Myths, Musings, and History

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Myths, Musings, and History
Eve Marder Brandeis University
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My thanks to my lab, present and past
Cyrus Billimoria John Birmingham Dirk Bucher Mike
Casey Andy Christie Nelson Cruz Judith Eisen J-M.
Goaillard Jorge Golowasch Scott Hooper J.C.
Jorge-Rivera Tom Kepler Valerie Kilman Erwan
LeDoux Gwen LeMasson Lingjun Li Chris
Lingle Jason Luther Yair Manor Pierre Meyrand
Bill Miller Larry Mortin Farzan Nadim Mike
Nusbaum Astrid Prinz Stefan Pulver Kat
Richards Alice Robie Dave Schulz Andy Sharp David
Simon Petra Skiebe Frances Skinner Cristina
Soto-Trevino Andy Swensen Vatsala Thirumalai Kurt
Thoroughman Gina Turrigiano Jim Weimann Michelle
Withers
Pablo Achard Hilary Bierman Ted Brookings Memet
Fisek Gabrielle Gutierrez Rachel Grashow Patricia
Lopresti Kris Rehm Theresa Szabo Lamont Tang Adam
Taylor Anne-Elise Tobin

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1956

• My father said, Dont worry about getting
  married, get your Ph.D. first.

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1963

• Photosynthesis, respiration, neurons and the mind

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1967

• Autism, dueling scars and neuroscience

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1969

• UCSD 13 women in a class of 30.

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Myth 1

• The postdoc years are the best of your scientific
  career.

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Myth 2

• You will never get a job if you do a postdoc
  abroad

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Myth 3

• If you want to get a job you have to work for a
  famous person in a big lab

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Myth 4

• Being successful in science requires giving up
  having a normal life more than being successful
  in other careers.

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The trap of trying to please THEM

• THEIR demands are infinite

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Picking a scientific problem

• The advantages and disadvantages of working on a
  consensus problem

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Picking a scientific problem continued

• Follow your heartscience is too hard to do
  unless you are really excited by what you are
  doing.

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Make your own mistakes

• Your own mistakes will teach you, THEIR mistakes
  are the fastest route to disillusionment, and to
  bitter and twisted.

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Worms, flies, crabs, lobsters, rats, eels, and
monkeys know the answers. Listen to what they
are telling You.