19. Negative controls are important: a story (mini-series: reading-12)

19. Negative controls are important: a story (mini-series: reading-12)

Author: Dr. Synaptologica April 16, 2024 Duration: 12:07
There are many reasons why life-science experiments do not work well. Today, I will tell you a real story about an experiment. It is an experiment that did not go well. We will explore the problem that researchers encountered. In the following episodes), we will discuss how they identified the problem, and how they solved the problem. The story will help us understand the importance of negative controls, especially how to design them for the experiments, and how to use them for trouble-shooti...

Navigating a career in the life sciences involves far more than just mastering textbook knowledge. There's a whole set of practical, often unspoken skills-from deciphering dense research papers to presenting your own work with clarity-that can make or break your progress. In Foundational Skills in Life Sciences, Dr. Synaptologica draws from her experience as a tenured U.S. professor with both MD and PhD degrees to address that exact gap. Each episode breaks down a specific competency, whether it's critical reading, effective scientific writing, or communicating complex ideas. You'll hear straightforward advice and realistic strategies, all aimed at moving you from struggling with these concepts to applying them confidently. This isn't about theory; it's about the tangible tools you need to excel during your training and beyond. Tune in for a podcast that feels like a direct mentorship session, focused on building the professional habits that lead to lasting success in labs, clinics, and academic settings. Dr. Synaptologica’s guidance is designed to help students and early-career scholars not just survive the demands of the field, but truly thrive within them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 61

Foundational Skills in Life Sciences
Podcast Episodes
51. Have you read an abstract that was not written well? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:55
My students selected a paper to read in a journal club. The abstract (and the rest of the paper) was not written well. The abstract gave us two precious lessons. Lesson 1: Good structural organization will help the reade…
50. Happy 50th episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:39
We have reached 50 episodes! Thank you for listening. Today, we will briefly talk about how I have kept sustainable podcasting so far. The most important thing may be that I have set my goal simple and single: It is to c…
42. Happy Holidays! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01
Happy Holidays to you, and I wish you the very best in 2025!