Questions tagged [biology]
On standards or conventions specific to biology as an academic discipline, and programs that lead to a degree in this field
156
questions
3
votes
1
answer
125
views
Is it okay to provide a list of manuscripts that are in preparation? [duplicate]
I am preparing my CV for a Ph.D. application. Can I include a list of papers that are currently in preparation?
17
votes
4
answers
8k
views
How to deal with bad undergrad researchers
I am a grad student in the life sciences. I have to mentor several undergrad students. One student in particular is just so bad and is always getting confused with protocols. He can't follow a ...
3
votes
1
answer
232
views
Co-first author dilemma?
My PI wants to put me as co-first author, listed second, on a paper where I've done about 5-10% of the work. I didn't come up with any of the project, or do any of the writing or analysis, just helped ...
3
votes
2
answers
159
views
Applying to a phd program outside of my field
I have a biology bachelors degree and have been working in a lab for over a year now. My PI is moving universities and recently asked me to join her new lab as a computer science student (I’m ...
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
I have designed a course activity, how can I turn this into a publication?
I am a biologist I have only published in biology journals.
This time I would like to publish a more education centered paper if I can.
This is an undergraduate course activity that should take a few ...
1
vote
0
answers
116
views
Need help advising my life-science / biochem daughter on choice of major, career, and internships [closed]
My daughter will be starting her senior year of high school and plans to study a biochemistry related field in college. (Makes me wonder if biophysics might be up her alley.) She participates in the ...
16
votes
6
answers
4k
views
What maths knowledge is required for a lab-based (molecular and cell biology) PhD?
I am currently enrolled on an MSci in Biosciences and am planning to apply to PhDs starting next year. I want to use my final summer to practise my maths skills which are severely lacking.
Because I ...
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Master thesis biochemistry
I am looking for a topic for my master's thesis in the field of biochemistry, but there is a problem, how can I make sure that the topic I have chosen is not repeated? Because there are many sites, ...
0
votes
1
answer
149
views
Bioinformatics career outlook and education requirement? [closed]
I'm currently applying to a graduate school PhD program and have a question regarding bioinformatics field.
Can a person with Biology PhD degree who works in a lab that is heavily informatics, ...
0
votes
0
answers
112
views
Research Interview Presentation
I've recently been invited to an interview for an entomology technician/research role. I have been told that "The interview will consist of a 20 min (max) non-confidential presentation covering ...
1
vote
1
answer
497
views
Advice for online PhD interview presentation
I recently applied for an advertised PhD project and I've made it to the interview stage. For the interview I have been asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation explaining (1) why I am interested/...
8
votes
3
answers
468
views
What ethical considerations should I be aware of when performing (and publishing) research on live insects?
I have studied different insects for my entire academic career, but I've never had to work with live specimens before. I am considering a project where I will need to capture live dragonflies and look ...
-4
votes
2
answers
248
views
File formats in the peer review process (if some do not use office/libreoffice editors)
I was wondering if there are any journals that do not use 'doc' or any other similar file formats in the review process
In my experience I have used 'track changes' in some document editor to ...
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Manuscript rejected for no reason after revision. Elsevier
After submitting to one of the journals in Elsevier recently,
we got a response as following:
I think the manuscript can be improved and should be resubmitted, but the changes will probably take too ...
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Poor Grades in CS Masters, Applying for Biology PhD [duplicate]
Thank you for your help in advance.
I am considering PhD programs in the biology of aging. I am a 2020 college graduate with a Chemistry BA from a top 25 university in the US. During this time, I ...
-1
votes
1
answer
93
views
Career Planning to optimize for Biomedical Research [closed]
I completed my A-levels with good grades (4.0) and want to work as a biomedical researcher (I am not so certain about the specific field but for now I really like Neuroscience especially Brain-Machine-...
-1
votes
1
answer
144
views
Topics for consideration for someone interested in graduate school [closed]
What are some topics or questions that undergraduates or post-baccalaureates would have when they are considering applying to graduate school, particularly in the fields of biology, ecology, natural ...
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Has the nature of the biological sciences shifted to cell/molecular biology instead of physical science/biochemistry/enzymology?
I study biochemistry at my university. It seems like most of the younger faculty come from a cell biology / molecular biology background, while older professors seem to come from more of a physical ...
2
votes
4
answers
919
views
Pursuing a PhD on major of mathematical biology with an irrelevant bachelors degree
I am 29 years old and have majored in political science and obtained a B.A. degree with it.
I'm asking this question since I want to ask for some advice about in what case would there be any ...
22
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Faux pas to send personal email along with letter of reference?
I'm a new professor and am writing my first letters of recommendation. I have an undergrad student that is truly quite good applying to a summer research program at an institution where I have people ...
0
votes
1
answer
82
views
How do you write a good reaserch paper title?
I'm doing a paper on the medicinal properties of everyday plants but my prof. says that its too broad and I need to narrow it down. I want to start by figuring out a better title that is more ...
6
votes
1
answer
331
views
are there paid graduate school coaches/consultants (Europe)
I'm a master's student. I need to hire a coach/consultant who can advise on academic politics and procedures and knows European or Australian/New Zealand unis and available finances.
My google skills ...
2
votes
2
answers
202
views
Which one to choose.... Interests vs Skills? [closed]
I am supposed to choose between mathematics and biology for the next stage of my academic career, i.e. college at undergraduate level. This will broadly classify my local career options into ...
3
votes
2
answers
304
views
Is "bench researcher" a formal / professional term?
I am applying to a computational biology job. I want to make it clear that I am extremely interested in the practical aspects of my work, wet-biology generally, and collaborating with / supporting ...
1
vote
1
answer
299
views
How do graduate admissions committees (in Biology) view BS in Biology completed all online?
I am thinking of getting a post-baccalaureate degree in botany (or biology with plant science concentration) in order to prepare for graduate work in the same field. (My previous work is in sociology ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I transition into genome editing after a theoretical physics PhD?
I had a very bad PhD experience which has led to complete loss of motivation to pursue a career in theoretical physics. I don't have the motivation anymore to work on topics which are very abstract ...
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to move from a physics background to a career in biology research
I have a bachelor's degree in physics and I am finishing my master's degree in applied physics, in the field of biophysics. So, in particular, I study methods typical of physics to investigate ...
1
vote
1
answer
133
views
Redundant academic recommendation letter vs. a professional one?
I am applying for a PhD in tumor biology in the United States. Most institutions require 3 letters of recommendation. I currently work at a lab doing cancer research where I have two PIs as my bosses. ...
1
vote
0
answers
225
views
I want to study human brain and consciousness. Should i study neuroscience or neuro-physics? [closed]
I am a high school student and my dream is to study about human brain and consciousness. Which subject should I study in university, neuroscience or neuro-physics (which is a branch of biophysics)?
0
votes
1
answer
306
views
3 Letters of Recommendation for Bio Grad School [duplicate]
I'm a rising senior in college and I'm looking into grad programs in biology. For the Letter of Recommendation requirement I have found that usually 3 are required.
Currently I can only think of 2 ...
0
votes
0
answers
431
views
Changing fields from Mathematics to Biology/Chemistry
I’m currently in my penultimate year of an undergraduate degree in mathematics. I’ve been thinking about changing fields completely. I love maths, so I intend to graduate with this degree and I’m ...
2
votes
1
answer
249
views
PhD transfer during first year [closed]
This year I was accepted into two PhD programs (USC and WashU). I had a very specific research interest, and the USC program used to be my first choice, because there were so many professors in the ...
2
votes
1
answer
537
views
Transitioning from bioinformatics to wet lab?
I had a very bad PhD experience in developmental biology. My project was supposed to be wet lab and it was, but I didn't learn a lot of techniques. At the end I got into bioinformatics and, because my ...
-3
votes
1
answer
275
views
IT, life sciences and self-hate [closed]
To give you some background: I spent 4 years getting a PhD in a second-tier university in Europe, struggling heavily with no input, mentorship or encouragement from the PI. Then I did 3 year of ...
2
votes
2
answers
568
views
Confused about masters project
I am an integrated master student doing a rather short project of only 4months in the lab (due to covid). The project is quite a weird one as it either works or it doesn't and if it doesn't I have no ...
24
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Is it appropriate for peer-reviewer to look for possible plagiarism?
I'm in the second year of a post-doc, and currently participating in my first experience as a peer-reviewer (my lab PI recommended me to the editor because he's too busy to do it right now). I noticed ...
2
votes
1
answer
122
views
How important is it to cite the earliest report of something?
As a general rule I try to put in some due diligence to cite the authors who first provided strong evidence of something that I'm referencing, even if I wasn't aware of their work before I started ...
22
votes
9
answers
7k
views
Can I become a tenure-track prof in one dept (biology) and teach in a different dept (math) with only one PhD?
I recently defended my PhD in Neuroscience and am starting a postdoc soon. Like a lot of people who take this track, I hope to one day have my own research lab at a university. I would also like to ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
PhD in Biology: how time consuming?
I am currently pursuing my master's in bio-medicine. I am taking classes, doing research, and working as a graduate assistant at the same time. So far it has turned out to be very time consuming. I ...
0
votes
2
answers
300
views
Getting into a PhD program with a low gpa but good profile [duplicate]
I am going to apply to few PhD programs in Microbiology (I'm particularly very interested in Microbial ecology) but I'm afraid my undergrad gpa (8.5/10 for the first 6 semester as I'm currently in my ...
3
votes
1
answer
311
views
How can I accredit my Russian kandidat nauk in biology to PhD in USA?
I have a kandidat nauk in biology from Russia, and as I know it's equivalent to a PhD degree outside post-Soviet countries.
My question is what do I need to do to accredit my degree in the USA? Which ...
22
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Is an invitation to 'chat' about a potential PhD position actually an interview? What am I to expect?
I've been invited for a chat for a potential PhD position by a professor I'm interested in working with. He also wants me to give a short presentation on some experiments I've done in the past that I'...
1
vote
0
answers
119
views
Can there be context rich problems in Biology?
Context-rich problems are short realistic scenarios giving students a plausible motivation for solving the problem.
As we search research literature, one can see lots of research in context rich ...
8
votes
3
answers
250
views
Independent research after grad school while holding a somehow unrelated career. What are the potential caveats or problems?
I recently graduated from a master's degree while working on an interesting but niche intersection of machine learning and biology. This area is of my personal interest and I believe it can impact the ...
1
vote
2
answers
417
views
Germany undergrad: is it possible to switch from medicine to biology?
My niece in Germany is applying for undergrad colleges, at this point she likes medicine and biology both. But she is not sure if she wants to end up being a doctor or a molecular biology researcher. ...
-1
votes
1
answer
190
views
Is peer review process totally theoretical?
Does the peer review process involve only theoretical analysis or it contains some practical components?
4
votes
2
answers
503
views
My supervisor is putting my name on a paper I disagree with. What will happen if it is found to be wrong?
My supervisor is publishing a paper and naming me as the first author. I did the data analysis for the paper but part of the interpretation in the paper I regard as wrong.
I argued with him but he ...
1
vote
2
answers
390
views
How to position myself to transition from doing wet lab research to doing computational work? [closed]
I am in the first quarter of the second year of my PhD. I learned to code as a hobby and have been quite passionate about analytical stuff. I got taken for a PhD basic research project which required ...
5
votes
3
answers
343
views
In biology papers, is it standard to to list names of people who contributed to code tools, but did nothing else towards a paper?
A while ago, I spent some time working for a lab doing biology research. While I was there, my main job was to write code to automatically perform specific kinds of analysis on the collected data, ...
0
votes
1
answer
98
views
How important is having research experience in the same department you are applying for?
I have a B.S. in math from the United States and am returning to school in the US for a second B.S. in microbiology because: 1) I have no research experience; 2) I have no excellent LORs as a result ...