You never know when inspiration will strike. I still remember the day that Dr. Francis Collins came to visit my high school genetics class. At that time, Dr. Collins was the director of the Human Genome Project, an international research program aimed at uncovering the genetic building blocks essential for human life. Imagine our recent excitement when Dr. Collins, now Director of the NIH, specially attended a reception for clinical fellows at the Clinical Center.
Most researchers have had conversations with non-scientist friends or family members that start with a seemingly innocent question: “So, what are you working on?” Answering directly can be a challenge, especially in basic biomedical research. What is the best way for scientists to share exactly what they’re studying, why, and how? NIH’s Three-Minute Talks (TmT) program just completed its second annual competition, aiming to help early career scientists develop the skills to wow and inform people they meet.
When we ran the “I Am Intramural” campaign several years ago we learned that one of the major reasons that scientists are so passionate about what they do here is their ability to collaborate with exceptional researchers. We heard from many that the ability to share ideas and engage experts to brainstorm across disciplines made a difference in their ability to advance their science to the next step.
In college, a common student icebreaker is a game called “two truths and a lie.” A lucid memory of playing this game stands out for me: a very sweet and quiet friend had written down her three “facts,” one of which was that she had “fancy rats” for pets. I couldn’t understand how my docile friend could tolerate rats at all, much less “pet” rats. Surely, that must have been the lie, right?
Fast-forward a few years, and I am now happily working at the NIH in a position where rats are an integral part of what I do.
Having loved government-issued pens for…well, many years…I was surprised to learn that they were mandated by Congress under the 1938 Wagner-O’Day Act to be bought from firms employing blind Americans.
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.
Academic job interviews are actually pretty fun, but really tiring as most days are very long. The following is a typical schedule to expect for an interview:
Day 1
Morning:
Travel to interview location
Afternoon:
Meetings with Faculty Members
6 – 9 p.m.:
Dinner with faculty members, probably the head of the search committee
As an “I Am Intramural” Blog reader, you likely know that the IRP is comprised of more than 6,000 scientists conducting basic, translational, and clinical research in more than 50 buildings on six different IRP campuses around the U.S.But, do you know the answers to the questions in the following IRP Pop Quiz?
Researchers at the NIH IRP have access to:
a) Laboratory equipment sales, rental, repairs, and maintenance b) Plants and marine organisms for research c) High-throughput DNA sequencing d) A and C e) All of the above
