Month: February 2022

I definitely enjoy the process of peer review and talking with the other reviewers in my panels about which proposal we thought was best. It showed me there were a lot of different interests and ideas out there, and that there are many possible ideas in research. It also inspired me to be more creative, and consider ideas outside my initial interests. The scoring section on the principal review sheet was very helpful and contained important information to consider when writing a proposal. I think it is very interesting to think how research proposals need to convince others that their ideas are novel, feasible, and deserve to be funded. I found that while some proposals focused on different sections, this panel review made me realize how important it is to explain why the proposal is important. In my opinion, that was what I focused the most on. The exercise also made me wonder if there was ever any awkwardness or even bitterness between researchers after receiving peer reviews. I know we were seated in a specific manner, but I was still worried about talking too loudly and ruining the “blind” review.

I think this article shows a different side of scientific discovery, and it is interesting where and when it took place. It goes to show that stepping out of the work zone can let us refresh our ideas. It is interesting to hear about Dr. Mullis’ discovery of such a famous molecular biology technique from his perspective and in untechnical jargon. It makes him more approachable and relatable in a way…despite being the creator of PCR. I also like that his piece came from his blog so we can delve deeper into what he was thinking at the time. In those ways, I believe this article has made molecular biology more accessible, and it is good supplementary material for those just starting out in the field. I do enjoy learning more about the history of molecular biology, and it has helped me remember important details about what is being taught i.e., Rosalind Franklin.