Category Archives: science

A roller coaster week…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Steve Caplan

I am not usually one to walk around with a big grin on my face on Friday, glad to bid good-bye to the week at hand. No, I enjoy my work (most of the time), just as I enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, research, science | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Who says scientists aren’t creative?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Steve Caplan

One of the things that people tends to think about scientists is that we are all machine-like robots who are technically advanced, but without an ounce (or gram) of creativeness. I’m planning in this brief blog to dispel this criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, research, science | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Interpreting Reference Letters–Lost in Translation?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Steve Caplan

As a principal investigator, or PI, one of the tasks that I am consistently faced with is “interpretation.” How so? Well obviously, my job revolves around interpreting data and trying to understand if experiments done by my students and co-workers … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, research, science | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

If these data were in a grant, it wouldn’t be funded

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Steve Caplan

Harping on my chronic lack of time this month due to a hectic schedule, I am going to post a quick laconic blog featuring a little something that I noticed in the freezer. I stay away from these frozen ice … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, science | Tagged , , | 39 Comments

BLOG # 100: Professional lecturers–good or bad?

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Steve Caplan

I can’t believe this is my 100th blog! Thanks to everyone at OT for putting up with me! In today’s world of dwindling scientific funding across many parts of the globe, one issue that seems to be more frequently discussed … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, research, science | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

Dealing with pressure…and men

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Steve Caplan

Occam’s Typewriter has seemed like a home to me since I started this gig about a year ago.  Always controversial, always avant-garde, always energizing. And it still is. But lately I’ve found that my energies for putting a tolerable piece … Continue reading →

Posted in research, science | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

My best Ph.D. prank

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Steve Caplan

Looking back at 2011, my first year as a blogger and my new affiliation with OT, I find that I have written 96 blogs. That’s probably 96 more than most of you would care to read, so I may try … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, research, science | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Impressions from a Parallel Universe

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Research and life have many things in common. In particular, it has always intrigued me that when following a line of research in the lab, we are constantly presented with branching points that make it imperative to make decisions about … Continue reading →

Posted in research, science | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

The Plot Thickens

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Well yes, it’s true. The plot for my upcoming work-in-progress (AKA-barely started) novel is thickening. No, you read that right, not “sickening,” but “thickening.” But as this all begins to take shape, I find myself coming back from an adrenalin … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, science | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Reserving judgment

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Steve Caplan

I would probably prefer to write another blog on the sense of entitlement that seems to be permeating through the ranks of today’s graduate students. However, unlike some pseudonym-wielding bloggers, who hide their identities behind closed doors in order to … Continue reading →

Posted in research, science | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments