Category Archives: conduct of research

Obstacles in cancer research – funding, evaluation, & complex disease

Posted on September 26, 2012 by biochembelle

Yesterday morning, director of the National Cancer Institute, Harold Varmus, addressed the National Press Club on the achievements and challenges of cancer research. Varmus covered quite a few topics, but here are a few highlights that stood out for me: If … Continue reading →

Posted in biomedical research, conduct of research, grants, NIH, publishing, responsibilities, troubles of science | Leave a comment

Sezen & Sensibility: Lab dynamics & the promotion of (ir)responsible conduct of research

Posted on July 19, 2011 by biochembelle

The chemistry tubes have been abuzz lately with the ongoing saga of the Bengu Sezen misconduct investigation. For excellent coverage, go check out ChemBark’s posts. It is a disturbing tale of years of data fabrication, fraud, sabotage, evasion, and perjury … Continue reading →

Posted in advisor/trainee interactions, attitudes, conduct of research, ethics in science, lab management, retractions, troubles of science | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Retractions: What are they good for?

Posted on June 4, 2011 by biochembelle

Retraction. It’s perhaps one of the juiciest words in scientific language. One might think of it as the Scarlet Letter of science, a public stamp that can trigger gossip, speculation, whispers… Something went wrong somewhere, and someone is paying for … Continue reading →

Posted in conduct of research, ethics in science, publishing, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

In the shadows of greatness

Posted on January 22, 2011 by biochembelle

How do we define greatness in science? I started pondering this question after responses started coming in to Nature Chemistry‘s “unscientific & arbitrary Twitter poll“, asking “Who is the greatest chemist of all time?” The results are now posted on The Skeptical Chymist, the Nature … Continue reading →

Posted in conduct of research, ethics in science, history of science, humanity, responsibilities | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

Burden of Proof

Posted on November 10, 2010 by biochembelle

One of my favorite new blogs this year is Retraction Watch, written by Adam Marcus and Ivan Oransky, both carrying substantial science editing and journalism credentials. If you’re a scientist and you’re not following it, you really should. Anyway, last week brought the … Continue reading →

Posted in conduct of research, publishing, retractions, scientific merit | 7 Comments