The official science thread.
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New fossil that looks closer to humans than Lucy - quote from the video. 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14824435
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14824435
archnemesis
Member
The latest episode of the Science Magazine Podcast has an interview about the fossil. It was pretty interesting to listen to.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
So I don't know how many people here know of this, but I've made it a habit to listen to NPR's Science Friday every week for years. Its always really interesting.
archnemesis
Member
Never heard of it before. I'll give it a try.
Gorgon
Member
Congratz, man! I'm happy for you.
I've tryied to keep this thread alive for a while, but no one really seemed to care much so I gave up posting here.
On a second note, my situation is now fine and I got into the PhD I was planning to. So I'm happy.
I just need funding, lol.On a second note, my situation is now fine and I got into the PhD I was planning to. So I'm happy.
Nice. Good luck with money hunting.
Word. One of the most painful subject I had to study in uni. Fucking nightmare.
Gorgon
Member
I was lucky because I got into molecular bio/genomics after graduating in a different field so I didn't have to go through those pains.
Courage, mate!
http://www.reddit.com/r/asksciencefair/comments/mrluz/electrifying_soil_testing_the_effects_of/
Found this on reddit, one of the experiments from AskScienceFair!
Electrifying soil with A.C current accelerated the growth of plants and yielded bigger crops. (Pea and Lettuce in this case)
Why aren't we doing this on a larger scale?
What disadvantages are there?
Found this on reddit, one of the experiments from AskScienceFair!
Electrifying soil with A.C current accelerated the growth of plants and yielded bigger crops. (Pea and Lettuce in this case)
Why aren't we doing this on a larger scale?
What disadvantages are there?
archnemesis
Member
I'm assuming that the cost for the electricity is higher than the profit from the increased yield. Do you have any numbers available?
The data is presented inside the downloadable document inside the link.
D.C: 16V 30mA 500K Ω resistance
A.C: 13V 30mA 500K Ω resistance
..from the document.
Could it be easily produced using solar energy?
archnemesis
Member
Sure, that's only about 0.5 W. According to Wikipedia that would cost about $0.75 which is likely more than the difference in profit between the high yield crop and the regular crop.
Nature is usually more effective at using energy than man-made machines. If you want to use solar energy to increase yield you might want to look at modifying chlorophyll in such a way that it absorbs more light.
Nature is usually more effective at using energy than man-made machines. If you want to use solar energy to increase yield you might want to look at modifying chlorophyll in such a way that it absorbs more light.
I'm interviewing for a Ph. D. position next week, nervous as shit right now since it's my first post graduation interview ... I've spent these last days refreshing my knowledge of the subject and will start reading through some published papers of the group soon.
What else can I realistically do to prepare? What kind of questions are common? I don't really expect everything to go smoothly on the first interview (don't even know if it's a position I want) but I'd like to give it my best, if nothing else as an exercise.
Edit: I'll say that it's a huge confidence boost to get selected for an interview, especially since it's in a field which isn't my focus. I might know something after all, haha!
What else can I realistically do to prepare? What kind of questions are common? I don't really expect everything to go smoothly on the first interview (don't even know if it's a position I want) but I'd like to give it my best, if nothing else as an exercise.
Edit: I'll say that it's a huge confidence boost to get selected for an interview, especially since it's in a field which isn't my focus. I might know something after all, haha!
Boozeroony
Member
I'm in the same position and I kinda do it exactly like you: catching up on knowledge, reading relevant papers etc etc. Just try to ask questions during the interview.
Congratulations of getting an interview. I don't know where you're from, but funding in the UK is really competitive at the moment so you're doing well to even get an interview. Of course it will vary across disciplines and departments, but I don't imagine that many Unis can afford to throw money at PhD candidates.
I never had to interview for my PhD place, although it sounds like you're doing the right thing with your preparation. If you go in there with a good idea of why you'd like to do a PhD, a potential project in mind and some knowledge of where the field currently is, then I doubt you can go wrong.
Just try to relax and enjoy the whole experience. What are you applying to do?
I never had to interview for my PhD place, although it sounds like you're doing the right thing with your preparation. If you go in there with a good idea of why you'd like to do a PhD, a potential project in mind and some knowledge of where the field currently is, then I doubt you can go wrong.
Just try to relax and enjoy the whole experience. What are you applying to do?
Nice, good luck!
Congratulations of getting an interview. I don't know where you're from, but funding in the UK is really competitive at the moment so you're doing well to even get an interview. Of course it will vary across disciplines and departments, but I don't imagine that many Unis can afford to throw money at PhD candidates.
I never had to interview for my PhD place, although it sounds like you're doing the right thing with your preparation. If you go in there with a good idea of why you'd like to do a PhD, a potential project in mind and some knowledge of where the field currently is, then I doubt you can go wrong.
Just try to relax and enjoy the whole experience. What are you applying to do?
Thanks! I don't know how hard funding is to get in Sweden right now, I think our government has actually increased their science budget these last years and at least my home Uni is using this to finance up and coming scientists (not Ph. D. students, though at least some grantees seem to use it to finance those). Anyway, there aren't a lot of positions out at any one time so I'm happy about getting acknowledged for one.
The position concerns Biophysics, with a focus on computation - I'm more of a pure Quantum Mechanics guy though I certainly think I have a solid ground for other specialisations. Wouldn't have applied for it otherwise.
In my experience, PhD interviews don't focus on the nitty gritty of what it is you will actually be researching. The purpose of the interview is to ascertain if you 1) have any major personality defects, are 2)genuinely interested and 3) are generally bright and hard working.
Even my post doc interview didn't focus on the work I was going to be doing. they were more technique focused ie. this brand of cell culture, these types of PCR / microarray tech.
By far the greatest work you can do is in pre-interview, when you ask for any suggestions for further references ie. "I've read through your suggested refs x and y and they were pretty interesting. Could you suggest any good reviews of [somewhat general but applicable topic]? Thanks for any help." I mean, don't worry if you haven't done it, but do it at any future interview.
Here's a couple of things you can do. None are necessary, but they can help, especially if you are more confident when you feel you are fully prepared. By far your own state of mind will make the difference here.
1) Check labs pub record especially principal investigator or supervisor. Publishing every year? Good journals? Sound like good papers?
2) Ask pertinent questions. How many students have they supervised? Did they all get their PhD's?
3) Have they worked abroad? How are they funded? Don't ask them, try to work it out. Most people have a blurb on a webpage somewhere.
4)Check the labs when you go for interview. They should take you around, if not, ask to see them. Ask what space you would have. Look at specialist areas like cell culture / pcr suites or whatever is applicable to your own phd. Is it clean, organised? Good signs. Do you have a desk, and is it a decent space. You'll need it.
5) Can you get on with this supervisor? Ask their student if they would still, knowing what they know now, have done their PhD with that person if you are left alone for a tour or a discussion. You often get honest replies.
You will always be asked
1) Why do you want to do a phd?
2) Why do you want to do THIS phd?
Think about decent answers for both.
Do you have practical lab experience like a final year uni project? Be sure to mention it, or how much you enjoyed it.
Think about the project - is there some approach or something you can add to it? Mention your idea, even if it is stupid/naive you've been devoting mental energy to the project.
Good luck!
Even my post doc interview didn't focus on the work I was going to be doing. they were more technique focused ie. this brand of cell culture, these types of PCR / microarray tech.
By far the greatest work you can do is in pre-interview, when you ask for any suggestions for further references ie. "I've read through your suggested refs x and y and they were pretty interesting. Could you suggest any good reviews of [somewhat general but applicable topic]? Thanks for any help." I mean, don't worry if you haven't done it, but do it at any future interview.
Here's a couple of things you can do. None are necessary, but they can help, especially if you are more confident when you feel you are fully prepared. By far your own state of mind will make the difference here.
1) Check labs pub record especially principal investigator or supervisor. Publishing every year? Good journals? Sound like good papers?
2) Ask pertinent questions. How many students have they supervised? Did they all get their PhD's?
3) Have they worked abroad? How are they funded? Don't ask them, try to work it out. Most people have a blurb on a webpage somewhere.
4)Check the labs when you go for interview. They should take you around, if not, ask to see them. Ask what space you would have. Look at specialist areas like cell culture / pcr suites or whatever is applicable to your own phd. Is it clean, organised? Good signs. Do you have a desk, and is it a decent space. You'll need it.
5) Can you get on with this supervisor? Ask their student if they would still, knowing what they know now, have done their PhD with that person if you are left alone for a tour or a discussion. You often get honest replies.
You will always be asked
1) Why do you want to do a phd?
2) Why do you want to do THIS phd?
Think about decent answers for both.
Do you have practical lab experience like a final year uni project? Be sure to mention it, or how much you enjoyed it.
Think about the project - is there some approach or something you can add to it? Mention your idea, even if it is stupid/naive you've been devoting mental energy to the project.
Good luck!
Gorgon
Member
Hum...
Just read some stuff just in case from the group and to refresh your memory. Above all keep calm and take it as just a normal conversation. My interviews for PhDs (I've been in two PhDs and made a few interviews) have always been pretty non-technical, more like "what shit are you interested in?" than oral exams. In fact, I'm in a PhD that is in a totally different field than what I graduated in.
Just keep cool. I think it's the interest and drive to work that counts more than any real knowledge. But in the US things may work differently.
EDIT: oh, I just noticed you're in Sweden. Anyway, hope what we said in this thread helps.
most important question: Are you really sure you want to take a Ph.D.?
My interview was straight forward a nice chat, with the interviewer talking most of the time about the project and me trying to understand what she was saying and some small attempts of trying to appear smart.
My interview was straight forward a nice chat, with the interviewer talking most of the time about the project and me trying to understand what she was saying and some small attempts of trying to appear smart.
Gorgon
Member
Yeah, that's what usually happens.
I think I failed miserably of course. Trying to understand someones work in a different field of research than what you know, just by having it explained to you is almost impossible. But now, 4 years later, I'm about to graduate in ten days. I feel that all new master students are dumb and hardly know anything, so don't worry about it. (my generation was of course much better)
Boozeroony
Member
ApplIcations for grants, postdocs etc. While looking for more "normal" job as well
Gorgon
Member
Congratz! Good luck with that job hunting.
By the way, what was your PhD in?
EDIT: man, this thread is dead in the water. We need to spice up this shit.
Boozeroony
Member
Congratz! Good luck with that job hunting.
By the way, what was your PhD in?
EDIT: man, this thread is dead in the water. We need to spice up this shit.
Didn't get the job I applied to.
Got another application running though. Fingers crossed.
Gorgon
Member
Didn't get the job I applied to.
Got another application running though. Fingers crossed.
All will be well in time. What field did you make your PhD on?
Boozeroony
Member
I graduated in Forensic Science and Medical Biochemistry. Looking for a PhD-student position. I applied to a position at an anthropogenetics department (which failed) and another position at the radionuclide department of another academic hospital (Had 2 talks already, felt pretty good). Should be hearing about this one tomorrow.
Congratz! Good luck with that job hunting.
By the way, what was your PhD in?
EDIT: man, this thread is dead in the water. We need to spice up this shit.
Phd in physiology/cell biology. Focusing on the heart and ischemia-reperfusion.
Gorgon
Member
Gorgon
Member
Oh, sorry, I was actually trying to ask kottila, lol. But nice of you to reply anyway. Good luck with those PhD applications!
Nice. Genomics here.
EDIT: You're in Finland?
Norway actually, but named after my favorite finnish footballplayer who was one of the biggest flops in my teams history
Quantum bump! Looks like IBM has made some progress towards a functional quantum computer:
IBM press release
YouTube: IBM Research Announces New Advances in Quantum Computing
NY Times: I.B.M. Researchers Inch Toward Quantum Computer
Still years away, but I shall own one some day. Oh yes.
IBM press release
YouTube: IBM Research Announces New Advances in Quantum Computing
NY Times: I.B.M. Researchers Inch Toward Quantum Computer
Still years away, but I shall own one some day. Oh yes.
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