About Jenny
By day: cell biologist at UCL. By night: novelist, broadcaster, science writer, sci-lit-art pundit, blogger and Editor of LabLit.com. I blog about my life in science, not the facts and figures.
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Author Archives: Jennifer Rohn
In which I dream of going viral
In a post I wrote over on the Guardian yesterday, I made the comparison between early-career researchers and unknown musicians: But how does a younger scientist with a shorter track record, whose “excellence” might not yet be apparent, get his … Continue reading
In which I cling on
Recently I was kindly invited by the University of Southampton’s branch of the University and College Union to give a talk about the casualization of research jobs. ‘Casualization’ refers to the state whereby workers are employed in a disposable fashion … Continue reading
In which we endure
Baby, it’s cold outside. And inside too, as it happens. Over the past month or two, London has been in the grip of some of the coldest weather I ever remember having experienced here. For most London workers, the chill … Continue reading
In which we make a mess of things
As a rule, when I’m trying to be creative, I have a hard time focusing if my workspace is not pristine and well-ordered. This holds true whether I’m working on a novel at my desk or performing an experiment on … Continue reading
Posted in Nostalgia, Scientific method, Silliness
6 Comments
In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory
Are you a early-career cell biologist (PhD student or post-doc) in the UK with a flair for the pen? Do you like to communicate about your science using everyday words and sentences structures other than the passive voice? Or maybe … Continue reading
Posted in science funding, The profession of science, Writing
Comments Off on In which science writer wanna-bes are given a chance at fame and glory
In which we feel the estrogen love
Yesterday was a mixed day for women in science. Bright and early in the morning, I sat plugged into Skype waiting for the BBC World Service to interview me about subconscious bias against female scientists. The news hook was a … Continue reading
Posted in Careers, The profession of science, Women in science
1 Comment
In which I get my mojo back
So 2012 has drawn to a close, a new year is upon us and London’s seemingly endless broodiness gave way to brilliant sunshine today. Out in our local park this morning, strewn with spent fireworks and empty Champagne bottles, unusually … Continue reading
Posted in LabLit, Nostalgia, Writing
5 Comments
In which a classic tale of DNA and discovery is recast
As for many people in the molecular biology profession, my first reading of The Double Helix by James Watson was a revelation. I can’t recall how old I was – probably in my late teens. I had already decided I … Continue reading
Posted in LabLit, Nostalgia, The profession of science, Women in science, Writing
6 Comments
In which lab lit storms New York
Last night my publisher emailed me in high excitement to tell me that I, and my magazine LabLit.com, had received some positive coverage in The New York Times. Do have a read of this (freely available) piece by Katherine Bouton … Continue reading
Posted in LabLit, Writing
8 Comments
In which I am not a science cheerleader
There is something seductive about the scientific profession: it exerts a gravity so powerful that it can hoover all of the surrounding universe into its warped perspective. If you have your heart set on being a scientist, you set off … Continue reading
