Overview of Research and How to Handle Being Stupid: Article Reflections

Over the weekend, we were assigned to read three articles.  These three articles were How to Succeed in Science: a Concise Guide for Young Biomedical Scientists Part I: Taking the Plunge and Part II: Making Discoveries by Jonathan W. Yewdell and The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research by Martin A. Schwartz.  Although combined at nine pages in length, the papers were very easy to read and gave insight on what it means to be a researcher, how to be a successful researcher, and my personal favorite, dealing with ignorance in research (O how I can relate).  All of these articles gave very good points involving research and can also be related to my future career goals in the health field.

          Part I in How to Succeed in Science: A Concise Guide for Young Biomedical Scientists was all about becoming a researcher or as the title called it: Taking the Plunge.  In this article, Jonathan outlines scientific research in the United States today.  He starts off his paper in an unusual way: by describing the depressing news that very few people striving for researching doctorates will ever become an independent researcher, and that those who do will spend most of their time and energy searching for grants to perform their experiments.  With this woeful future in store, Jonathan then reminds us of the importance of science, in that we as a society need advances in science to advance our own species.  He then breaks down the specifics on what it takes to be a happy and successful researcher.  And although I do not plan on taking a strict researching career, many of the tips Jonathan gives to researchers can be used in any career field.  A main area of concern involving graduate work is choosing the right institution and mentor.  By breaking down the different types of PIs to the criteria one should use in picking a mentor, one can relate these to any other field.  From picking the right hospital to choosing the right boss, who you work for not only influences your personal happiness, but you future endeavors as well.  And as of right now, I believe that I chose the right institution for my future in our school’s Science Department professors.  I believe they can give the tools needed to succeed in my future science career.

          Another major factor that Jonathan includes in Part I of his paper is the work ethic needed to be a successful researcher.  He breaks down the number of hours one should spend on science and that these hours should not be considered work.  Again, this can easily be applied to not only a career but life as well.  Whether it is medical school or marriage, I know that life takes work.  It requires as Jonathan stated, “a major commitment of your body and soul”.  And we have to enjoy it if we plan to end our lives with a smile on our faces.  Although the workload is plentiful, the rewards in putting forth the effort in research and life as well are well worth it.

          In part II of Jonathan’s article, Making Discoveries, he breaks down the crucial components of running an experiment.  He reflects on the designs of the experiment, the size and number of tests needed, how to properly write in a lab notebook, how to look at the smallest of details to get the right results, and the reasoning to go on your own paths of discovery.  Although at my point in researching I am a far cry from going on my own, I am slowly starting to grasp these other points.  I am learning how to use my notebook to jot down EVERYTHING I observe and to move away from the way I used to write up my lab notebook in O-Chem. with step by step procedures.  I am also learning that running one significant trial is not enough, and that many failed as well as successful tests need to be done to validate my findings.  Such is the case in my recordings of Dicty cell movement, in which I try to get as many videos in as possible to add credibility to my work.  This article also gave some insight in how to keep a lab room happy, including shying away from lab romances (sorry Ty L), and learning to deal with criticism (which is not always the easiest to do).  He finishes with a basic comment concerning research and life as well: Be sure to have fun with it!

          The final article which happens to be my personal favorite was The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research.  This one had to be read to understand its meaning.  No this article was not implying that a person can do research with very little brains.  This article begins with the fact that a co-researcher quit researching due to the fact that it made her feel stupid: the fact that a person may not know what is going on in their research.  He then touches base on the fundamental difference in research compared to scientific studies in a classroom: I liked science classes because I was good at knowing the answers.  This gave me a feeling of accomplishment and joy.  In a scientific research standpoint, we know longer know the answers and must now enjoy the ride of finding those answers!  I learned quickly that I know longer know the answers in this class.  As researchers, we need to embrace the fact that we don’t know what may be going on, but do the best of our ability to find the answer.  The second we lose this notion is the second we begin to frustrate over why we are wrong.  I leave you with my favorite line, “One of the beautiful things about science is that it allows us to bumble along, getting it wrong time after time, and feel perfectly fine as long as we learn something each time.”

Articles Read

Schwartz, MA. The importance of stupidity in scientific research. J Cell Sci. 2008      Jun 1;121(Pt 11):1771.

Yewdell, JW.  How to succeed in science: a concise guide for young biomedical scientists. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2008 May;9(5):413-6.