mentoring
Remembrances: Mike Beaven (1936-2017)
Michael A. Beaven died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at age 80. Mike was an expert in mast cell biology and beloved friend and colleague of many. He had worked at the NIH since 1962.
In the past seven years during his formal “retirement,” Mike remained incredibly productive, coauthoring more than 20 primary publications as well as a number of reviews; and he continued to perform experimental work as well as being the “go to” scholar in a range of areas.
Remembrances: Claude B. Klee (1931-2017)
Claude Klee, a true giant among the many great NIH biochemists, died on Monday, April 3, after suffering a heart attack. She was 85 years old. Claude was a pioneer in the biochemistry of calcium-binding proteins and calcium-dependent signaling. Although retired for more than a decade, she remained an active mentor and advisor at the NIH in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a consistent presence on the Bethesda campus until her death.
Mentoring at NIH: Self-Assessment
A self-assessment is the first step in mapping out effective short-term goals and a clear career plan. At first, self-assessment may feel quite stressful.
Need a Mentor? FELCOM Can Help
Once you’ve earned that Ph.D. and are entering the first stage of a professional scientific career, the challenges are many—but you are not alone. A key resource available to NIH fellows in establishing their professional relationships is the Mentoring Committee, part of the Fellows Committee (FELCOM).
How to Thrive — Not Just Survive — in Science
Thrive. Originally from the Norse language, the word has evolved into the superlative of success. More than just doing well, it means to flourish, prosper, or bloom—words that set the bar very high in any profession, including science.
We believe that to thrive, you need to step outside what you already know and grasp what you don’t yet know—and to help you navigate that path we’ve compiled ten terrific tips for thriving as a scientist.
1. Follow your interests, but be open to new ideas.
Mentoring in Science
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the person whom Odysseus left in charge of his son Telemachus before leaving to fight in the Trojan War. According to Homer’s Odyssey, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, disguised herself as Mentor and visited Telemachus several times to advise him while his father was away. Today, the term “mentor” denotes someone who passes his or her knowledge and wisdom to somebody with less experience.
Postbac Poster Day Triumphs
If 580 posters displaying scientific data from research across the intramural programs at 24 NIH Institutes and Centers sounds like a lot to take in, have a look at the size of the crowds coming to see them. Walking into the Natcher Conference Center on Postbac Poster Day is like walking into a maze abuzz with urgency. Bulletin board after bulletin board of postbac research posters summarize months of work, each one surrounded by fellow scientists, NIH staff, and visitors staff who are interested in the research and asking questions.
