Boards.ie Scientists and Researchers

GuanYin

Hi Folks,

I'm just conducting a quick survey on the demograph of boards.ie scientists, perhaps with a view to creating a new forum.

At the moment I'm trying to find out who is out there working in the area of basic science (in any field).

The forum would be for researchers who wish to discuss/trade protocols, help each other troubleshoot assays, point each others towards references and basically act as a point where researchers could meet and help each other out.

In order for this to work, we would need both a starting population of scientists and a group who would be interested in helping the forum grow inthe community (maybe a bit of pimping among friends and colleagues).

So if you're a student, grad student, postdoc, faculty member, research assistant, technician, doctor or conducting science in any field, please post and let us know where you are and what area you're in (you can kep it broad in terms of discipline)

GY

r3nu4l

I did a PhD in molecular biology and a post-doc in Molecular diagnostic development and proteomincs (lots of MALDI-TOF Mass Spec ).

I currently work as a medical writer in a medical communications agency.

EDIT: Great idea and a great idea for a new professional scientists forum

tribulus

BSc. in Pharmacology. Just graduated so as of yet I'm not in any area.

Not much use am I!

nothing

Working on my BSc in applied maths and stats, currently working as a data assistant on the Incredible years project

genegenie

Just finished a BSc in Genetics. Hoping to do a masters/PhD in systems biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology or another related area.

Gaspode

I'm a food scientist, with a PhD in microbiology. Mostly involved in food safety research.

Professor_Fink

Count me in. BSc in Theoretical Physics (UCD), MA, DPhil (Oxon). Currently a senior research fellow working on quantum information processing.

Dinkie

cool. I'm BSc Analytical Science..... and i'm working in Medical Diagnostics... A designated forum would be wicked :D:D

tenandtracer

Sound like a great idea.
Ph.D Microbiology/Molecular Biology, lecturer.

nesf

Previously studied Physics. Am studying Economics these days. Was it scientists or "scientists" that you were interested in?

Dr Strange

Technical Officer - Research. Also in the last stages of completing a PhD (in a specific field in forensics).

GuanYin

OK this is really encouraging. I'm going to post more information on this shortly.

Quick question, does anyone work in a research institute, be it academic or industry? I know about the Conway, I assume Cork, Galway, Limerick and Belfast all have university researc institutes.

What abot physical sciences, DCU has one, right?

What I'm thinking about may require people willing to spam the real world (as opposed to real world people coming here and spamming us)

AtomicHorror

B.Sc. in Biology, currently completing a PhD in Immunology.

+1 for this idea.

5uspect

B.Eng in Aeronautical Engineering

Currently putting finishing touches to Ph.D thesis on fluid mechanics

I'm working for a research institute in UL as a junior research fellow.

g'em

GuanYin wrote: »

Quick question, does anyone work in a research institute, be it academic or industry? I know about the Conway, I assume Cork, Galway, Limerick and Belfast all have university researc institutes.

I'm in the Institute of Neuroscience in TCD, my postgrad was in Zoology but I'm in the Admin side of things now - if you want the word spread, just let me know.

There's also the CRANN Institute here but don't know any fellow boardsie's based there...

r3nu4l

Institutes @ NUI Maynooth

Institute of Immunology (Bioscience)
Institute for Bioengineering and Agroecology (Bioscience)
The Hamilton Institute (Maths, Computational, Physical Sciences)

In collaboration with DCU and IT Tallaght

National Institute of Cellular Biotechnology (NICB)

GuanYin

I know there are a few more researching boards.ies here.

The idea is to set up a researchers forum. Ideally it would be a place for people involved in research to help each other troubleshoot, share protocols/tips, suggest references and discuss reagents, experimental design and other such day to days in research.

We have working models of this in the US, as ireland is growing in Science, now may be the ideal time to try it here.

Ideally I'd like to hear from posters involved in research of each of the disciplines and what they think the forum could contribute to their field. It is pretty obvious for biology and chemsitry, what about the other research areas?

nesf

GuanYin wrote: »

Ideally I'd like to hear from posters involved in research of each of the disciplines and what they think the forum could contribute to their field. It is pretty obvious for biology and chemsitry, what about the other research areas?

Many mathematical methods are shared across the physical and social sciences. They are altered a bit to suit the typical type of data handled in each but there might be something useful in being able to dip into knowledge from a broad range of applications. It's more indirect than direct, but I know in just physics and economics there are a lot of similarities with techniques used to examine data in both as well as interesting examples of taking techniques that seem very limited in one field and finding applications elsewhere, hysteresis effects being a case and point with regard to physics and economics for instance. The type of models that are very useful in examining magnetism in metals happen to be very useful in examining the behaviour of unemployment etc, essentially both share similar historical/path-dependent influences on the movement of what we can measure.

amyelmo

BSc. Biotechnology, Clinical Biochemist (Nuclear Medicine & Endocrinology labs), Basic research: PhD in molecular biology (primarily electron microscopy) at European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany.

GuanYin

nesf wrote: »

Many mathematical methods are shared across the physical and social sciences. They are altered a bit to suit the typical type of data handled in each but there might be something useful in being able to dip into knowledge from a broad range of applications. It's more indirect than direct, but I know in just physics and economics there are a lot of similarities with techniques used to examine data in both as well as interesting examples of taking techniques that seem very limited in one field and finding applications elsewhere, hysteresis effects being a case and point with regard to physics and economics for instance. The type of models that are very useful in examining magnetism in metals happen to be very useful in examining the behaviour of unemployment etc, essentially both share similar historical/path-dependent influences on the movement of what we can measure.

Ok, but would such a forum lend itself to helping each other with these models?

nesf

GuanYin wrote: »

Ok, but would such a forum lend itself to helping each other with these models?

Well, the straightforward approach would simply be asking for a synopsis of a particular model or links to a few good papers on the topic. Which is useful enough considering how time consuming finding a few good papers on a topic you've never seen before is (never mind in a field you're not well acquainted with). It's nothing huge or anything but it strikes me as something that might occasionally be useful for people. It's no substitute for being able to sit down with someone from the field and discussing a model in-depth with them but it's better than progressing blindly.

Flamed Diving

Starting an M-pseudo-sc in Economics this year.



I very much intend to enter the research field of economics, so I guess that would make me a scientist of sorts.

Marcus.Aurelius

BSc Biotechnology
BSc (H) Applied Biology with QM
Nearly finished PhD Food Microbiology & Molecular Epidemiology, (UCD)

Member of Institute for Food Safety and Technology, Ireland (MIFSTI)
Member of the Society for General Microbiology (MSGM)

SOL

Starting my PhD on the 1st of september, just finished my chemistry degree, going to be working in organocatalysis...

ligertigon

Science Teacher, many young scientist backings.

Amazing how many proud mammys are out there, with all those Phd's ect.

Is this advertised in other areas? where there are other capable contributors?

Great Idea mate

r3nu4l

ligertigon wrote: »

Is this advertised in other areas? where there are other capable contributors?

GuanYin has added a Category announcement. Next step is real-world spamming. I can certainly get this forum advertised in the NUI Maynooth Biology Department anyway I could easily get it into TCD as well as I'm on very good terms with a good number of the Professors in Biological sciences over there There are probably other bods here who work in TCD however so they can just post an announcement on their own noticeboards

fits

Another researcher here. I would rather not go into specifics about what I do or have done.

I think such a forum would be helpful for general research questions and would definitely be interested in partaking.

r3nu4l

fits wrote: »

Another researcher here. I would rather not go into specifics about what I do or have done.

I think such a forum would be helpful for general research questions and would definitely be interested in partaking.

At least tell us what branch of science you work in!

Sandals2008

I'm at the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway. Research Engineer in final stages of PhD (I hope!!). There's also National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES), DERI loads of others too. I think it would be a really useful forum for all science/medical/engineering folk.

GothPunk

I have just completed an MSc (Hons) in Cell and Molecular Biology and I'm starting a PhD in Molecular Medicine (TCD/St.James' Hospital) come September.

This is a great idea, will spread the word as best I can.

missmatty

Bsc Hons in Natural Sciences, MSc by Research in Science. Now working in a lab and doing several different bits and pieces including molecular work. Sorry don't want to be too specific in case anyone knows me :pac:

GuanYin

OK, I'm going to push forward with this. Thanks guys and thanks R3nu4l for allowing forum pimpage

Panserborn

Just saw the thread - great idea!

I'm a postdoc in the Cell Biology group in Biochemistry in NUIG. Work and research involves the ins-and-outs of the centromere during cell division. My PhD thesis was on the DNA Damage Response in human cells.

If I can be of any help to setting up a forum or protocol exchanges just buzz!

fits

r3nu4l wrote: »

At least tell us what branch of science you work in!

It fits under a few headings. I really dont feel comfortable being any more specific... sorry.

r3nu4l

fits wrote: »

It fits under a few headings. I really dont feel comfortable being any more specific... sorry.

Fair enough. I think I know why you feel uncomfortable but for me that wouldn't be an issue.

nesf

Would people be more comfortable if this forum was private?

AtomicHorror

Sandals2008 wrote: »

I'm at the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway. Research Engineer in final stages of PhD (I hope!!).

Those final stages seem to just go on, don't they? I've been out to REMEDI, great institute.

AtomicHorror

nesf wrote: »

Would people be more comfortable if this forum was private?

Might not be a bad idea, since it would be pretty easy to personally identify many of us based on comments regarding our work. The scientific community is not all that large here, after all.

GuanYin

AtomicHorror wrote: »

Might not be a bad idea, since it would be pretty easy to personally identify many of us based on comments regarding our work. The scientific community is not all that large here, after all.

I don't know, I don't think a forum where we discuss our work to the point we can be identified is where I see this forum going.

In any case, private wouldn't solve many issues - if someone is really protective of their work, the people they are most worried about is other scientists.

I see it as more of a forum where people can generally talk about day to day issue in research. It is a co-op for scientists in many ways. Like meatworld science (<3 Oscarbavo for the term) some people are social and open, others are guarded.

ie.

"I'm having trouble with a western blot"

"Does anyone have a good protocol for ......"

"What statistical analysis should I use to look at"

"can anyone suggest a good reference for.."

"What is the best kit to use for X"

"Can someone suggest a good place to get Y"

With the permission of the admins, we could even discuss jobs or advertise positions.

Or course, on a community level people can rant/rave discuss their work.

People can still use the forum without identifying themselves.

We have a similar system in the US (you need a .edu to register) and some of my co-workers have gone so far as to use it to source reagents from other labs).

nesf

GuanYin wrote: »

I don't know, I don't think a forum where we discuss our work to the point we can be identified is where I see this forum going.

In any case, private wouldn't solve many issues - if someone is really protective of their work, the people they are most worried about is other scientists.

I see it as more of a forum where people can generally talk about day to day issue in research. It is a co-op for scientists in many ways. Like meatworld science (<3 Oscarbavo for the term) some people are social and open, others are guarded.

ie.

"I'm having trouble with a western blot"

"Does anyone have a good protocol for ......"

"What statistical analysis should I use to look at"

"can anyone suggest a good reference for.."

"What is the best kit to use for X"

"Can someone suggest a good place to get Y"

With the permission of the admins, we could even discuss jobs or advertise positions.

Or course, on a community level people can rant/rave discuss their work.

People can still use the forum without identifying themselves.

We have a similar system in the US (you need a .edu to register) and some of my co-workers have gone so far as to use it to source reagents from other labs).

I don't think it's someone's work but their professional identities that we're getting at with the private forum idea. As in, just from the three clues in this thread I'm already easily identifiable to anyone who genuinely wanted to find out who I am. Once the questions get specialised enough it becomes easier to figure out the name behind the username. Many people I would imagine would not like to have that combined with posts made while drunk on AH coming up in Google for instance. A private forum would get around this at the obvious cost of losing any interested lurkers.

fits

I dont agree that it should be private.

The reason I wont explicitly say what I'm doing is because while the work can be high profile these days, there are very few scientists in my area in Ireland. I have posted a lot of stuff of a personal nature on boards and just dont want my personal and professional lives to cross over, or to be identified by colleagues.

So I will be delighted to participate in a general manner. I have a few questions on statistical methods in a paper I'm reviewing atm which would probably fit in well here.

r3nu4l

fits wrote: »

The reason I wont explicitly say what I'm doing is because while the work can be high profile these days, there are very few scientists in my area in Ireland. I have posted a lot of stuff of a personal nature on boards and just dont want my personal and professional lives to cross over, or to be identified by colleagues.

You're a bioinformatician aren't you? :pac:

I also don't think the forum should be private. I think that if anyone has questions on animal studies they should be free to ask them without fear of being harrassed by other posters, therefore whoever mods the forum should make it clear that such harrassment won't be tolerated. If you are uncomfortable asking those type of questions publicly, then there is always Private messaging.

fits

r3nu4l wrote: »

You're a bioinformatician aren't you? :pac:

I dont even know what that means (looks it up, no I'm not thank f)

I also don't think the forum should be private. I think that if anyone has questions on animal studies they should be free to ask them without fear of being harrassed by other posters, therefore whoever mods the forum should make it clear that such harrassment won't be tolerated. If you are uncomfortable asking those type of questions publicly, then there is always Private messaging.

Should go without saying for any topic tbh.

Why would someone be harrassed for asking a question about animal studies anyway? Was it just an example?

r3nu4l

fits wrote: »

Why would someone be harrassed for asking a question about animal studies anyway? Was it just an example?

Never heard of the Animal Liberation Front then?

My wife's workplace has been targeted by these people before, taking photos of car reg plates, sending hate mail to staff with photos of their children walking to school...that sort of thing. That's nothing compared with what happened to staff of Huntingdon Life Sciences.

What makes you think it couldn't happen on boards.ie. I've been involved in debates about animal studies here in the past. Thankfully, they were reasoned debates but there are people out there who see no reason.

Dinkie

I was harassed in one of my last jobs by animal rights protestors (and I don't work in animal research/testing) so it is a valid worry.... And it was very scary.:(. I work in a linked area as it were....

Like r3nu4l, I know people in other areas (including Glaxo, Huntington, etc) who have been targeted.... although not in Ireland.

fits

Ah now I understand.

Well as I have similar problems in my forum from time to time, the only thing to do is take a very hard line.

AtomicHorror

fits wrote: »

So I will be delighted to participate in a general manner. I have a few questions on statistical methods in a paper I'm reviewing atm which would probably fit in well here.

In a similar boat myself, trying to leave that bit to the very end. The stats wreck my head really. Have you tried asking about it on the mathematics forum by the way?

Phototoxin

I'm doing a BSc Forensic science abd did criminology for the first 2 too.
So general science, with law and the ability to totally dismantle an episode of CSI :pac:


I am hoping to graduate in October as I need to do an exam in September because I missed it due to developing a medical issue.

Jimoslimos

Double BSc in Biology & Chemistry
Working as research assistant (in-vitro diagnostics)

Phototoxin wrote: »

So general science, with law and the ability to totally dismantle an episode of CSI :pac:

Ah don't! Some of us like to live with the illusion, sxy forensic scientists and super short turn-around times:p

Tree

Student, biomed science. Would be willing to contribute if i had anything of use.

Mooch

Hi scientists, I'm a newly minted doctor (cell/molecular biology) and would be happy to contribute to a science-ey forum. Currently weighing up the job options actually! Industry vs academia ?! :pac: