The experts agree: "Publish or Perish" is still alive and well in the research community. "The cardinal rule is, 'A scientific experiment is not complete until the results have been published,'" notes Bob Day, professor emeritus, department of English, University of Delaware, and author of a book on scientific paper publishing.1 In addition to "completing an experiment," publication in scientific literature serves as a means to secure knowledge ownership claims and is an efficient vehicle for

Doctoral programs do not adequately prepare students for the future. So says the recent study funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, "At Cross Purposes: What the Experiences of Today's Doctoral Students Reveal about Doctoral Education."1 To solve this problem the University of Texas, which produces the largest number of Ph.D.s annually, established a professional development program (www.utexas.edu/ogs/development.html). Initiated in 1997, the mission of the University of Texas at Austin Intellect

With an increasing focus on bioterrorism preparedness (E. Russo, "Bioterrorism Preparedness," The Scientist, 15[1]:1, Jan. 8, 2001), researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School are investigating new therapies to protect against a bioterrorist smallpox outbreak. Stuart N. Isaacs, assistant professor of medicine in the Penn Division of Infectious Diseases and John D. Lambert, professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine have received $1.1 million from the Nat

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently launched a $37 million grant initiative to advance genomics research. This initiative consists of 11 Programs for Genomic Applications (PGAs) aimed at applying and expanding the data and technologies developed to map and sequence the human genome. The NHLBI considers this initiative one of its most ambitious to date, given that the goal is to identify the subsets of genes linked to heart, lung, blood, and sleep function, and to utili

Partnership to Test Vaccine Candidates Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center Mary R. Galinski A new partnership forming between Emory University's Vaccine Research Center in Atlanta and the Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) in Rockville, Md., will enable the testing of several vaccine candidates developed by institutions worldwide. MVI, which is part of the Program for Appropriate Technology in Seattle that conducts health programs globally, will sponsor the effort. Mary R. Galinski, of the

Navigating today's job market requires the proper mix of knowledge and skills. Training courses, typically in the summer, provide the life scientist a means of acquiring additional expertise that can help attain that mix. For decades, well-established institutes have offered classroom and laboratory courses to enhance a life scientist's career.1 Additionally, some organizations are now considering long-distance electronic learning. According to John Macauley, director, Office of Courses a

In a venture that will allow medical societies to access technology information and provide enhanced member services, nine medical organizations announced creation of the Medical Society eCooperative in January. Participants will provide members with individualized Internet portals for information access and connectivity services. With the portals, members can provide their patients or clients with customized Web sites. Stu Charney, executive director of emerging technologies at Pharmacia, was

Lack of Direction for Ph.D. Students Recent articles about postdocs have revealed job-related issues such as low salary, lack of benefits, and insufficient mentoring (H. Black, "The Plight of Postdocs," The Scientist, 15[2]:28, Jan. 22, 2001; K. Devine, "Reader Survey: The Postdoc Experience," The Scientist, 15[2]:29, Jan. 22, 2001). Now, a study released in January shows Ph.D. students with woes of their own as well. "At Cross Purposes: What the Experiences of Today's Doctoral Students Reveal a

Complete Survey Results Graphics: Cathleen Heard The Scientist conducted a survey on the postdoc experiences of selected subscribers via E-mail and the Web from December 20, 2000 through January 3, 2001. Of the 156 readers who completed the questionnaire, respondents ranged from those currently holding postdoc positions to those who completed their postdocs 15 or more years ago. Readers reported holding an average of about 1.5 postdoc positions and the readers' average number of years in postdoc

Intersecting with industries that not too long ago would have seemed quite disparate, the biotechnology industry has positioned itself as an increasingly strong, diverse, and sustainable force in the new century. This is according to Ernst & Young's recent 14th annual report on the state of the biotechnology industry, Convergence: E&Y's Biotechnology Industry Report, Millennium Edition (www.ey.com/industry/health). The report focuses on the influence of convergence of various industries

Tobacco Money Slated for Research The state of Michigan will award life science research grants from part of its 1998 tobacco settlement money anticipated to total more than $8.5 billion over 25 years. As one of 46 states awarded in the settlement (N.S. Halim, "Tobacco Settlement," The Scientist, 13[22]:1, Nov. 8, 1999), Michigan plans to apportion $50 million annually for 20 years to universities, research institutions, and companies for health and aging research, as well as economic developm

Organizations are welcome to submit information for consideration for future listings by contacting kdevine@the-scientist.com Click to view the PDF file: Funding Opportunities in the Life Sciences