What’s the best way to understand research articles?Sometimes the wording is difficult and it takes me a long time to read articles. Help?
Different types of articles need different approaches. The short answer is that articles are only meant to be “read” by the most interested expert in a field. Most of the time when you “read an article”, what you actually want to do is extract information or critically evaluate a hypothesis that is addressed by a study. Both of these tasks are are simplified when you understand the way that articles are organized. I’ll take some time at the beginning of the next lecture to talk through strategies for reading primary literature and review articles.
When you go to publish, do you submit to multiple journals and publish in the first one that will take it? Do you hold out for a better one? What is the time frame?
It seems a little counter-intuitive at first, but you can only submit to one journal at a time. It is a breach of professional science ethics and most journal policies to have the same manuscript in consideration by multiple journals. Part of the reasoning for this is that peer review is performed by the volunteer, peer reviewers. If everyone just submitted their papers to 10 journals, there would be 10 times as many papers to review and no one would get any science done! There is a lot of strategizing that comes into play when deciding what journals to try to submit your paper (also called a “story”) to, and there are many metrics for ranking journals (all of them are flawed in some way). The time to publication certainly comes into play when considering what journals to try… it can take anywhere from a couple hours to a couple months to get any verdict whether the paper will even be sent out for peer review or if it is just flat out rejected. The shortest turnaround time for a publication that I have been involved with is about 3 weeks and the longest is 6 years, but usually you should expect 2-6 months.
Do you do any other research at NC State or do you just teach?
Yes! The Organoids module that I am launching this semester is how I will be doing most of my research. I am taking summer students through the bit-sure program. Applications are due 2/1. http://biotech.ncsu.edu/pages/bit-sure
Did you do much undergraduate research?
Some in my classes, but no independent research until I was an upperclassman. I did a clinical research internship and realized that wasn’t for me. Then, I spent a summer volunteering in an Immunology lab as a crash course in lab research. That was a much better fit, so I underloaded my senior year to commit 10-20hrs a week to undergraduate research.
Could you recommend a citation manager?
I use RefWorks and EndNote. I prefer EndNote, but it’s not free. Others that I have heard used are Zotero, Mendeley, and Papers (Mac only).
Should I get my PhD? Can I get help with finding a research-related job?
I’d recommend starting with filling out a “myIDP” at http://myidp.sciencecareers.org/ The surveys at this site will help match your interests, skills, and values with a wide range of science careers and resources to explore those careers. (Hint: there’s more than just research jobs). Most jobs of any sort look favorably on having some sort of related experience; so, the best way to get a research-related job is to do some research. NCSU and most Universities can help you get past this initial Catch-22 to build an experience base. After you have a myIDP, set up a time to meet and I’d be happy to help you strategize your next step.
How can I gain lab experience?
I’m not sure where to start? Good question, and the answer will vary a lot depending on your specific education background and interests. Set up a time for office hours and I’d be happy to help you strategize.
Do you ever get bored teaching fundamental topics like this class when you could be working on exciting applications of biotech?
Teaching is never boring! I’m a bit of an idealist and want to save the world. I feel the best way for me to do this is to teach you how to create the next new exciting biotechnology. Oh, and I am still working on exciting biotech 😊 <insert shameless plug for my new organoid course>
What were your best study techniques as a graduate student?
During grad school, the practice of self-explanation was absolutely the most effective technique for learning to solve problems, design experiments and critically evaluate data. Outside of study, treating the whole experience as a job and a training program rather than “just school” kept me focused and working effectively while I was at work (grad school) because… well… if it’s a job, you can’t goof off.
