How many are deserving?

YoungFemaleScientist took umbrage at a recent post from YHN in which there was some discussion of the usual postdoc / grad student meme about exploitation within the system. I was pointing out that sometimes postdocs can be a little blind about what it really takes to be a PI. Amidst a rebuttal insisting that, no, she’s really the unique postdoc that “gets it” and is indeed being screwed by the system, YFS notes:

Another great example of the Blame the Victim mentality.
In the best of circumstances, I’d like to think that most of us would be wildly successful.
Throw some roadblocks in the mix, and most of us would quit. And there’s no doubt I have the scientific ability.

Online Networking for Grownups

Musing a bit today on the nature and utility of online networking sites. No, not the kiddie stuff Facebook, Myspace and the like.

FemaleScienceProfessor expresses the usual suspicion about LinkedIn, i.e., that it will just fill the emailbox with junk. Beyond this commonality, many colleagues wonder “But what is it FOR?”. I also wonder, what good will I get out of it?

SfN07: Fish Tacos

Today we inaugurate a new category of posts. The Society for Neuroscience is meeting in my fair city this year, as it does on a regular cycle. Presumably some of y’all will be coming to visit. I have some thoughts.