Hello PhD

195. Five Myths of Scientific Poster Design w/ Dr. Zen Faulkes

July 3, 2023July 3, 2023 Daniel Leave a comment

The scientific poster is an academic oddity. Where else do thousands of people gather around hundreds of large-format printouts to talk about esoteric subjects!?

Posters might be the most common form of scientific communication on the planet. In your career, you will probably present more posters than talks or journal articles. And nearly anyone can create a poster – from an undergraduate on a summer rotation to a tenured professor.

So it’s a good idea to hone your skills at creating and presenting scientific posters – you’ll have lots of opportunities to practice!

194. Mailbag: Do I Have to Do Animal Research?

June 16, 2023June 16, 2023 Daniel Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

It’s no secret that biomedical research relies heavily on animal models. Our mammalian cousins share so many common genes and pathways that we can often make breakthrough advances in human medicine through the use of animal proxies.

But animal research is neither easy nor fun. Experiments are expensive, time consuming, and it’s often dirty, smelly work. Many scientists balk at the ethical implications of making animals suffer for human health, and no matter your views, the work imposes a psychic cost.

This week we hear from a PhD student who needs to choose a lab, and it seem like her options include animal work, or finding another field of research entirely.

122. Tenure Tracker – The Life Non-Linear with Dr. Jimena Giudice (R)

May 31, 2023May 31, 2023 Daniel Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dr. Jimena Giudice has all the traits of a promising new faculty member.

Through her training and early career, she has earned more than a dozen grants and awards. She’s co-authored two dozen papers. And she has trained students and postdocs, gaining a reputation as a highly effective mentor.

You’d expect that Dr. Giudice’s undeniable success was the natural result of an early immersion in science and a dogged adherence to the well-worn path through college, grad school, and postdoc.

But of course, you’d be wrong. Before discovering a love for scientific research, Dr. Giudice spent ten years answering a different calling.

193. Listener Mailbag – Undergrad Research and Choosing a Master’s Program

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 Daniel Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, we open the mailbag to answer listener questions about getting extra research experience as an undergrad, and making a difficult choice between Master’s programs.

Stay with us!

192. Careers In Focus: Medical Writer

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023 Daniel Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

When you think about your day, which events and activities feel the most fulfilling? Which tasks do you tolerate, but would rather avoid?

Maybe your experiments feel like a drag, but you get a lot of satisfaction out of crafting an abstract for your latest research article. Or perhaps you love training new students in lab techniques, even if you don’t love processing samples yourself.

If you find your joy in communicating science more than working at the bench, you may want to explore a career as a medical writer.