CONTENTS

September 2008

In politics, for every charismatic mover and shaker, there are several more who wield their influence from behind the scenes. THE SCIENTIST STAFF profile four such people who will likely have a major impact in the future funding and framework of research: Egils Milbergs, John Porter, Lana Skirboll, and Ken Thorpe. Plus, predictions of how the next US President will likely handle science policy.

RELATED:

Ken Thorpe

Egils Milbergs

John Porter

Lana Skirboll

2008 Election Coverage

Vote for the next president

Which biologist would you elect president?

Science and Politics

Careers: The Scientist as Politician

As the father of genetic algorithms, JOHN HOLLAND created a computer algorithm that mimicked evolution's selection and adaptation, helping experts improve systems ranging from fiber optic cables to cochlear implants to a process to review microchip defects. Now at work on a mathematical model of complex adaptive
systems, such as the immune system, what else could he uncover?

RELATED:

Infographic

War and Peace of Viruses Deliberated at Nobel Conference

The Powers That Might Be

The book of life

Are you making too much money, or too little? Could you make more? Check out our 5th annual life sciences salary survey, analyzed by EDYTA ZIELINSKA, to see how your salary stacks up.

RELATED:

Salary Survey landing page

Life Sciences Salary Report 2007

Life Sciences Salary Report 2006

Salary Survey by State

Salary Survey Charts:

By Specialization
By Ethnicity
By Citizenship
By Organization
By Gender
By Level of Supervisory/Managerial Responsibility

   

CONTRIBUTORS

MAIL

EDITORIAL

Science and Politics The call for a presidential science debate went unheeded, but it was worthwhile.
RICHARD GALLAGHER

COLUMNS

My Favorite Fraud A paper I read more than 25 years ago taught me a lesson I'll never forget.
STEVEN WILEY

OPINION

Foundation-Led Drug Discovery Virtual biotechs target and develop translational research.
By ROBERT E . PACIFICI and DAVID P. RANKIN

Notebook

The Agenda; T cells and tears; Judgment day; Whence this fish? Maggot sleuthing; Biotech in space?

FOUNDATIONS

First Actin-Binding Protein, circa 1975

PROFILES

Thinking Big Marc Kirschner likes to expose biology's essential processes, such as how a simple microtubule can form such a variety of structures. Lucky for biology.
KAREN HOPKIN

Scientist to Watch: John Rawls Raising a new model system
KELLY RAE CHI

BIOBUSINESS: Chasing Challenges AstraZeneca's Karen Gotting-Smith is using a newly-created position to tackle some old problems.
ANDREA GAWRYLEWSKI

Life Science Industry Awards 2008 Scientists' picks of their top suppliers
of key instruments and services.

THE LITERATURE

Hot paper: Canvassing Protein ComplexesTwo yeast studies begin to identify protein interactions on a genome-wide scale.
DAVID SECKO

Hot paper in Neuroscience: Choosy cortex

Hot Paper In Microbiology: Mysterious resistance

Hot Paper In Plant Genetics: Tomāto Tomäto

LAB TOOLS

Middling Measures Avoiding the pitfalls of medium-throughput SNP detection. SNPs in the clinic; Wheat woes; Harness Old Faithful; Primer price crunch;
KELLY RAE CHI

CAREERS

The Scientist as Politician So you want to change the world? It's easier than you think.
EDYTA ZIELINSKA