Category Archives: postdoc

Does it pass the smell-test? Review of “The DNA of you and me”

Posted on 18 January 2020 by Steve Caplan

Moving into 2020, I realize that this is now my 10th year of blogging, a sport that I never really signed up for. In 2010, my daughter was 13 years old; now she is preparing for a series of interviews … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrea Rothman, author, fiction, lab, Lablit, novel, olfatory, postdoc, Research, reviews, science, sense of smell, smell test, student, The DNA of you and me | Comments Off on Does it pass the smell-test? Review of “The DNA of you and me”

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

A Sad Sign of the Times

Posted on 9 December 2017 by Steve Caplan

This past week, my graduate student, my post-doctoral fellow, and I flew out to Philadelphia for the annual American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) meeting. This 2007 meeting was my 20th year as an ASCB member, and marks 20 years … Continue reading →

Posted in American Society for Cell Biology, ASCB, immigration, postdoc, posters, presentation, public policy committee, Research, science, student | Comments Off on A Sad Sign of the Times

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

How to deal with delicate situations in the lab

Posted on 23 April 2016 by Steve Caplan

Welcoming diversity in the workplace has become second nature in the US, and I would venture to guess that the biomedical workplace has been paving the way for years. The reliance on international scientific talent in the US has truly … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, diversity, ethnic, graduate student, lab, laboratory, Music, nationality, personal hygiene, PhD, postdoc, postdoctoral fellow, Research, science, smoking, student, tolerance | Comments Off on How to deal with delicate situations in the lab

Keeping up appearances: I’ve been boto(x)-shopped!

Posted on 6 October 2012 by Steve Caplan

It’s remarkable how hard it can be to keep up with the technology needed for success in science. It seems that almost weekly I am being forced to change software programs for manipulating DNA, proteins and so on. Part of … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, botox, Ethics, humor, Photoshop, pictures, postdoc, Research, science | Comments Off on Keeping up appearances: I’ve been boto(x)-shopped!

Lonely One

Posted on 2 June 2012 by Steve Caplan

It’s been quite a week for me; an assortment of 6 different grant proposals having been submitted from my lab–most of them co-investigator proposals requiring a good deal of interdisciplinary coordination. In fact, the last few days I felt very … Continue reading →

Posted in career, chess, education, janis ian, loneliness, lonely one, PI, postdoc, principal investigator, Research, science, student | Comments Off on Lonely One

Ph.D. Pranks and Comeuppance

Posted on 4 April 2012 by Steve Caplan

Seeing as April 1st has come and gone, I would like to dedicate this blog to one of my favorite Ph.D. pranks (I’ve reported on a few in this forum in the past)–AND to tell you about a little email … Continue reading →

Posted in April Fools, humor, lab, pipette, postdoc, pranks, Research, science, Silliness, soundrel offspring | Comments Off on Ph.D. Pranks and Comeuppance

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?

Postdocs treadmilling in science careers

Posted on 5 March 2011 by Steve Caplan

I recently read Jenny’s outstanding and insightful commentary entitled “Give postdocs a career, not empty promises” published on March 2 (in your nth favorite weekly science journal beginning with the letter N). First, I want to voice my absolute support, … Continue reading →

Posted in career, education, job, laboratory, postdoc, principal investigator, Research, science, student | Comments Off on Postdocs treadmilling in science careers