The scientific life and how to get there: book review times two

Recently my library has been boosted by the beneficience of several very generous readers that chose to take advantage of my Amazon widget, and two of the books I have received are The Beginner's Guide to Winning a Nobel Prize, by Peter Doherty, and The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology, by Chandler, Wolfe, and Promislow. Since the subjects of the books are related, I thought it would be useful to combine my reviews of them into one post. Don't dismiss them as being merely for novices, both of them are highly recommended for scientists at any career stage!

First up: The Beginner's Guide to Winning a Nobel Prize.

Doherty's book is not actually what I expected at first, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be a fairly straightforward account of the development of his career as a scientist, along with step-by-step advise for scientists-in-training on how to make the best choices in their own academic and professional paths. He does tell the story of his own career, and gives insight into the process of actually being granted the Nobel (Doherty and Rolf Zinkernagel won the Medicine prize in 1996 for their work on cell-mediated immunity). In addition to this, however, he offers extensive commentary on both the "culture" of biology research and on modern issues facing the both the state of science as a discipline and the lives of scientists themselves. It should be noted that the book is highly focused on laboratory biology, not much time is given to field studies or ecological work, but the principles and practice of scientific thought are applicable across disciplines.
Doherty also emphasizes the ways in which the massive honor and recognition of a Nobel can border on burdensome, with constant media and academic solicitations taking over a scientist's schedule and leaving little time left for their actual work

"The Nobel year's commit ents consume a lot of time and take active scientists away from their research programs. Some, who are in the later stages of their careers, lose traction and never really get back to what had been their life's work. All laureates, at any rate, lose a measure of the personal space required for introspection and creativity."

Doherty does NOT come across as whining about being a winner, however. He also points out the flip side of the situation: an immediate international platform for not only promoting their own field of research but also "focusing the broad attention of society on values that relate to rational, evidence-based inquiry, truth and peace, the basic building blocks of prosperity and participatory democracy."

The book has several chapters that directly address modern issues in science, both the standard "hot topics" (genetically modified crops, stem cells, etc) and other, more practical factors such as scientific fraud, dealing with the media, and working with collaborators. He currently has active research going on at both St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Tennessee and at the University of Melbourne in Australia so he is able to give a unique perspective in the differences of how science is treated by politicians and the public in both countries.

The last chapter is more of what I had originally expected the whole book to be like: point-by-point advice for scientists-in-training on how to make the most of their undergrad and graduate educations and make smart decisions about developing their careers. He gives great advice (find an issue you're passionate about, be selective about where you work, be culturally aware, etc), and I highly recommend the book to anyone pursuing research in any field, not just science.

One neat bonus is that the appendices include the original papers on cell-mediated immunity that resulted in his Nobel. It's a great reminder of how some of the most important discoveries in biology have originally been announced in publications consisting of just a handful of pages (example: Watson and Crick's paper on the structure of DNA was only five pages). Edit: Carlos points out a mistake, the Watson-Crick paper was only one page, the five pages is the total for the announcement including the supporting materials from Rosalind and Wilkins Thanks for the correction!).

Don't let the title fool you, this book is not just for beginners. Doherty blends his advice to young biologists with autobiographical elements, social and political commentary, science history, opinions on controversial recent advances, and advice about how scientists can strive to be responsible public intellectuals. The themes of the book are summed up in my favorite quote from the book, when Doherty states that becoming a scientist "involves a personal recognition that humanity advances by insight, discovery, and a capacity for serious effort and commitment." Highly recommended reading for everyone!


Next: The Chicago Guide to Landing a Job in Academic Biology

This slim volume is a practical guide to all the steps in building a career in academia (you could apply the tips to many different fields beyond biology), from undergraduate years up through grad school, postdocs, interviewing for that elusive tenure-track position, and establishing a successful lab once you're hired. It is a quick read, but don't mistake its conversational tone and copious cartoons for superficiality. The book is packed with insider's advice and anecdotes from the authors' own experiences as students, post-docs, professors, and hiring committee members, in addition to case studies for many different situations at different career stages. The authors also provide sample cover letters and good/bad examples of statements of purpose, which are extremely useful guides for someone who is trying to put together documents for their first professional applications. There are also chapters covering personal logistics, such as dealing with gender issues in the hiring progress and negotiating positions for spouses/partners. Equal weight is given to tracks leading to both research and teaching-oriented institutions.

I'm still relatively low on the ladder of academia (ok, nothing "relatively" about it, I'm nothin' but a lowly undergrad), so many of the situations covered in the book are years, possibly a decade or more in the future for me. I still read it cover-to-cover, though, because knowing what's involved two or three steps ahead is the best way to prepare for your very next move. You don't want to wait until too late to realize you're on the wrong path if details of tenure-track work turn you off!

Favorite quote (partly because I know of examples of this at my own school!):
"Like an academic campfire story. . . every graduate program has lore about the mysterious postdoc in the lab down the hall who has been searching for a job since the Reagan administration."

In a nutshell, this book should be required for all seniors planning on post-graduate work. It outlines exactly what is required to establish a successful position in academia, and does so in a manner that is accessible, friendly, and entertaining without being patronizing. I think it would be useful for established faculty members as well as people still working their way up the ladder, the interview tips and advice about hiring logistics are applicable to both sides of the negotiating table.


(By the way, another huge thanks to the book elves that have bestowed gifts upon me in the past few weeks!)