The alarm goes off and the space between your ears, which only moments ago had you laying on a beach made of candy, is suddenly filled with the following inner dialogue: “I’ve got to start that reaction tomorrow, so I can’t forget to run by the stockroom today – maybe I can go after lunch – oh, but I have to meet Jason to talk about our collaboration – oh crap, I need to work up that data – but I’m meeting with the boss first thing in the morning – it snowed last night – better get out of here earlier than usual – no time to eat – am I out of clean undershirts? I need to do laundry this weekend – I’m out of detergent – when does Costco open? – did my membership expire or was that my car insurance? I’ve got to get an oil change – how much will that cost? Karen owes me $40 for dinner – I can’t stand that guy she’s dating…”

Ah, stress.  It can be absolutely crippling.

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Although the summer heat is behind us, sleep remains a pretty hot commodity, particularly at this time of year when the academic cycle is just getting started.  In many circles, people wear sleep deprivation like a badge of honor as evidence of how hard they’ve been working.  But standing at the bench with bloodshot eyes, trying to remember why we’re standing there in the first place is hardly heroic…

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For many of us, this week may be the first full week back in the swing of things.  Summer vacations have come and gone, the short Labor Day week is behind us and now it’s back to the grind.  New classes to take, new lectures to give, new reasons to once again start losing sleep…

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The first biochemistry lab I worked in had a policy that you could not use a miniprep kit until you had mastered the “old school” way.  This meant making buffers, phenol-chloroform extractions and no columns – it was an all day affair.  [Continue Reading…]

We wouldn’t sit down to dinner at a friend’s house and slurp up the soup using only our hands.  We wouldn’t start peppering a seminar speaker with questions on their title slide, either.  Why not?  Simply put, it would be rude.  Most situations in our lives are dictated by etiquette – a series of guidelines that suggest the “proper” behavior for a situation.  The lab is no different…

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It’s been a long day in lab and we’re tired, hungry and sick of mac ‘n cheese… many times, sheer exhaustion makes us want to say “Bag it, I’ll just skip dinner.”  Actually, “Bag it” is exactly the right answer!

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The new generation of scientists is breaking the mold when it comes to the image of our personality, intellect and, of course, fashion.  Today is the start of Fashion Week in New York.  In commemoration of this event, BenchFly is laying down some rules to ensure the survival of this updated image.

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Professors face a number of challenges in teaching science to undergraduate and graduate students.  Some of them are relatively easy to fix, while others pose significant challenges.  With research becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, should (and can) the undergraduate science curriculum evolve to reflect the emerging landscape?  We spoke with Professor Teaster Baird, Jr. about the current state of education and the solutions that may rescue it.

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Nothing says convenience (or craftiness) like a videocamera that fits in the palm of your hand.  A perfect camera for the lab… Meet the Flip camera.  These little guys are so easy to use even Congress could figure them out!  This month, we’ve increased the number of ways you can become the proud owner of a brand new Flip camera.

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I was on the golf course a few weeks ago philosophizing with a dear friend of mine and our conversation starting wandering the way of reminiscing about our PhD experiences, which differed greatly.

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