Category Archives: research

Money and the perversion of science

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Having just returned the grant review session at the NIH I thought that this would be a particularly good time to bring up something that has been bothering me for a number of years. It’s quite sad, but I’ve slowly … Continue reading →

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Postdocs treadmilling in science careers

Posted on March 5, 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 Education, research, science | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

I’d rather be blasting homeopathy…

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Although Austin has been doing such a great job in this area, and Cath’s defrocking of “horror-scopes” made a nice contribution, I would like to get my own claws on this matter. But alas, sadly, I have my own agenda … Continue reading →

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A working vacation

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Some time ago, one of my children asked me to explain what an oxymoron is, and I scrambled to find a good example. Well the title of this blog is a good one. Or is it? Years ago as Ph.D. … Continue reading →

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Regression to the “mean”

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Steve Caplan

They say that Steve Caplan is a mild-mannered scientist. But he pops into a phone-booth–no wait–that’s a thing of the past–he pops into the darkroom, and out comes Dr. Mean… Well, I do have a temper. Perhaps it’s slow to … Continue reading →

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The four Yorkshiremen at NIH…

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Steve Caplan

I said it. It didn’t mean to slip out, but it did. Well, I can’t cap the genie back in the bottle, can I? So here it is: “When I was at the NIH…” When I was a young student, … Continue reading →

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Which researcher is more likely to be “productive”?

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Steve Caplan

We all have our own styles and ways of doing things. What do YOU think? Is it the “cluttered” bench, or the “pristine” bench. Both photos taken (as a good control) at the end of a working day…

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There is peer review, and then there is this…

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Dear Dr. Steve Caplan It is because of good wishes and blessings of scientists, editorial board members and well wishers like you, the Journal of Chemical Engineering & Process Technology has now got International reputation. With your support, Journal of … Continue reading →

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When (bad) humor gets you into trouble, twice removed

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Steve Caplan

I have always been fascinated by proteins, and in the course of my post-doctoral research, I began to study the process known as “endocytic recycling”. In simple terms, protein receptors sitting on the cell membrane frequently are bound by an … Continue reading →

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Our obsession with “metrics”

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Okay- for my British colleagues, no worries, this will not be an attack on “the pint” and the value of the metric system (which unfortunately we have not adopted in the US). I will also stay away from the “metrics” … Continue reading →

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