Don’t…

1.  Procrastinate.  The list of tasks leading up to opening your first lab and starting your professorship appointment can seem quite formidable.  The sooner you start planning and executing, the smoother the process will flow.

2.  Panic.  Your to-do list is large, but not overwhelming.  Use time, planning and organization to simplify and keep track of tasks.  Help from current and future colleagues, along with tools such as BioData’s lab start-up checklist and interactive worksheet are essential management resources.

3.  Be afraid to fail and change course.  Whether it’s those first few experiments, balancing teaching and mentorship, or laboratory management or personnel issues, some things about your new lab will work, but others inevitably won’t.  Don’t be frustrated by these learning experiences, use them to strengthen your laboratory and group for the future.

Science for All recently posted a link to The Daily Dish, a self described catalog of 365 petri dishes painted by Klari Reis. The images are a collection of work she did in 2009.  These beautiful images, like the one pictured here, depict microscopic images.

The Daily Dish, Friday, November 20, 2009

Follow Klari Reis and view her collection of petri dish art on facebook.

In honor of last night’s Academy Awards, PhD Comics has provided us with their version of The 2397th Academic Awards:

PhD Comics continues to provide great entertainment to students and researchers who can commiserate with the characters portrayed in the their comics.

Find this comic and other PhD comics at phdcomics.com. While you’re there, also be sure to check out ‘Moesday’ which depicts a regular week in the life of a graduate student.

Back in 2007, Joel Gilmore created the following video of the well know 007, James Bond, as a Graduate Student. The video was an invitation he made for a party celebrating the completion of his PhD.

Thanks to @nparmalee, @LadyScientist, and @scicurious of the twitterverse for bringing this great video to my attention.

How successful do you think Bond would have been as a grad student?