Author Archives: Cath@VWXYNot?

About Cath@VWXYNot?

"one of the sillier science bloggers [...] I thought I should give a warning to the more staid members of the community." - Bob O'Hara, December 2010

Explaining my scarlet letter

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

This post has been brewing and fermenting in my mind ever since I added the scarlet A to my blog a few months ago. The A is for Atheist, and you can read about the purpose of the corresponding “Out … Continue reading →

Posted in atheism, education, evolution, personal | 17 Comments

Really strange job ad

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I came across this job advertisement in a February edition of the New Scientist: “Not a Lab Rat Job / Special Projects ManagerBinnacleMA – Massachusetts Escape the NIH nightmare to join an eccentric CEO/entrepreneur of a Harvard Square-based, small money … Continue reading →

Posted in career, science, silliness | 4 Comments

Citation conspiracy?

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I may have uncovered another conspiracy. This time it’s to publish papers related to my postdoctoral research without citing me. I like being cited, and when a few likely looking candidates came up in this week’s Pubcrawler alert I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Continued silliness, and a limerick competition!

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I’m more often silly than not, And some of the feedback I got,Said to keep being ditzy –It seems that it fits me –So VWXYNot? Don’t worry, there will continue to be an interspersing of silliness amongst my more sensible … Continue reading →

Posted in competition, English language, limericks, silliness | 7 Comments

Signs of stress

Posted on March 1, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Oof! I’m glad that’s over. My thoughts on the great Canadian research funding conspiracy are on my other blog. Here are some signs my brain was over-worked this week: – I wrote dodgy limericks – I made up new words … Continue reading →

Posted in career, English language, grant wrangling, meta, personal, silliness | 8 Comments

The Great Canadian Research Funding Conspiracy Theory

Posted on March 1, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Well, that was one crazy week. I was involved in a grand total of 8 grants, 5 of which had a February 29th deadline (specialised Provincial programme) with the remaining 3 due on March 3rd (CIHR operating grants – the … Continue reading →

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Now this is a great idea

Posted on February 29, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

The UK’s National Trust is giving all employees the day off tomorrow, and has asked them to spend the day “for the environment”. I like this idea. Why should we work an extra day every four years for no extra … Continue reading →

Posted in silliness | 5 Comments

This is what too much caffeine and adrenaline does to me

Posted on February 26, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

When working on multiple grants,I fly by the seat of my pants.When it comes to the budget,Please let me just fudge it,Or you’ll suffer from one of my rants. Apparently I look like someone who knows what tissue microarrays cost. … Continue reading →

Posted in grant wrangling, limericks, rants, science | 6 Comments

Real life intrudes

Posted on February 22, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Me fail English? That’s unpossible!I only have a finite daily ability to write coherent English, and at the moment I need every last word of the good stuff at work. So I’m going to take a week or so off … Continue reading →

Posted in meta, personal | 7 Comments

Diamonds are a writer’s best friend

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Cath@VWXYNot?

My job as a research development facilitator means that I get to help colleagues write their grants. Lots of them. For very different projects. For example, I’m currently working on 6 different applications to the same competition, including basic, translational … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Diamonds are a writer’s best friend