Questions

Is the semester over yet? Where the hell is spring break? Where the hell did my life go? When is the pain going to stop? Why do people assume that when my door is shut that's just my way of saying "hey, come in on"?

Jun 2013

Circus

I’ve had so much going on lately, I feel like I’ve been juggling 24/7. And then someone ties one hand behind my back. And then gives me a blowtorch to add to the balls I already have in the air. And a chainsaw. Then I need to stand on one foot. And whistle. With my eyes closed. Sigh. Between grant writing, manuscripts, teaching, bench work, pre-tenure...

Jun 2013

Gaaaaaaaah ...

Dear caffeine, Why are you not working your splendiferous magic this week? I need your help so that I don't fall asleep on my desk and wake to find a river of drool, my face lined with the imprint from my keyboard and students taking photos of me with their phones. Damn you. Damn you and your inability to keep me awake during endless committee meetings...

Jun 2013

Things I learned at EB 2011

1. Taking sunscreen to DC was wishful thinking. 2. Taking a hat to DC was very wishful thinking. 3. Some of my Scientopian buddies are most excellent fun. Especially this one, and this one and this one. 4. It's ok to tell little white lies to your students if nobody dies as a result. 5. Catching up with friends to talk about stuff science is somewhat...

Jun 2013

Courtesy authorship for trainees

We all know of labs in which all of the trainees are listed as coauthors on every publication that goes out regardless of how much work they may or may not have contributed. I’ve been told that this approach demonstrates team work in the lab. In one lab that does this, each trainee specialized in just one technique and the lab operates like an assembly...

Jun 2013

Dilemma

My lab’s research fund is almost dry. We’re operating on fumes right now. Unfortunately, I’ve just discovered that a couple of vendors sell chocolate. Browsing the VWR website ... browsing ...browsing ... They sell chocolate agar. Yuk. Chocolate with vancomycin. Pass. "Supreme Mini-Treats, Chocolate. Formulated for all primates, and also for many other...

Jun 2013

Cruel

An email I received yesterday ... Hey PiT, Can you pick up some corn chips for tomorrow’s end of semester party? We know that you can’t cook and thought this might be easier for you. Colleague. Sigh. Grumble #1 I’m on the Doritos wagon so this is like asking a crack whore to pick up some crack for a party. Grumble #2 I can cook. I just choose not to....

Jun 2013

Teh Wimminz in Academia Thingy Again

It seems like forever since I posted anything on this here bloggy thingy. Why? I’ve been busy. Insanely, stupid, batshit, crazy busy. Good and bad shit has been happening. Mostly good. But with some smaller bad shit thrown in. Anyway, Her Royal Hermieness has been hassling me about participating in her Wimminz in Sciencey With No Babeez In Sight Thingy...

Jun 2013

Fees for grant applications?

It would appear that funding agencies are starting to look for new and novel ways to either raise revenue for their grants and/or to help cover the administrative costs associated with reviews and stuff. I’m guessing this is also to help reduce the number of applicants. Huh? I hear you type. Yep. The American Heart Association has added a small but...

Jun 2013

Follow up to the introduction of grant application fees

On the last post about the American Heart Association planning to introduce grant application fees next year, Glfadkt commented that: ... some groups (i.e American Diabetes Association) require those awarded grants to be members -- and the membership fee/dues cannot be paid from those grant funds. I’ve seen this before with a couple of associations...

Jun 2013