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1o tips to a successful career in Computational Biology

1o tips to a successful career in Computational Biology. Shoba Ranganathan Professor and Chair – Bioinformatics Dept. of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences & Adjunct Professor Biotechnology Research Institute Dept. of Biochemistry Macquarie University Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

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1o tips to a successful career in Computational Biology

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  1. 1o tips to asuccessful career in Computational Biology Shoba Ranganathan Professor and Chair – Bioinformatics Dept. of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences & Adjunct Professor Biotechnology Research Institute Dept. of Biochemistry Macquarie University Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Sydney, Australia National University of Singapore, Singapore (shoba.ranganathan@mq.edu.au) (shoba@bic.nus.edu.sg) Visiting scientist @ Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), Singapore

  2. Bioinformatics is ….. • Bioinformatics is the study of living systems through computation

  3. 1. Knowledge • The DIKW hierarchy: Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? -- T.S. Eliot, Choruses from 'The Rock' (1934) Where is the information we have lost in data? -- N.L. Henry, (1974)

  4. Wisdom is:

  5. To know Computational Biology • Informatics • Biological or Life Sciences • And all allied disciplines to get from data to wisdom! • In the area you are working on, become the expert!

  6. 2. An Inquisitive mind • Inclined to investigate; eager for knowledge. • Your PhD is a quest for deep understanding on the research topic • How much can you know? • Never enough • But then, that’s what gives you a career!

  7. Pebbles on the beach • “I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” - Sir Isaac Newton

  8. 3. Honesty • Integrity is an essential ingredient. • Knowledge leading to wisdom, i.e. harvesting the ocean of truth, is the ancient philosophers’ quest for the absolute truth! • Honesty in your work as well as interactions with others

  9. 4. Communication • Written, oral and presentation skills. • The only way to get ahead! • Includes: email, discussions, interviews, Q&A at conferences and seminars • ENGLISH! • It is only a skill – you can learn it! • Polish it up! • Train your neural networks from constant reading

  10. 5. Persistance • The ability to stick to your plan, even when everyone thinks you are wrong. • Keep on trying to crack the problem(s)! • PhD is like breaking a wall down with your head • Of course be prepared to amend your directions, if the data suggests otherwise • But reaching the goal is important: many roads lead to Rome!

  11. 6. Persuation • Believe in yourself and what you have done • However, learn to convince your reviewers tactfully! • The art of suggestion is important here • The ability to handle hostile reviewers/audience/fellow scientists is critical to progress in your career • If you cannot beat them, join them –collaborate instead of confront.

  12. 7. Plan • Make a roadmap of where you want to be: • 3 years from now • 5 years from now • Longer term…. • Plan and organize your life: • PhD • Career • Life • Most quests can be “projects”

  13. 8. Promptness • Deliver your results on time! • Timelines…. • Critical, essential, routine are useful labels • Review these regularly • Make the time: after it all Einstein said that it is relative and can be stretched.

  14. 9. Critique/Critisism • Critique: the ability to critically analyze someone else’s work • Assessment of manuscripts. Reviews • Journal clubs are group efforts at this but do not specifically hone your skills to critique • Review each other’s work • Criticism can be negated and made + • Firstly, remove emothion from the equation • Then, carefully review exactly what has been said • Address each issue carefully and diligently – no comment can be swept under the carpet

  15. 10. Initiative • Be a pioneer! • Try novel approaches • Be curious • DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED • Discover new paths (algorithms), new maps (workflows), new places (new data/associations),…. • When you get there, there is always another mountain to climb…

  16. Add more to these as you go on and personalise it!

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