Peter Dearden • Mar 29, 2011 •
by SM Morgan. For the first interview of the year I bring you a daughter of Christchurch, and a little celebration of academic achievement in amongst the tragedy. Helen Abbott completed her honours degree at the University of Otago in 2008 in the first class, and was accepted into … Read More
Peter Dearden • Mar 25, 2011 •
Sitting in Glass Houses; drinking tea and planning World Domination (aka Thesis Completion). by SM Morgan. I am at that stage of the PhD. Contemplating completion and what the heck comes after. There is always talk about the glass ceiling still present in industry for women and the issues surrounding women and science, especially during post-doctoral positions. ( … Read More
Peter Dearden • Mar 22, 2011 •
The Grand Design – by Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow Reviewed by SM Morgan. I love it when things are so profound, so amazing that they bend your mind. Things so great and incomprehensible that you just stare, slack jawed into the ether whilst the gears in your … Read More
Peter Dearden • Dec 07, 2010 •
SM Morgan This week I have an interview with Gillian MacKay — the lovely Genetics Teaching Fellow at the University of Otago. Gillian has been with Genetics now for about 5 years, and does a job which is both highly varied and high in student … Read More
Peter Dearden • Dec 02, 2010 •
SM Morgan It is surprising how often technology mimics nature, and in the most subtle of ways. Take for example the phenomenon of email phishing — a probe is sent out to entice the recipient with something they want/need; for example, a MillionDollars!, an OnlineEasyDoctorate! or a ready supply of CheapDrugs! Once enticed, the source gets something it needs … Read More
Peter Dearden • Oct 28, 2010 •
By SM Morgan. This week I have something exciting in store — a non-science person answers my multitude of questions. Camera shy Sophia, hard at work in her office. Sophia McKay is currently the publicity manager for Genetics Otago (GO) and has been with us now for almost 2 years. Read More
Peter Dearden • Oct 08, 2010 •
SM Morgan I am at the point in my PhD studies where I am ordering pre-made mutant lines of flies from the US to test out some of the results I found early in my research. It is amazing that we can do this — and for so remarkably little expense. There are vast warehouses in the States and … Read More
Peter Dearden • Sep 28, 2010 •
SM Morgan, Lab for Evolution & Development. The student write-up room (post grad/student office) for our lab is decorated with lovely pieces of random detritus collected from various conferences and meetings across the world. I don’t usually notice it — but we do have quite a range of…well, crap. This week, an innocent wee lass asked us why … Read More
Peter Dearden • Sep 23, 2010 •
The Career Session, Part III. — SM Morgan Guest speakers: Julia Horsfield and Peter Dearden. — Thus follows the final round up of all the wisdom and advice given at the ‘career path’ Genetics Otago postgrad monthly colloquium. Last time we left at the most current point of Peter Dearden’s career path, and a discussion of academic job applications. Read More
Peter Dearden • Sep 22, 2010 •
The Career Session, Part II. — SM Morgan Guest speakers: Julia Horsfield and Peter Dearden. — Associate Professor Peter Dearden, Principal Investigator of the Lab for Evolution & Development and Director of Genetics Otago was our second guest speaker for the ‘career path’ discussion at the Genetics Otago postgrad colloquia meeting in August; on a side note — … Read More