Sorry about that – kinda fell off the blogosphere for a bit there. But, I have lots of news!
I gave a really well received talk at a prion meeting in Greece – to students, on how to give a talk (the irony being I threw it together at the last minute). It was so great to fire off the Heritage grant and then lie by the Aegean Sea for a bit. Okay, only for 2 days before the conference, but still, better than nothing. I’ll have to take a real vacation one of these days… I also gave a presentation in Vancouver, to the PrioNet crowd, updating my progress to date. It went very well, but was really mostly show, and not data…
I’ve started curling every week – another great way to break from the stress (and no, I don’t just mean the alcohol component). I’m still playing music with TEMPO (a string chamber group) too – and will be playing a solo with them at our Dec 6th concert, but haven’t made it back to any celtic jam sessions recently. I’ll have to try to resurrect that…
I did some poster judging at summer student research day, which was fun but exhausting. Maybe I’ll have my own summer student next summer – if I can get around to actually reading the CVs I have been sent. As it is, I may also wind up with some high school students for a few months December through April. We’ll see…
I am adding to my committee responsibilities, but so far only ones I think will be fun. I am now on the advisory board for WISEST, and the residency training committee (for Neurology). I think the best committee name so far though, is the one we are developing for the Centre for Prions, to facilitate outside users who wish to use the containment areas. We have named this committee the “Facility Use Committee”… I won’t spell out the acronym for you…
But my biggest news? I’ve finally hired a lab tech – she started today. Yay! And she clearly knows her stuff. Already pieces of equipment are appearing in new locations and we are going to start spending money and doing experiments!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Aug 28, 2009
Man, lots happened in these past few weeks. I survived a very manageable week of call, followed by a very well received presentation to WISEST summer students (a bit of inspirational talk about following one’s passions, followed by some music - people always seem to enjoy the trick fiddling).
Then I was really stressing out about:
1) my Heritage grant, finding out I needed to assemble some sort of committee to review it, and reorganizing it all last week after being told my third “aim” was too dependent on the first two,
2) hiring a lab tech – do I hire a good candidate now, or wait for a possibly great candidate later?,
3) the %^&* elevator STILL being out of service, while my fridge, incubator, etc sits in the deliveries dock instead of here in my lab where I could actually use it,
4) figuring out how to image brain slices using confocal microcsopy when the funds I thought would be accessible for a confocal scope are, um, well, not quite available yet…
But, at the peak of my stress, I left work at work last Friday, and Dominik and I drove to Kananaskis for my 10 year med school reunion. It was GREAT. Everyone looked the same, but with a bunch of kids in tow. Who knew our class of 1999 (The Dugongs) was so fertile? I was impressed by how these physicians have managed to find a good balance in their lives. It was inspiring, especially as I was feeling overwhelmed before I went down there. Mind you, I am one of the last ones to get a “real” job and haven’t really settled yet. At least I don’t need to worry about having kids (my biological clock has been in reverse since obs and gyne in med school) – my classmates have seen to it that the next generation is well stocked! Dom and I did begin sponsoring a child in Ecuador though, so that is kinda neat.
Since then I have been taking things in stride. One person can only do so much. So, I am going to enjoy the beautiful weekend ahead (and only review three articles for Monday). After all, it is my last weekend being 34!
Then I was really stressing out about:
1) my Heritage grant, finding out I needed to assemble some sort of committee to review it, and reorganizing it all last week after being told my third “aim” was too dependent on the first two,
2) hiring a lab tech – do I hire a good candidate now, or wait for a possibly great candidate later?,
3) the %^&* elevator STILL being out of service, while my fridge, incubator, etc sits in the deliveries dock instead of here in my lab where I could actually use it,
4) figuring out how to image brain slices using confocal microcsopy when the funds I thought would be accessible for a confocal scope are, um, well, not quite available yet…
But, at the peak of my stress, I left work at work last Friday, and Dominik and I drove to Kananaskis for my 10 year med school reunion. It was GREAT. Everyone looked the same, but with a bunch of kids in tow. Who knew our class of 1999 (The Dugongs) was so fertile? I was impressed by how these physicians have managed to find a good balance in their lives. It was inspiring, especially as I was feeling overwhelmed before I went down there. Mind you, I am one of the last ones to get a “real” job and haven’t really settled yet. At least I don’t need to worry about having kids (my biological clock has been in reverse since obs and gyne in med school) – my classmates have seen to it that the next generation is well stocked! Dom and I did begin sponsoring a child in Ecuador though, so that is kinda neat.
Since then I have been taking things in stride. One person can only do so much. So, I am going to enjoy the beautiful weekend ahead (and only review three articles for Monday). After all, it is my last weekend being 34!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Aug 7, 2009
I managed to work plus get in a hike in the mountains last weekend. Very nice. So, I got my AHFMR grant partially written, enough for the grant editor to have a look at it at least. Now I’m back on call (day 2 and counting), but it has been quite fun so far, and not very busy. I am just covering emerg consults during the day, and two other neurologists are covering ward stuff. Tomorrow I will do the same, plus cover everything after 5pm (or possibly sooner). I hope these two days have not simply been the calm before the storm.
The last time I did call, I presented journal club the morning after. This time I’ll be presenting to WISEST on my day after call. Ah well, I only need to talk about myself and my career path for 15 minutes, for which I don’t need to really practice… My real dilemma, is finding time during the day to contact references for all those candidates I interviewed – at least some of them…
The last time I did call, I presented journal club the morning after. This time I’ll be presenting to WISEST on my day after call. Ah well, I only need to talk about myself and my career path for 15 minutes, for which I don’t need to really practice… My real dilemma, is finding time during the day to contact references for all those candidates I interviewed – at least some of them…
Friday, July 31, 2009
July 31, 2009
Man, what a week! It began last weekend when I did a 100km bike ride – yes, 100km in a row… I borrowed a road bike from my colleague. Healthy body, healthy brain right? Now my sunburned knuckles are healing and I am relieved to find that I am starting to regain sensation in the distribution area of my pudendal nerve…
I learned more about WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology) here at U of A, and I forgot to mention in my last blog that I had participated in their role model session for grade 11 students last week, which was a lot of fun. I enjoy meeting people at the early stages of their lives and careers, when they are full of hope and opportunities (the pre-pessimistic stage, ah those were the days…).
After clinic on Tuesday (which prompted me to revisit the whole statin myopathy issue), it was off to Vancouver on Wednesday – just in time for their record heat wave. My talk was very well received. Then I hung out in the hotel lobby working on my Heritage Grant before going for drinks with Jay Ingram and then entertaining the boards of directors at dinner by playing my violin (including some trick fiddling of course). Ah, the life of a researcher… You never know when those backup careers will come in handy…
The rest of the week has been filled with interviewing more lab tech candidates, both face to face and by phone. So far, so good (although I found out that some of them have been reading this blog!). Now I need to contact references. I also got more lab goodies – pipettes this time! Unfortunately, the fridge, freezer, CO2 incubator, and biosafety cabinet can’t make it here until our elevator servicing is finished (hopefully mid-August?).
Now it is time for the long weekend! I have decided to compromise the fact that I need to work on my grant but want to go to the mountains. I realize if I stay here and work all weekend, I will be very grumpy next week. So, it’s off to Calgary where I can work a bit, visit family and friends, and also make a day trip to hike in the mountains! It’s all about balance!
I learned more about WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology) here at U of A, and I forgot to mention in my last blog that I had participated in their role model session for grade 11 students last week, which was a lot of fun. I enjoy meeting people at the early stages of their lives and careers, when they are full of hope and opportunities (the pre-pessimistic stage, ah those were the days…).
After clinic on Tuesday (which prompted me to revisit the whole statin myopathy issue), it was off to Vancouver on Wednesday – just in time for their record heat wave. My talk was very well received. Then I hung out in the hotel lobby working on my Heritage Grant before going for drinks with Jay Ingram and then entertaining the boards of directors at dinner by playing my violin (including some trick fiddling of course). Ah, the life of a researcher… You never know when those backup careers will come in handy…
The rest of the week has been filled with interviewing more lab tech candidates, both face to face and by phone. So far, so good (although I found out that some of them have been reading this blog!). Now I need to contact references. I also got more lab goodies – pipettes this time! Unfortunately, the fridge, freezer, CO2 incubator, and biosafety cabinet can’t make it here until our elevator servicing is finished (hopefully mid-August?).
Now it is time for the long weekend! I have decided to compromise the fact that I need to work on my grant but want to go to the mountains. I realize if I stay here and work all weekend, I will be very grumpy next week. So, it’s off to Calgary where I can work a bit, visit family and friends, and also make a day trip to hike in the mountains! It’s all about balance!
Friday, July 24, 2009
July 24, 2009
Well the TV interview is on line now, at
http://start.shaw.ca/Start/enCA/Local+Content/Alberta/Edmonton/
Not bad overall. My voice always goes up in pitch when I do these things… Maybe I use my hands too much? Ah well, at least I managed to articulate reasonably well despite the braces.
What else is new? I’m sending away for business cards (does this font make me look smart?). Oh, and Courtney actually got her desk this week! Amazing! I managed to stay on schedule for my neurology clinic. I am almost through these last resumes and then I get to enter into another round of interviewing for my lab tech. I also have my talk close to ready for next week. Yesterday I analyzed a bunch of data from RML and it looks like my data may be consistent enough to actually write it up. I also organized my office / desk yesterday. A productive week!
You know what this means of course… I am procrastinating doing what I really need to do – write my Alberta Heritage Grant. It is somewhat disheartening to realize how many people submit applications for AHFMR and how few are actually successful. I have spoken to those who simply go through the application because they feel they have to, but they also know they have no hope of success. How depressing. Last year there were close to 80 new applicants and fewer than 20 were successful. And with AHFMR being “restructured”, many people are applying this September because none of us is really sure what the future of funding holds. There seems to be a general trend towards supporting later stage research which has demonstrable direct economic impacts. Does no one value knowledge for knowledge’s sake anymore? Is everything really about translation into dollars? I fear for basic science research, which often lays the foundations for future applications and discovery, and yet which cannot always be predicted to have economic impact at the time. Therein lies the art of grant writing I suppose. I bet Galileo didn’t have to deal with these issues. Mind you, he did have that whole Catholic Inquisition problem. I guess things could be worse…
http://start.shaw.ca/Start/enCA/Local+Content/Alberta/Edmonton/
Not bad overall. My voice always goes up in pitch when I do these things… Maybe I use my hands too much? Ah well, at least I managed to articulate reasonably well despite the braces.
What else is new? I’m sending away for business cards (does this font make me look smart?). Oh, and Courtney actually got her desk this week! Amazing! I managed to stay on schedule for my neurology clinic. I am almost through these last resumes and then I get to enter into another round of interviewing for my lab tech. I also have my talk close to ready for next week. Yesterday I analyzed a bunch of data from RML and it looks like my data may be consistent enough to actually write it up. I also organized my office / desk yesterday. A productive week!
You know what this means of course… I am procrastinating doing what I really need to do – write my Alberta Heritage Grant. It is somewhat disheartening to realize how many people submit applications for AHFMR and how few are actually successful. I have spoken to those who simply go through the application because they feel they have to, but they also know they have no hope of success. How depressing. Last year there were close to 80 new applicants and fewer than 20 were successful. And with AHFMR being “restructured”, many people are applying this September because none of us is really sure what the future of funding holds. There seems to be a general trend towards supporting later stage research which has demonstrable direct economic impacts. Does no one value knowledge for knowledge’s sake anymore? Is everything really about translation into dollars? I fear for basic science research, which often lays the foundations for future applications and discovery, and yet which cannot always be predicted to have economic impact at the time. Therein lies the art of grant writing I suppose. I bet Galileo didn’t have to deal with these issues. Mind you, he did have that whole Catholic Inquisition problem. I guess things could be worse…
Friday, July 17, 2009
July 17, 2009
I was just interviewed by SHAW TV about prion research. TV interviews are fun I find, as long as you don’t talk yourself in a circle. I love the quest for “B roll” footage - to shoot stuff occurring in the lab or hallways which they can play during the talking. So often it can have nothing to do with the research! I guess watching someone talk is just not entertaining enough. It is supposed to be on line on their “cutting edge” research segment, and on TV on the 23rd at 4pm.
And just when we thought my admin person Courtney was going to get her desk, such that we dismantled her computer and moved the old small desk out of the way, now we find that those booked to dismantle the existing desk over in Medicine and bring it here, are not able to dismantle it. Wrong tools? Who knows. Now a completely different group of people needs to be booked. Sigh. And there Courtney sits, in her chair, no desk, no computer, phone on her lap…
In other news, I have been invited to give a half hour scientific talk at a joint board meeting of PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute in Vancouver in a week and a half. Apparently mine will be the only science presentation of the afternoon. No pressure! After all, these are only the people who have provided me with most of my funding so far! My target audience will range from prion researchers to cattle ranchers…
And just when we thought my admin person Courtney was going to get her desk, such that we dismantled her computer and moved the old small desk out of the way, now we find that those booked to dismantle the existing desk over in Medicine and bring it here, are not able to dismantle it. Wrong tools? Who knows. Now a completely different group of people needs to be booked. Sigh. And there Courtney sits, in her chair, no desk, no computer, phone on her lap…
In other news, I have been invited to give a half hour scientific talk at a joint board meeting of PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute in Vancouver in a week and a half. Apparently mine will be the only science presentation of the afternoon. No pressure! After all, these are only the people who have provided me with most of my funding so far! My target audience will range from prion researchers to cattle ranchers…
Thursday, July 16, 2009
July 16, 2009
And finally my blog makes it on line! Better late than never... I was inspired to action by my first shipment of new lab items! Now my otherwise empty lab is full of boxes waiting to be opened. I'm not sure what it says about me, the fact that I am so excited about getting beakers, balances, tubes, etc, but there you go. You can also see my sporadic thought processes on Twitter (PrionGirl).
Currently on my plate:
1) reviewing a bunch of CVs from people who are applying to be my lab tech (hopefully this second round will prove successful)
2) planning my Alberta Heritage grant submission for September
3) analyzing data from the lab where I did my post-doc (in the hopes of writing another paper some day)
I also posted my blogs from the earlier days of my lab, and my first week on call, by date. I note, ironically, that my admin assistant STILL does not have a proper desk...
Currently on my plate:
1) reviewing a bunch of CVs from people who are applying to be my lab tech (hopefully this second round will prove successful)
2) planning my Alberta Heritage grant submission for September
3) analyzing data from the lab where I did my post-doc (in the hopes of writing another paper some day)
I also posted my blogs from the earlier days of my lab, and my first week on call, by date. I note, ironically, that my admin assistant STILL does not have a proper desk...
May 27, 2009, 8:50pm
Is it just me, or is my blogging becoming less frequent? Perhaps I should call it a clog instead…
Ah well, I have been talking with plenty of product reps from various companies – who knew there were so many thermometers from which to choose? Now it is all in preparation for the CFI grant. This is my chance to get all the equipment I really need to get things going.
I received over thirty resumes for the lab tech position I posted. Unfortunately, they don’t all live in Edmonton. Hopefully I can interview some next week though. Wow – that’s June! For the last two weeks of June I’m off to Vancouver to learn all about 3D live cell imaging and confocal microscopy.
Oh, and I now have braces. Yes, on my teeth. Great weight loss strategy. I still can’t bite anything without pain and it has been over two weeks. Sushi is my friend… I was still able to enjoy food (and drink) in Las Vegas this past weekend though. It was my 10th wedding anniversary. Yep. 10 years. We got married one week after I wrote my LMCC (medical school licensing exam). Did I mention I thrive on stress?
I really want to write up this paper using data from my post-doc, but there have been changes to the machines on which I used to do the runs, and now a repeat of the experiment is giving weird results. It sounds like a calibration issue. I hope another repeat will clear things up. I would love to be able to submit an abstract to the PRION 2009 meeting in Greece this September. The deadline is now May 31 – 4 more days…
Ah well, I have been talking with plenty of product reps from various companies – who knew there were so many thermometers from which to choose? Now it is all in preparation for the CFI grant. This is my chance to get all the equipment I really need to get things going.
I received over thirty resumes for the lab tech position I posted. Unfortunately, they don’t all live in Edmonton. Hopefully I can interview some next week though. Wow – that’s June! For the last two weeks of June I’m off to Vancouver to learn all about 3D live cell imaging and confocal microscopy.
Oh, and I now have braces. Yes, on my teeth. Great weight loss strategy. I still can’t bite anything without pain and it has been over two weeks. Sushi is my friend… I was still able to enjoy food (and drink) in Las Vegas this past weekend though. It was my 10th wedding anniversary. Yep. 10 years. We got married one week after I wrote my LMCC (medical school licensing exam). Did I mention I thrive on stress?
I really want to write up this paper using data from my post-doc, but there have been changes to the machines on which I used to do the runs, and now a repeat of the experiment is giving weird results. It sounds like a calibration issue. I hope another repeat will clear things up. I would love to be able to submit an abstract to the PRION 2009 meeting in Greece this September. The deadline is now May 31 – 4 more days…
April 28, 2009
We are still trying to get the prion centre up and running. Sigh. We are told “one more week” a lot. Maybe this time it will be true. Oh well, at least now I have access to start-up funds. Paperwork is still in process for the other two grants, and then I have to figure out how to “sub-grant” to my collaborators…
Protocols, protocols, protocols: Animals, ethics, and prions – oh my! And some committees are requesting 25 copies! All in the name of good science.
I did speak with a researcher who has used the same software that I hope to use (she is in McGill), and it was a helpful conversation. It is really great to be able to talk with other scientists in such an open and friendly manner, because we all get excited about each other’s projects and ideas. Plus, starting out can seem a bit daunting, so having a reassuring voice is nice too.
Protocols, protocols, protocols: Animals, ethics, and prions – oh my! And some committees are requesting 25 copies! All in the name of good science.
I did speak with a researcher who has used the same software that I hope to use (she is in McGill), and it was a helpful conversation. It is really great to be able to talk with other scientists in such an open and friendly manner, because we all get excited about each other’s projects and ideas. Plus, starting out can seem a bit daunting, so having a reassuring voice is nice too.
April 20, 2009
Wow. So much for trying to keep up this blog thing regularly!
Well, I survived call. I was pretty nervous at first – couldn’t eat solid food, just milkshakes. But, by the end of the week I was eating and feeling much more confident. It was great to have another neurologist shadowing me for the week – someone to bounce ideas off, etc. I have a slightly better sense of where things are in the hospital now, although it took me several laps around the ER before I could find my way out at first! The residents were excellent too, which really helped. After all, residents really run the show.
It was “seizure” week for sure, with that being by far the most common reason for consultation. I had a few surprises when I found out I was expected at a meeting to discuss patient discharge planning, etc, and found out that I was the one running the meeting… Ah well, everyone was really very friendly and understanding.
I was still pretty zonked by the end of the week though, and still had to give that journal club presentation. All in all I think I gave a reasonable talk, but I was a bit aphasic at times (I had trouble with language – pronouncing complicated words, etc, because I was so tired).
But then it was done! And it was spring! So I got my hair cut nice and short! And then it snowed… I see that Edmonton weather is not so different from Calgary afterall…
Since then it has been back to organizing things at the lab. I just got access to start-up funds today, so I can finally begin to order stuff! My admin assistant has started (although we don’t actually have a desk for her yet…).
At the end of last week I went down to Calgary for a medical conference / curling bonspiel. Yep, I am definitely a curling geek. It was a lot of fun, but my triceps are still aching from all the sweeping. I haven’t curled for 5 years, so I was kinda rusty, and my muscles were taken by surprise.
But, now I have returned to clinical practice after a 5 year break, and to curling, after a similar break. So far so good!
Well, I survived call. I was pretty nervous at first – couldn’t eat solid food, just milkshakes. But, by the end of the week I was eating and feeling much more confident. It was great to have another neurologist shadowing me for the week – someone to bounce ideas off, etc. I have a slightly better sense of where things are in the hospital now, although it took me several laps around the ER before I could find my way out at first! The residents were excellent too, which really helped. After all, residents really run the show.
It was “seizure” week for sure, with that being by far the most common reason for consultation. I had a few surprises when I found out I was expected at a meeting to discuss patient discharge planning, etc, and found out that I was the one running the meeting… Ah well, everyone was really very friendly and understanding.
I was still pretty zonked by the end of the week though, and still had to give that journal club presentation. All in all I think I gave a reasonable talk, but I was a bit aphasic at times (I had trouble with language – pronouncing complicated words, etc, because I was so tired).
But then it was done! And it was spring! So I got my hair cut nice and short! And then it snowed… I see that Edmonton weather is not so different from Calgary afterall…
Since then it has been back to organizing things at the lab. I just got access to start-up funds today, so I can finally begin to order stuff! My admin assistant has started (although we don’t actually have a desk for her yet…).
At the end of last week I went down to Calgary for a medical conference / curling bonspiel. Yep, I am definitely a curling geek. It was a lot of fun, but my triceps are still aching from all the sweeping. I haven’t curled for 5 years, so I was kinda rusty, and my muscles were taken by surprise.
But, now I have returned to clinical practice after a 5 year break, and to curling, after a similar break. So far so good!
April Fool's Day, 2009
I can’t help but reflect on the irony of beginning my life as a PrioNet grant recipient on April Fool’s Day. Perhaps it is only fitting, as one of my grant reviewers described me as “peculiarly brilliant”. I am sure I have been referred to as both peculiar and brilliant at times in the past, but never in the same sentence.
Nevertheless, here I am, the Mad Cow Girl herself, about to embark on my latest adventure. After two months of swimming through the paperwork of moving, buying a house, getting a new lab building up and running (a work still in progress), navigating an ever restructuring University and Capital Health system (now Alberta Health Services), I think I may actually get to do some research! Oh wait – it looks like there is more paperwork in store first…
One thing about grants I am finding, is that everyone wants original signatures on pieces of paper, which often involves couriering these pages across the country so we can all sign the same thing. It looks like they will accept individual pages this time, so that will make things a bit easier.
Time for a to do list…
Sign and submit grant forms (so I can actually have access to the grant money).
Figure out how to hire a technician (emails sent – more forms to fill out).
Order required software for research project.
Order basic lab supplies (pipettes, culture dishes).
Order basic lab reagents (media,etc).
And just as I get revved up about doing research, I have a week of neurology call starting tomorrow – my first in quite a while and my first ever here in Edmonton…
Oh – and now I have to give journal club on the 9th, the day after I finish call… That’s going to be a good session…
Well, I’ve unpacked the boxes I brought from home. So many notes…
My flashlight and ophthalmoscope batteries seem to be in good shape. I am uncertain how many books to drag around with me on call. I hear the number carried is inversely proportional to your experience…
Nevertheless, here I am, the Mad Cow Girl herself, about to embark on my latest adventure. After two months of swimming through the paperwork of moving, buying a house, getting a new lab building up and running (a work still in progress), navigating an ever restructuring University and Capital Health system (now Alberta Health Services), I think I may actually get to do some research! Oh wait – it looks like there is more paperwork in store first…
One thing about grants I am finding, is that everyone wants original signatures on pieces of paper, which often involves couriering these pages across the country so we can all sign the same thing. It looks like they will accept individual pages this time, so that will make things a bit easier.
Time for a to do list…
Sign and submit grant forms (so I can actually have access to the grant money).
Figure out how to hire a technician (emails sent – more forms to fill out).
Order required software for research project.
Order basic lab supplies (pipettes, culture dishes).
Order basic lab reagents (media,etc).
And just as I get revved up about doing research, I have a week of neurology call starting tomorrow – my first in quite a while and my first ever here in Edmonton…
Oh – and now I have to give journal club on the 9th, the day after I finish call… That’s going to be a good session…
Well, I’ve unpacked the boxes I brought from home. So many notes…
My flashlight and ophthalmoscope batteries seem to be in good shape. I am uncertain how many books to drag around with me on call. I hear the number carried is inversely proportional to your experience…
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