I think this s a timely meme, given recent conversations regarding writing a blog and how bloggers are perceived by their readers. Also, it would give me an idea of who is actually reading and what your interests are. I'm not saying it's going to change what or how I write, but there's some curiosity on my side as well, seeing as only a small minority of readers actually ever comment. So, here goes.
As Seen On DrugMonkey:
Ed Yong of Not Exactly Rocket Science has revived an old thread to ask his readers the following:
Identify yourself in the comments. Even if you've never commented before, speak up. Who are you? Do you have a background in science? Are you interesting lay-person, practicing scientist, journalist, sentient virus, or something else? Are you a close friend, colleague, acquaintance or stranger?
Enlighten me.
It's a simple but interesting request that DrugMonkey has picked up on and turned into a meme. So, if you have been reading the blog, let me know what keeps you coming back and why you read this blog instead of (or in addition to) the blogs that delve into the science more.
While you do that, I'm going to finish and submit this grant today.
2 days ago
I read your blog because I'm an early tenure-track science faculty member and I'm stranger than you think ;)
ReplyDeleteScientist, wife, mother. Came across your blog one of these days and kept on reading...
ReplyDeleteI read you blog out of voyeuristic curiosity, because I work in a place that you used to, and it's neat knowing what you're up to. I know you've talked a bit about anonymity on here, so I won't identify myself, lest that lead to others finding out who you are.
ReplyDeleteJust because we shared a cell at Stillwater... oops, I've said too much already.
ReplyDelete[1]Who are you, [2]what are you doing and [3]why do you keep looking at me!!??!
ReplyDelete1) Toaster. Not an actual toaster.
2) Science of the immunological type. Occasional wanton noise-making.
3) Trying to figure out why you keep drooling between sentences.
I guess I've identified myself to you "recently". Anway, I am I'm not nearly as anonymous as I'd like.
ReplyDeleteI'm an ex-postdoc neuroscientist, now working in academic administration. I'm one the 60-70% that didn't make it to a tenure track position is trying to figure out what one does with a PhD and years and bench training! And hopefully, educating others along the way.
I read your blog because I enjoy the view of an early FT-TT (which is why I also enjoy PiT). Partly it's morbid curiosity of the "what if" my postdoc career had gone where I wanted it, partly I like your sense of humour and posts.
I'm a scientific curator at a model organism database. I've got a PhD in a subfield of biology that has little to do with where I am now.
ReplyDeleteI came here from some other blog liked what I saw and came back. Partially, I come back to see what it might have been like had at the end of my postdoc I not decided that the tenure track wasn't for me. Partially, I come back because you make me laugh and after dealing with some of the crap out there mascarading as peer reviewed papers I need a laugh.
Hokay. I am a postdoc in a biomedical engineering-related field. I have a penchant for reading other friendly academic blogs. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI came to visit because DrugMonkey told me to, and I do pretty much everything he says. I think you rule, and so I come here and blather on in your comments.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear from a couple of lurkers out there (and those of you I know better)! Perhaps a few more will trickle in as well. Even if you come here to watch me flounder as a PI, I would still be interested to hear what keeps people coming back.
ReplyDeleteI'm a political scientist, nearing tenure, at an R1. I like reading blogs by other academics, especially science ones. It's a familiar yet different world - I have been fascinated to read about labs and PIs and postdocs and grants. We don't have labs or postdocs (for the most part) and although we do get grants sometimes, we don't *have* to have them to do our job the way researchers in the hard sciences do. It's quite interesting. And, of course, your blog is entertaining so that's probably why I check in from time to time when I need a break from work etc..
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the community of scientists, like to see how different folks make the life work for them. You write with humor and feeling which is always the hook that keeps readers coming back time after time.
ReplyDeleteI'm a junior non-TT faculty in biological sciences at an R1. Yours and PiT's blogs are my top two favourite science blogs... that let me compare experiences and approaches to the common challenges we face... I enjoy your thoughts and your writing; it's the human context and outside influences on the science we do that interest me most...
ReplyDeleteI am also a junior non-TT faculty with interests in ecology, evolution, and genomics. I read your blog because it's like a parallel universe except that you are more insightful and witty. Each day I get to find out what's about to happen to me.
ReplyDeleteJust starting my second year in a TT faculty position. I work at the intersection of behavior, ecology, and evolution (that should be vague enough).
ReplyDeleteTenured chemistry professor at a small liberal arts college; I do computational chemistry research, but am also an essayist (and blogger), and parent. I found you via LabLit and enjoy the wry humor here.
ReplyDeletemidstage grad student molecular neuro. I came here from DGT. I like your honesty and hearing about the problems you face is encouraging for some reason. I think that you will be telling us something that I need to know.
ReplyDeleteI am (hopefully soon) finishing my PhD in organic chemistry and I will start teaching general chemistry in a CEGEP (college) very soon. Stumbled across your blog from a ''What are you following'' list on some else's blog and immediately loved your comments. As I am a father of 1.6 children (well, the second one is expected for October), it's not always easy to juggle with research/work and family and I like to see how others are doing. From the outside, you seem to do a good job at that, which gives me hope...
ReplyDelete