Author Archives: Jennifer Rohn

About Jennifer Rohn

Scientist, novelist, rock chick

In which we are inundated: the #ukstorm lingers on

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

Britain is as soggy as a crumpet dunked in tea. (No Brits I know actually dunk their crumpets in tea, but it sounds suitably British, doesn’t it?) Even for a wet, rainy country used to wet, rainy winters, it’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in LabLit, Politics | 10 Comments

In which baking imitates science

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

It’s Friday, and Richard and I couldn’t help noticing that this croissant looked as if it were about to extravasate and transmigrate to the bottom of the oven, in search of…invading micro-organisms? Damaged tissue? Jam? We’ll never know, but check … Continue reading →

Posted in Scientific thinking, Silliness | 1 Comment

In which I multitask

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

Less than two weeks remain until my big fellowship application is due – the one I’m banking on to rescue me from the dwindling life of my latest short-term contract. If I get the fellowship, my position should finally be … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Domestic bliss, Staring into the abyss, The profession of science, Women in science | 16 Comments

In which I yearn for retro lab chic

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

They don’t make ’em like they used to. Or at least, they don’t name ’em. Harry and I recently stumbled across this beauty when we were clearing out some of the side rooms in our new lab space. Allow me … Continue reading →

Posted in Nostalgia, Silliness | 13 Comments

In which self-help goes all Jurassic on your ass

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

I don’t even know where to begin. How is this analogy even remotely helpful to those of us currently living in the Cenozoic Era?

Posted in Silliness, Writing | 17 Comments

In which I have too much to lose

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Jennifer Rohn

There’s an amusing adage I’ve been hearing about babies all my life: They make ’em cute so you won’t kill ’em. The F1, last week Evolutionarily, there may be something to that. If it was anything other than your own … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, Staring into the abyss | 17 Comments

In which nature imitates science

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

On the walk from my house to Russia Dock Woodlands, you have to pass by a particular hedgerow. Like all good hedgerows, it’s thick and impenetrable and rustling with unseen bird life. And it produces lots of bright-red berries, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, Scientific thinking, Silliness | 2 Comments

In which I drop in

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

I’m now roughly two-thirds of the way through my maternity leave, and feeling surprisingly good. After nearly three months with my new son, I’m finally under control: he is starting to sleep well at night, and I have mastered all … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, The profession of science | 1 Comment

In which I narrowly avoid oblivion

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

Even at moments of the most extreme duress, it is difficult for me to stop thinking like a scientist. A few days after the birth of my son some twelve weeks ago, things were just starting to normalize for Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Scientific thinking, Staring into the abyss | 20 Comments

In which UK science funding faces a sudden new peril

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Jennifer Rohn

A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin recently mocked the United Kingdom for being a “small island” to which no one paid any heed. He is clearly not familiar with the UK’s impressive scientific reputation on the world stage: with just 1% … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, science funding, Science is Vital | 3 Comments