On Fri, 19 Mar 1999, Moore, Julie wrote: > Having earned my PhD not so long ago, I am not so far removed that I cannot > remember what it was like or what approaches were taken in the lab that I > feel made me more than just an automaton. It is my opinion, and I feel > quite strongly about this, that the lack of understanding on the part of > graduate students regarding what exactly is going on "in that tube" does not > and can not lie entirely on the student. Graduate training is just that: > TRAINING. I've certainly done my share of verbal "student bashing", but I agree strongly with Julie. I've been asked to help out in our automated DNA sequencing core and it's been instructive to compare notes on our clients. It is quite obvious that the labs run by conscientious PI's attract well-motivated and conscientious students, and the standard of research is high. Those who bring me well-prepared samples and run all the relevant controls are the same ones that bring the cleanest samples to the sequencing core. It is also obvious that other PI's (often with those dozens of students) rely on shortcuts and quick and dirty methods, and their students sink to their standards. Students learn a lot of things besides science from their major professors. Steve UGA Cell Analysis Facility (gotta type a new sig.)
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