2 posts tagged “bcm”
Purpose of qualifying Exam
1. Assessing foundation of fundamental knowledge
- information synthesis- application, bring information together for experiments, etc.
2. Ability to understand scientific literature
- ability to select interesting, doable topics
- critique literature, see flaws
- know how to extend from what is known
3. Think intelligently about doing science
- know significance of the work
- recognize how to do experiments (tecgubuques, controls, analyses, statistics), how to draw conclusions
- recognize potential problems
4. Cultivate behavior patterns for success
- self motivation
- planning and organizing info and tasks
- discipline
- seek advice
- asking for, receiving and responding to criticism
- communication skills (oral, written)
- time menegement
Preparing a Research Proposal
NIH style grant:
1. Specific aims and/or hypothesis
- Aim is question/goal - not a specific experiment
- Very clearly defined: good, necessary questions; existing techiques to do the work
- 1st aim is crucial.
- 3-4 aims appropriate
2. Background
- What are known/unknown
- Why is your questions important
- What will be gained by answering it
- What controversies
3. Experimental design (alternative approaches)
- for each exp., state: purpose and rationale, techniques, and preliminary (hypothetical) data and interpretation
4. Methods
- References!
- Understand the techniques
- Give enough detail; know the advantages and disadvantages (limits)
- Know the reality (num. of animals to be used)
5. Conclusions, alternative approaches
- Potential conclusions, problems, and alternative approaches
I was trying to find out the definition for homoplasy. So I googled, and the following results showed up.
After clicking on the first result, which seems to be a definition page for homoplasy on a evolution related wiki, I was redirected to this Baylor College of Medicine acceptable use reminder page.
Oh, wow. So http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Homoplasy and EvoWiki are malicious? I am kind of intrigued by the implementation of BCM's web filter now.
By the way, homoplasy means "homoplastic condition; similarity of structure produced independently by the operation of similar external circumstances.", according to Oxford English Dictionary. More on it at wikipedia and Kyoto University.
