificated wrote about my views on the traits that are necessary for a scientist to survive and indeed thrive in today’s world. And while there seems to be agreement that “luck” “fate” and “opportunity” are certainly useful … Continue reading →

Posted in advice, critiques, education, faculty, fate, journals, learn, luck, mentor, mentors, opportunity, papers, PI, post-doc, post-docs, Research, reviews, science, student, students, success | Comments Off on Advice on taking advice

A pinch of salt in the lab

Posted on 29 July 2011 by Steve Caplan

Ever see those amazing deaf-defying (thank you, Grant!) death-defying feats and the announcer at the end says: “Do not attempt to do this at home?” Well, do not attempt to do this in your lab.

Posted in beyond a shadow of a doubt, brilliant strategist, darkroom, ECL, education, Film, gel electrophoresis, graduate, humor, mentor, Ph.D., Research, science, stealing, student, worth your weight in salt, you taka-me-buffer? | Comments Off on A pinch of salt in the lab

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!”

Progress at MIT

Posted on 27 March 2011 by Athene Donald

This week saw the publication of a report from MIT entitled: A Report on the Status of Women Faculty in the Schools of Science and Engineering at MIT, 2011. This is a follow up report to an earlier ground-breaking report … Continue reading →

Posted in committee work, Equality, mentor, MIT, positive discrimination, stereotyping, women, Women in science | Comments Off on Progress at MIT