Category Archives: Nostalgia

In which a classic tale of DNA and discovery is recast

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

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 I am not worthy

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

I am still pinching myself. The good folks from the Edinburgh Book Festival have invited me to get up on stage with one of my favorite authors, Neal Stephenson, to discuss the importance of science fiction on science fact. The … Continue reading →

Posted in LabLit, Nostalgia, Science fiction, Writing | 8 Comments

In which we’d like to acknowledge what’s-his-name

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

It is human nature to feel that you’re at the center of the universe, with all of life and experience revolving around your fixed point of view like a lazy orbit of galaxies. On a larger scale, this biased perspective … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, Scientific thinking, The profession of science | 41 Comments

In which they don’t make ’em like they used to

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

Even though I initially trained as a virologist, it’s a little known factoid that I did my PhD in an old-fashioned Microbiology department – back in the days when “microbiology” really meant “bacteria”. We virologists populated a small unfashionable pocket … Continue reading →

Posted in Nostalgia, The profession of science | 30 Comments

In which I sort it out

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jennifer Rohn

All of my professional life, I’ve worked in affluent labs – in academic groups bolstered by multiple sources of grant money, or in a biotech setting flush with investor capital. More recently, I’ve enjoyed a generous personal consumables budget courtesy … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, The profession of science | 24 Comments

In which I question the 24/7 lab mentality

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Is there a strong correlation between the number of hours you are physically present in a lab and the pace and success of your project? The furore over Nature’s 24/7 lab feature, published a few weeks ago, is still sending … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, Scientific thinking, The profession of science | 47 Comments

In which I salute the pioneers

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Cell and molecular biology is a bit of a dark art. The way we perform our experiments has been passed down from generation to generation in sacred texts known as “protocols”. Like any recipe used and abused by generations of … Continue reading →

Posted in Nostalgia, Scientific method, Scientific thinking, The profession of science | 28 Comments

In which I scrape by

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

I’ve been pondering the theoretical maximum number of simultaneous cell biological experiments that one person can do without losing it. I’ve also been testing the theory on a practical basis – on myself. And I can safely report that, by … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers, Nostalgia, Scientific method, The profession of science | 38 Comments

In which I confront a domestic mystery

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

Some late nights in the lab, that vending machine chocolate bar just can’t fill the snack hole that only a truly grueling experiment can induce. You need something hot, salty and preferably dripping with fat. It’s no surprise, then, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic bliss, Nostalgia, Scientific method, Silliness | 52 Comments

In which I go native

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Jennifer Rohn

We scientists are an itinerant bunch, wafting from job to job, city to city and – frequently – country to country, in search of that elusive permanent position. Because of that, our sense of ‘home’ – a place where we … Continue reading →

Posted in Nostalgia, The profession of science | 44 Comments