Author Archives: Sylvia McLain

About Sylvia McLain

Girl, Interrupting aka Dr. Sylvia McLain used to be an academic, but now is trying to figure out what's next. She is also a proto-science writer, armchair philosopher, amateur plumber and wanna-be film-critic. You can follow her on Twitter @DrSylviaMcLain and Instagram @sylviaellenmclain

Am I having impact?

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

For the last few days there has been some buzz around the non-use of Impact Factors as a criteria for the UK’s Research Excellent Framework. Richard Catlow (head of the Chemistry REF panel) put it in writing here in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Impact Factor, science writing, scientific publishing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Let me give you some advice….

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

on advice If I were to offer a new academic advice it would be to not be afraid to take advice from your colleagues; especially with respect to writing. I was talking to one of my collaborators the other day … Continue reading →

Posted in science writing | Tagged , | 5 Comments

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I had a boyfriend back in the day who wrote music semi-professionally. The best bit of composing a piece of music, according to the boy, was the creative process with another person – that toing and froing of thoughts and … Continue reading →

Posted in scientific publishing | Tagged | 3 Comments

On portrayals of women in science(y) films

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

There is a feminist critical film theory from the 70’s that pointed out (rather astutely) that in many films women where just there to be looked at. Men did stuff, women were present either for visual pleasure, or simply as … Continue reading →

Posted in women, women in science, women in science films | Tagged , | 11 Comments

The pressure of high-impact

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

High impact papers, h-indexes and pedigree. These are all things I have been forced to think about lately. I have recently completed two grant applications. For each of them, I had to write the cringe-worthy section on myself and how … Continue reading →

Posted in h-index, high impact publications, REF | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Back in the day…..

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

The first questioned often asked in a PhD defense is ‘what was your favorite part of your PhD?’ My answer? Building an HF/F2 line. It took me almost a year to complete. I spent the better part of the first … Continue reading →

Posted in HF, laboratory equipment | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Gantt charts, work plans and funding research

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

I spend four hours yesterday making a chart. Really. It was a Gantt chart. For those of you not familiar with a Gantt chart this is what they look like: According to Wikipedia – source of all modern knowledge – … Continue reading →

Posted in research funding | Tagged , | 23 Comments

Like butter over too much bread….

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

Beginning of the year Forbes published its Ten Least Stressful Jobs of 2013. Number 1? University professor with a helpful salary guide – median (US) salary $62,000/year – just in case someone decides they might want to change jobs immediately. … Continue reading →

Posted in academics | Tagged | 5 Comments

Books I read in 2012 – an amateur’s review

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Sylvia McLain

US Congress has just kicked the fiscal can down the road. Global debt worries are abated. Well for now anyway. Instead of obsessively reading reports from the USofA – or in reality in addition to reading reports from the USofA … Continue reading →

Posted in Book review 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Evidence-based policy is a good thing – but please proceed with caution.

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Science is full of observable facts. Fact, when I drop a hammer off the top of the Shard, it’s going to fall to the ground. It doesn’t matter if I drop it or Brian Cox drops it (either Brian Cox) … Continue reading →

Posted in evidence based, UK Science policy | Tagged , | 2 Comments