BEYOND
the
BEAKERS:
SMART Advice for
Entering Graduate Programs
in the Sciences and Engineering
NSF HRD-0080662
Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D.
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Copyright © 2006 by Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
INTRODUCTION
Why do I think this book might be useful?
This is the most exciting time in history to become a scientist or engineer. Our imagination is often our limit to what we can discover or do. Our achievements enhance the
world around us at a dizzying pace. New diagnostic tools, medicines, new materials
including those made by nanotechnology, miraculous computers, lasers and electronic
devices are transforming our world. But America is not producing enough scientists
and engineers to maintain our position as world leaders in science and engineering.
Many factors affect the number of Americans entering STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics) fields. Numerous studies have
emphasized the importance of attracting STEM professionals from every group in the country. We cannot afford to
lose the talents of women, of African Americans, Hispanics,
Native Americans, or those with physical challenges. In fact,
we can’t afford to lose the talents of any Americans who
could become STEM professionals. We must use a variety
of strategies to help people with the desire, intellectual ability,
creativity and perseverance to continue to gain the education to become the next generation of leaders in STEM. A
number of programs provide opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research or gain practical real life experiences. Graduate schools and organizations provide salaries
or stipends to support advanced level study, especially at
the Ph.D. level.
Some of you have access to people who can guide you
through the process of applying to graduate school. However, many people using
this book may not feel they have sufficient guidance to move to the next level of their
education. A lot of people in STEM careers do not come from families with a history of
advanced education. Some of the outstanding Ph.D. students at my institution are first
generation high school graduates.
This guidebook has been developed to help undergraduates understand and
prepare for entering graduate school in the sciences or engineering. The elements
presented here have been developed over the past 17 years that I have worked with
undergraduates, Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows through the Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences of Baylor College of Medicine. The undergraduate
majors of my students have spanned the spectrum of STEM, including biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics and every other imaginable area. Like research projects, this material has evolved - from pointers provided to
puzzled students into more formal workshops, many of which have been presented a
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BEYOND THE BEAKERS
number of times. Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF HRD
9906394), these pointers have been assembled into a guide that I hope will make it
easier for students to apply to and be accepted by the graduate school of their choice.
The guidebook includes several sections, each useful at a different point in your education. You may come back to different sections at different times. Some sections refer
you to other specialized resources.
The first section provides pointers on making the most of
undergraduate research and work experiences. I’ve worked
with more than 1,600 students in our SMART summer
undergraduate research program and helped many of them
apply for Ph.D. programs. Practical, real-life experiences are
prized by graduate school admissions committees. Hundreds
of research/work opportunities are available for resourceful
undergraduates, but you have to maximize the impact of your
experience.
The SMART GRE prep workshops were developed in a very
unexpected way. I saw too many promising scientists who were
not accepted by the graduate schools they wanted to attend
because of their GRE scores – and only their GRE scores. I
took GRE practice tests myself and tried to provide pointers and encouraged students to create study groups – but it didn’t help. So, when I identified a NSF Gender
Equity grant with a more flexible budget than for typical summer research programs,
I asked for funds to have a GRE prep company do diagnostic testing and teach a
prep course. The review panel decided to fund the grant, but eliminated the funding
for the GRE course and had the audacity to recommend that I teach the course. I
said some very bad words about the sanity and intelligence of the review panel. What
does a biochemist, a molecular biologist know about teaching GRE prep? How could
I possibly find the time to do one more thing? Then I cried and went to bed. When I
got up the next morning, I decided that they had given me $95,000 to help students
enter graduate school, so I’d try to teach GRE prep, but I needed help. I was fortunate
to “bump into” a BCM student who decided to complete a master’s degree, but not a
Ph.D. Tina Corkran had helped her mother teach SAT prep. Tina began working with
me to develop GRE prep workshops as soon as she finished her thesis, which wasn’t
until the summer had started. Some days we were making up exercises as we entered
the room. But, we had remarkable results with our first group of 10 students. Their
scores improved an average of 370 points between the first and last practice exams!
We continued to develop workshops as we found other donors who recognized the
importance of helping students do their best on the GRE. Laurie Connor, Ph.D. joined
the team after I acquired a major grant from the NSF to test our model at five women’s
college campuses. Over the years the changing structure and content of the GRE has
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National Science Foundation
been a great challenge. Our guidebooks for students and faculty have been updated a
number of times to keep pace with changes to the GRE. But the SMART Program and
other campuses have demonstrated that students can improve their scores through
workshops and individual study. Many students improved their scores by 200 points or
more using the strategies outlined in this book. Our hope is that the information in this
book will provide inspiration and guidance to help you do your best on the GRE and
reach your career goals. But the moral of the story is that as scientists and engineers
we learn to be problem solvers and you never know what problem you’ll find yourself
solving next.
One section of the book includes information from some of the “Thriving, Not Just
Surviving, as a Scientist” skills workshops I present at BCM. In the early stages of my
career, I spent a lot of time trying to find out
how to do things right. As a scientist/educator I created a series of workshops to provide
advice on developing the practical skills we
need as scientists. The workshops that are
of greatest relevance to undergraduates are
included in this book. Hopefully, the pointers in
this book will help you do a good job and save
time and stress. We love science or engineering, but having a life is important, too.
I developed workshops on applying for
graduate school for the undergraduates and
technicians working at Baylor College of Medicine. Graduate schools are looking for American educated students who have taken
good advantage of their opportunities and can relate their experiences and preparation
in knowledgeable language. Understanding and preparing for the application process
can reduce the stress you feel and result in greater opportunities to expand your
knowledge and skills in the environment you chose.
Good luck as you continue your education. The lives of people around the world
have been enriched through science and engineering. New discoveries and applications of knowledge will continue to develop – as long as we have people who are
willing to gain the education and persevere to make today’s dreams and crazy ideas,
tomorrow’s realities.
—Gayle R. Slaughter, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Graduate Education
[email protected]
V
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One: Research and Work Experiences
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‹;OL*VTW\[LY(KHW[P]L;LZ[!*(; 13
‹:[YH[LNPLZ[V0TWYV]L@V\Y:JVYLZ 14
Chapter Two: Doing Your Best on the GRE
Chapter Three: Building Logical Thinking Skills
‹3VNPJWYVISLTZ 39
Chapter Four: Making the Most of Mentor Relationships
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‹.H[OLYPUN0UMVYTH[PVU[V*OVVZLH4LU[VY 60
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Chapter Five: Data Management
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‹:`Z[LTZVM+H[H(JX\PZP[PVU 69
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‹9LZ\S[ZVM)HK9LJVYK2LLWPUN ‹2L`Z[V9LSPHISL9LJVYK2LLWPUN 73
VII
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Chapter Six: Reading the Scientific Literature
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‹3VJH[PUN7HWLYZ 76
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Chapter Seven: Avoiding Plagiarism/Copyright Infringement
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Chapter Eight: Writing Research Proposals
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‹*VTTVU)HYYPJHKLZ[V,MÄJPLU[>YP[PUN 88
‹7YHJ[PJHS*VUZPKLYH[PVUZ 91
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‹7\YWVZLVMMLSSV^ZOPWZ 91
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‹3LUN[OVMH^HYK 92
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‹>YP[PUNHWYVWVZHS 93
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‹0M[OLMLSSV^ZOPWPZUV[H^HYKLK 95
Chapter Nine: Writing Scientific Abstracts
‹.LULYHS7VPU[LYZ 97
‹6YNHUPaH[PVUHUK*VU[LU[VM(IZ[YHJ[Z 98
‹*VTTVU4PZ[HRLZ 99
Chapter Ten: Creating Effective Figures
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‹>H`Z[V7YLZLU[+H[H 101
‹:WLJPÄJ7VPU[LYZMVY:L[[PUN\W-PN\YLZ 102
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Eleven: Posters with Pizzazz
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‹7VZ[LY7YLWHYH[PVU 106
‹*VTWHYPUN7VZ[LY-VYTH[Z 106
‹7YLZLU[PUN@V\Y7VZ[LY 107
Chapter Twelve: Oral Presentations
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‹7YLZLU[H[PVU:RPSSZ 114
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Chapter Thirteen: Attending Conferences and Networking
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Chapter Fourteen: The Graduate School Application
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Chapter Fifteen: Interviewing for Graduate School
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Chapter Sixteen: Choosing the Right Graduate School for You
‹9LZLHYJO0U[LYLZ[HUK,U]PYVUTLU[ 137
IX
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter One: Research and Work Experience
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Types of Undergraduate Research/Work:
1. Academic year experiences
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2. Summer research
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1
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Applying to Summer Research Programs:
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http://www.aamc.org/members/great
http://www.ASCB.org
http://www.NSF.gov
http://www.SACNAS.org
http://www.yale.edu/necuse/
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Baylor College of Medicine
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Choosing a Project/Lab:
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-What type of research/engineering interests you?
-What are you prepared to do?
-What techniques/procedures would you like to learn more about?
-What are your long term goals?
-How does your personality fit the lab/work atmosphere?
3
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Expectations of Research Program Participants:
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4
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Making the Most of Your Research Experience:
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5
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
9
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Capitalizing on Your Research/Work Experience
2
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6
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Summer Research Then and Now
Summer research has changed as much in the last 30 years as the difference
between using a slide rule and today’s computers to solve math problems. I never
heard of a summer research program for college students when I was an undergrad.
I participated in a NSF sponsored summer program for high school students, but only
because they bent the rules and let me participate in a program in my hometown and
even let me live at home. You had to pay travel and housing expenses to participate
in the programs and my family couldn’t do that. Paying family medical expenses didn’t
leave much to fund expensive educational experiences. But I got a “break”. I guess
we’ll never know how much that experience influenced my interest in science.
College research experiences were available to me. Because of my previous science fair experience, the Chair of the Chemistry Department met with me the first day
of college and talked to me about undergraduate research opportunities. Unlike a lot
of people in the 1970s who didn’t think girls could be successful at chemistry, Dr. Larry
Spears was very encouraging regarding my career interests. I majored in chemistry because I was really interested in biochemistry. There was one biochemist at a time in our
department, so that’s who I worked with starting the summer after my freshman year. I
would take one class each summer and spend the rest of the time in the lab, isolating
enzymes, and accumulating so many research credits that they finally stopped counting them. Dr. Rhoades left for another position and the department hired another biochemist – another enzymologist, so I switched enzymes, but not cold room locations. I
didn’t have much guidance. There were no seminars or journal clubs, few discussions
of data or procedures, but I was acting like a real scientist and I loved it! I’ll never forget
the night I was standing at the spectrophotometer and watched my substrate turn from
colorless to bright orange before I could close the lid on the spec. I thought I’d made a
mistake in the substrate solution, so I remade it. But, when I had to dilute the enzyme
prep 1000 fold to get a change in OD that wasn’t so fast I couldn’t measure it, I called
Dr. Danner – at home. He rode his bike to the lab at 10 pm– dressed in PJs or maybe
they were sweat pants and a gym jacket! I had made changes in starting material that
uncovered a new isozyme with higher activity per gram of thymus gland and different
kinetic properties.
I found out how many things I hadn’t done in the best way when I started grad
school – but my time in the lab taught me to jump in and get things done, fueled my
interest in research and left me realizing how much I could have learned from a
program like the SMART Program (http://www.bcm.edu/smart) that I would develop
15 years later.
7
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
8
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Two: Doing Your Best on the GRE
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9
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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10
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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11
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
How Can GRE Scores Influence Your “Acceptance”
to and by Graduate Schools?
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TL[HZ[HZPZ(ML^^LLRZILMVYLZOLKLMLUKLKOLYKPZZLY[H[PVU(UQLSPJH[PLKMVY[OL
12
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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The GRE Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) (as of October, 2005)
1.
Structure of the GRE CAT =LYIHS
TPU
X\LZ[PVUZ
8\HU[P[H[P]L
TPU X\LZ[PVUZ
(UHS`[PJHS>YP[PUN
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TPUUVJOVPJL
2.
Adaptive Nature of CAT
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‹,HJOX\LZ[PVUPZYHUKVTS`ZLSLJ[LKMYVTHKLÄULKSL]LS
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`V\NL[HUZ^LYZYPNO[`V\NL[OHYKLYX\LZ[PVUZ0M`V\NL[HUZ^LYZ^YVUN
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3.
CAT Rules
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;OPZPZ`V\YJOHUJL[VJOHUNLHUHUZ^LY
‹@V\JHUUV[NVIHJR[VWYL]PV\ZS`HUZ^LYLKX\LZ[PVUZ
13
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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General Strategies for Improving GRE Scores::PUJL,;:JOHUNLZ[OL.9,
HIV\[L]LY`[^V`LHYZ[OLILZ[Z[YH[LN`0Z[VMVJ\ZVUI\PSKPUNNLULYHSZRPSSZVU
LUOHUJPUN]VJHI\SHY`YLHKPUNJVTWYLOLUZPVUSVNPJHS[OPURPUNTH[OLTH[PJHS
JVTWHYPZVUZPU[LYWYL[PUNNYHWOZHUKJVUZ[Y\J[PUNSVNPJHSLZZH`Z
<ZLPUMVYTH[PVUMYVT^LIZP[LZ!
http://www.gre.org: test information, PowerPrep, on-line diagnostics
http://ets.org/criterion/highered/: writing evaluation and advice.
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14
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Preparing for the Verbal Section of the GRE
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;OLZJVYL[OH[YLX\PYLZ[OLTVZ[L_[LUKLK[PTL[VPTWYV]LPZ[OL]LYIHSZJVYL
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1. Learn the most commonly encountered words
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2. Learn root word, prefixes, suffixes to improve your ability to
guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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3 LHYU[OLJVUUV[H[PVUVM^VYKZ!RUV^PUN[OLLTV[PVUHS
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3. Learn the relationships of words
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4
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4. Make and use flash cards. Carry them with you!! It works!!!
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VY[^VVM^VYKZ^P[OZPTPSHYTLHUPUNZ3LH]LYVVT[VHKKUL^^VYKZ6UHSV^LY
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6ULWHY[PJPWHU[PU[OL:4(9;.9,7YLW>VYRZOVWZPUJYLHZLKOLY]LYIHSZJVYL
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15
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
5. Learn to speak “GREse”
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[VTLLHJOKH`HUKZH`HZLU[LUJL\ZPUNHUL^¸.9,^VYK¹OLOHKQ\Z[SLHYULK
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6. Read at a more advanced level, dictionary in hand.
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Tooth and Nail I`,SZ[LYHUK,SSPV[;OPZUV]LS^HZKLZPNULK[VOLSWWLVWSLPTWYV]L
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[OLPYTLHUPUN;OLYLPZHNSVZZHY`PU[OLIHJR^P[O[OLKLÄUP[PVUZVM[OLOPNOSPNO[LK
^VYKZ:[\KLU[Z^OVOH]L\ZLK[OPZYLZV\YJLILSPL]LKP[OLSWLK[OLTLUOHUJL[OLPY
]VJHI\SHY`;OLUTV]LVU[VTVYLZVWOPZ[PJH[LKSP[LYH[\YL0M`V\SPRLUV]LSZSPRL
Pride and PrejudiceYLHK[OLT6R`V\JHU^H[JO[OLTV]PL[VV;VT*SHUJL`
L]LU\ZLZZVTL.9,[`WL^VYKZPUOPZUV]LSZ0ZHHJ(ZPTV]»ZVYPNPUHSFoundation
PUJS\KLZHWHNLULHY[OLILNPUUPUNÄSSLK^P[O.9,[`WL^VYKZ
I. Vocabulary Building for the GRE
MAKE AND USE FLASH CARDS:
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^VYKZPUJS\KPUNZVTL`V\KVU»[VYKPUHYPS`\ZLVYL]LURUV^^OLU`V\Z[HY[[OL
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[OH[`V\JHUYL]PL^[OLT^OPSL`V\HYL^HP[PUNIL[^LLUJSHZZLZPUSPULZVYMVYH
I\Z>OLU`V\THRL[OLJHYKZLTWSV`HZTHU`MHJL[ZVMSLHYUPUNHZWVZZPISL[V
THRLTVYLTLU[HSJVUULJ[PVUZIL[^LLU[OL^VYKZHUKJ\LZ[VYLTLTILYPUN[OLT
>YP[PUNPU]VS]LZRPULZ[OL[PJSLHYUPUN:LLPUN[OL^VYKZPU]VS]LZ]PZ\HSSLHYUPUN
I\[PM`V\ZH`[OL^VYKZV\[SV\K`V\HSZVHJ[P]H[LH\KP[VY`SLHYUPUN0M`V\ZH`[OL
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[PVUHUKJVSVY[VOLSW`V\YLTLTILYTLHUPUNZ>YP[L^VYKZ^P[OWVZP[P]LJVUUV[H
16
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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LEARN PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, and ROOT WORDS
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17
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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ILHKTP[[LK[VHZJOVVS
18
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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II. Analogy Section (maybe eliminated in the future)
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WHPYMVYL_HTWSLJH\ZL!LMMLJ[^PSSUV[TH[JOLMMLJ[!JH\ZL
@V\TH`ULLK[VL]HS\H[L[OLJOVPJLVUTVYL[OHUVULSL]LS[VÄUK
[OLILZ[TH[JO;OLYLSH[PVUZOPWVM[^VJOVPJLZTH`ILJVYYLJ[I\[
`V\ULLK[VJVUZPKLYV[OLYSL]LSZVMJVTWHYPZVUSPRL[OL
JVUUV[H[PVUVY[OH[[OLTH[JOLK[LYTZHYLYLSH[LK[V^LH[OLYVY
WLYZVUHSJOHYHJ[LYPZ[PJZ
19
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Strategies to improve your ability to answer analogy questions
- HTPSPHYPaL`V\YZLSM^P[O[OL[`WLZVMHUHSVNPLZ[OH[`V\TPNO[LUJV\U
[LYVU[OL.9,
7YHJ[PJLJOHYHJ[LYPaPUNJVTWHYPZVUZIL[^LLU^VYKZPU[OLZ[LTWHPY
2LLWI\PSKPUN`V\Y]VJHI\SHY`
7YHJ[PJLHUHSVN`X\LZ[PVUZ
A. Typical Analogy Relationships:
Opposites or synonyms
Opposites
Synonyms
HIH[L!PU[LUZPM`
HJJVSHKL!JYP[PJPZT
HNNYHUKPaL!TPUPTPaL
HYK\V\Z!Z[YLU\V\Z[H_PUN
H\KHJPV\Z!KHYPUNIVSK
Action and activity
ZVI!ZHKULZZ
Y\U!THYH[OVULY
SLJ[\YL!JSHZZ
HJ[PVUTLHUPUN
HJ[PVUWLYMVYTLY
HJ[PVUYLJPWPLU[
Cause and effect
LX\P]VJH[L!JVUM\ZL
L_VULYH[L!YLZ[VYLYLW\[H[PVU
Specific and general
ZJPLU[PZ[!WO`ZPJPZ[
7YLZPKLU[!WVSP[PJPHU
KYHTH![OLH[YPJHSWLYMVYTHUJL
Parts and whole
SLJ[\YLOHSS!\UP]LYZP[`
JOHW[LY!IVVR
PZSHUK!HYJOPWLSHNV
TV]LTLU[!JVUJLY[V
IVSK!H\KHJPV\Z
^PUK!O\YYPJHUL
ZWLHR!T\TISL
LTIHYYHZZ!TVY[PM`
PTWSVYL!JVU]PUJL
WYV[LJ[PVU!YLM\NL
Degrees
Function
20
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Characteristics or conditions
VWWYLZZ!Z\IQLJ[
ZVTILY!JOLLY
SPILYH[L!MYLL
OVULZ[`!YLW\[HISL
Time or space
LVU!TVTLU[
LSLJ[PVU!PUH\N\YH[PVU
B. Analogy Practice:
*OVVZL[OLZLJVUKWHPYVM^VYKZ[OH[TVZ[JSLHYS`TH[JOLZ[OLYLSH[PVUZOPW
IL[^LLU[OLÄYZ[WHPY
1. teeth: comb
HPY!IY\ZO
O
Z[LW!SHKKLY
W\SSL`!YVWL
WPJ[\YL!OVVR
KVVY!SPIYHY`
2. sorrow:devastated
QV`!OHWWPULZZ
ZHKULZZ!NSLL
O\UNLY!MHTPZOLK
NSHK!LJZ[H[PJ
WYHPZL!SH\K
3. lecture:learn
H ZZPZ[!NHPUMH]VY
JYP[PJPaL!KLUPNYH[L
JYP[PJPaL!JVYYLJ[
PUMVYTH[PVU!JVUM\ZL
[YHMÄJSH^Z!PZZ\L[PJRL[Z
4. university:school
VVR!SPIYHY`
I
QL^LSLY!TLYJOHU[
ZJ\SW[VY!HY[PZ[
Q\KNL!SH^`LY
5VILS7YPaL!H^HYK
21
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Analogy Practice Answers:
*OVVZL[OLZLJVUKWHPYVM^VYKZ[OH[TVZ[JSVZLS`TH[JOLZ[OLÄYZ[WHPYVM
Z[LT^VYKZ
Explanations
[LL[O!JVTI
OHPY!IY\ZO
¤
step:ladder
W\SSL`!YVWL
WPJ[\YL!OVVR
KVVY!SPIYHY`
ZVYYV^!KL]HZ[H[LK
QV`!OHWWPULZZ ZHKULZZ!NSLL
¤
hunger:famished
NSHK!LJZ[H[PJ
WYHPZL!SH\K
part vs. whole analogy
SLJ[\YL!SLHYU
HZZPZ[!NHPUMH]VY
JYP[PJPaL!KLUPNYH[L
¤
criticize:correct
PUMVYTH[PVU!JVUM\ZL
[YHMÄJSH^Z!PZZ\L[PJRL[Z
\UP]LYZP[`!ZJOVVS
IVVR!SPIYHY`
QL^LSLY!TLYJOHU[
ZJ\SW[VY!HY[PZ[
Q\KNL!SH^`LY
¤ Nobel Prize:award
degrees analogy
JS\LZ!WHY[VMZWLLJO
function analogy
KV\ISLJOHYHJ[LYPaH[PVU
subsetVY type of entity,
HSZVHdegree comparison
Why bother to get comfortable using analogies?
:JPLU[PZ[ZHUKLUNPULLYZVM[LU\ZLHUHSVNPLZ[VL_WSHPU\UMHTPSPHY[LYTZVYPKLHZ
[VV[OLYZ4HU`VM`V\YMHTPS`TLTILYZHJ[\HSS`^HU[[VRUV^^OH[`V\KVHUK
ULLKHUHSVNPLZ[V]PZ\HSPaLJVTWSL_ZP[\H[PVUZ0M`V\[LHJO`V\^PSSÄUKHUHSV
22
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
NPLZ[VIL]LY`OLSWM\SPUL_WSHPUPUNPKLHZ[VZ[\KLU[Z(UHSVNPLZJHUIL\ZLM\SPU
KLZJYPIPUN`V\Y^VYRPUHNYHU[WYVWVZHSVY[VWV[LU[PHSPU]LZ[VYZPU`V\Y
UL^KL]PJL
>OVJHUMVYNL[[OL¸RP[JOLUZPUR¹HUHSVN`\ZLKI`(\N\Z[V(KVULPU[OLTV]PL
Lorenzo’s Oil,HZOLHUKOPZ^PML4PJOHLSH[YPLK[V\UKLYZ[HUKOV^[OLSHJRVMHU
LUa`TLJH\ZLK[OLT`LSPUPU3VYLUaV»ZIYHPU[VKL[LYPVYH[L[YHWWPUN[OLPYZVU
PUZPKLOPZIVK`&0[LSSZ[\KLU[Z[OL`YLHSS`\UKLYZ[HUK[OLPYWYVQLJ[Z^OLU[OL`JHU
L_WSHPUP[[V[OLPYNYHUKWHYLU[Z6MJV\YZLP[KLMLH[Z[OLW\YWVZLVM[OL¸ZPTWSPM`[OL
L_WSHUH[PVU¹PM[OLNYHUKWHYLU[PZ4H[[PL4LSUPJRVY9VZL)\ZJO^OVHYLHJJVT
WSPZOLKZJPLU[PZ[Z
III. Sentence Completion
The goal of sentence completion questions is to find the best word or set of
words that completes a sentence based on the context cues
Read the sentence and think of choices that make sense
;OLJS\LZ[VÄUKPUN[OLYPNO[^VYKMVYZLU[LUJLJVTWSL[PVUX\LZ[PVUZVM[LU
PU]VS]LPKLU[PM`PUNJ\L^VYKZ[OH[PUKPJH[L^OL[OLY`V\HYLSVVRPUNMVYZPTPSHYVY
KPMMLYLU[^VYKZ
1.
¤
¤
2.
Focus on signal or cue words
similiar:¸HUK¹¸JVTWHYHIS`¹¸SPRL^PZL¹¸ZPTPSHYS`¹
¸[OLYLMVYL¹¸[O\Z¹
JVYYLJ[JOVPJL^PSSILZPTPSHY^VYKZ
contrasting:¸HS[OV\NO¹¸I\[¹¸KLZWP[L¹¸OV^L]LY¹¸PUJVU[YHZ[¹¸VY¹
¸VU[OLV[OLYOHUK¹¸YH[OLY¹¸\UMVY[\UH[LS`¹¸\USLZZ¹¸^OPSL¹¸`L[¹
JVYYLJ[JOVPJL^PSSIL^VYKZ[OH[KPMMLYPUTLHUPUN
time frame:¸HM[LY^HYK¹¸OLYL[VMVYL¹¸WYL]PV\ZS`¹¸Z\IZLX\LU[S`¹
versions of no:¸UV¹¸UV[¹¸UV[L]LY¹¸UL]LY¹¸\UKLY
UVJPYJ\TZ[HUJL¹
For two blank sentences you may need to start with one answer and
see if it fits, then see if the other fits
*HULSPTPUH[LZVTLJOVPJLZILJH\ZLVULVI]PV\ZS`KVLZU»[Ä[
4H`ÄSSPU[OLZLJVUKISHURÄYZ[
*HYLM\SZVTLJOVPJLZTHRLZLUZLMVYVULOHSMVM[OLZLU[LUJL
I\[UV[[OLV[OLY
23
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
3.
4.
Think about “good” versus “bad” words
, ]LUPM`V\KVU»[YLTLTILY[OLTLHUPUNVMH^VYKL_HJ[S``V\TH`
RUV^PM[OL^VYKYLWYLZLU[ZZVTL[OPUNNVVKVYIHK
;OL[VULVM[OLZLU[LUJL^PSSNP]L`V\JS\LZHZ[V[OLYPNO[¸LTV[PVU¹
If you don’t know the meaning of some of the words, LSPTPUH[LHU`
JOVPJLZ[OH[`V\JHU"\ZLWYLÄ_LZZ\MÄ_LZYVV[^VYKZMVYJS\LZMVY
V[OLY^VYKZ
IV. Reading Comprehension
:JPLU[PZ[ZT\Z[KL]LSVWL_JLSSLU[YLHKPUNZRPSSZ;OLYLHKPUNJVTWYLOLUZPVU
WVY[PVUVM[OL.9,[LZ[Z`V\YHIPSP[`[V\UKLYZ[HUKIV[OZOVY[HUKSVUNYLHKPUN
WHZZHNLZ;OLWHZZHNL^PSSHWWLHYVU[OLZJYLLU,]LY`ÄM[OSPUL^PSSILU\TILYLK
[VWYV]PKL`V\^P[OHUVYPLU[H[PVU[V[OLWHZZHNL:VTLWHZZHNLZHYLSVUNLY[OHU
JHUÄ[VU[OLZJYLLUI\[`V\JHUZJYVSS\WHUKKV^U@V\JHU\ZL[OLU\TILYPUN
LMMLJ[P]LS`[VN\PKL`V\PUQV[[PUNKV^URL`^VYKZVYWOYHZLZVU`V\YZJYH[JOWHWLY
HZ`V\YLHK[OLWHZZHNL8\LZ[PVUZ^PSSILZOV^UVULH[H[PTL8\LZ[PVUZ[`WP
JHSS`OH]LÄ]LJOVPJLZMYVT^OPJO`V\ZLSLJ[[OLILZ[HUZ^LY@V\JHUTV]LIHJR
HUKMVY[OIL[^LLU[OLWHZZHNLHUK[OLX\LZ[PVUZLJ[PVU;OLX\LZ[PVUZVU`V\Y
L_HTTH`HZR`V\[VPKLU[PM`[OLTHPUPKLHPU[LYWYL[[OLH\[OVY»Z[VULVYVWPUPVU
WYV]PKLMHJ[\HSPUMVYTH[PVUVYKYH^HUPUMLYLUJLMYVT[OLWHZZHNLVYZOV^V[OLY
L]PKLUJL[OH[`V\\UKLYZ[VVK[OLWHZZHNL)LNPUUPUNPU6J[VILY[OL.9,
^PSSWSHJLNYLH[LYLTWOHZPZVUYLHKPUNJVTWYLOLUZPVUHUKLSPTPUH[L[OLHUHSVN`
X\LZ[PVUZ;LZ[[HRLYZ^PSSILHZRLK[VPKLU[PM`ZLU[LUJLZPU[OLWHZZHNL
[OH[YLSH[L[OLZHTLPKLHHZHWYVTW[Z[H[LTLU[*OLJR[OL.9,^LIZP[LMVY
\WJVTPUNPUMVYTH[PVU
A. EFFECTIVE READING FOR THE GRE
1. Identify the main idea of the passage.
(STVZ[L]LY`WHZZHNLOHZHTHPUPKLH2LLW[OLTHPUPKLHVM[OLWHZZHNLPU
TPUK^OPSLYLHKPUNVYHUZ^LYPUNX\LZ[PVUZWrong answers will often be
inconsistent with the “big picture.”
2. Recognize the sense of each paragraph.
3VUNWHZZHNLZHYLVYNHUPaLKPUWHYHNYHWOZ1V[KV^UWOYHZLZHUKHTHPUPKLH
MVYLHJOWHYHNYHWOVU`V\YZJYH[JOWHWLY^P[OHULHYI`SPULU\TILYKLUV[LK
24
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
MVYL_HTWSL¸MH\UHSTPNYH[PVU¹MVYPUMVYTH[PVU[OH[Z[HY[ZVUSPULHIV\[
MH\UHSHUPTHSTPNYH[PVU0M`V\ULLK[VYLMLYIHJR[V[OLWHZZHNLMVYKL[HPSZ[V
HUZ^LYHX\LZ[PVU`V\^PSSRUV^OV^[VÄUK[OLPUMVYTH[PVU^P[OV\[YLYLHKPUN
[OLLU[PYLWHZZHNLKnowing the scope and tone of the work will allow you
to eliminate answer choices that represent matters outside the spectrum of
the passage.
3. Be an active reader.
4VZ[VM[OL[PTLWLVWSLYLHKWHZZP]LS`[OH[PZ[OL`KVU»[WH`LUV\NOH[[LU[PVU
[VNYHZW^OH[[OL`HYLYLHKPUN@V\T\Z[JVTWYLOLUK¶UV[SLHYU^OH[`V\HYL
YLHKPUNYou must be a very active reader.;OPURHIV\[^OH[`V\HYLYLHKPUN
7HYHWOYHZLJVUM\ZPUNVYJVTWSPJH[LKWHY[Z(ZR`V\YZLSMX\LZ[PVUZHZ`V\HYL
YLHKPUN>OLU`V\KV[OLZL[OPUNZ`V\KVU»[Q\Z[HIZVYI[OLWHZZHNL`V\H[
[HJRP[1V[KV^U^OH[ZLLT[VILPTWVY[HU[WVPU[Z¶VM[LUUHTLZ^P[OHSPUL
U\TILY
4. Don’t try to “learn” or remember the passage.
6UZ[HUKHYKPaLK[LZ[Z`V\VUS`ULLK[VYL[HPUPUMVYTH[PVUSVUNLUV\NO[VHU
Z^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZ4HU`VM[OLKL[HPSZPU[OLWHZZHNLHYLJVTWSL[LS`\UULJLZ
ZHY`MVYHUZ^LYPUN[OLX\LZ[PVUZIt is ineffective to read the passage for detail.
@V\JHUHUKZOV\SK go back to find the detailed information that is needed
to answer a specific question.
5. Eliminate wrong answer choices.
@V\TH`ULLK[V\ZL[OLWYVJLZZVMLSPTPUH[PVU[VKL[LYTPUL[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LY
;OLYLHYL\Z\HSS` some answer choices that will be clearly wrong. Look for
this type of choice, and eliminate it.7PJR[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYMYVT[OLYLTHPU
PUNJOVPJLZ6ULVM[OLILZ[[VVSZ[V\ZL[VLSPTPUH[L^YVUNHUZ^LYZPZ[VZL[\W
HNYPKVYSPZ[VUZJYH[JOWHWLY^OLYL`V\JHU?V\[^YVUNHUZ^LYZHUKMVJ\Z
VU[OLYLTHPUPUNJOVPJLZ0M`V\LSPTPUH[L[OYLLJOVPJLZ`V\YPUJYLHZL`V\Y
JOHUJLZVMWPJRPUN[OLYPNO[VULMYVT[V
6. Use the passage to direct your answers.
,]LY`[OPUN[OH[`V\ULLK[VHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZPZWYV]PKLKI`[OLWHZZHNL)L
JH\[PV\ZPU\ZPUNV\[ZPKLRUV^SLKNL The author of the passage may have a
very different perspective from views with which you are familiar. 9LTLTILY
THU`X\LZ[PVUZHZR¸(JJVYKPUN[V[OLH\[OVY¯¹
25
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
EFFECTIVE USE OF SCRATCH PAPER FOR GRE
READING COMPREHENSION
Test appearance
‹The GRE reading sections will be passages of different length.
‹Some will be too long for all of the passage to appear on the screen at once.
‹You may have to scroll up and down on the screen the see parts of the passage.
‹The questions will appear one at a time.
Making notes
‹6ULVM[OLIPNNLZ[KPMMLYLUJLZPU[HRPUN[OL.9,VU[OLJVTW\[LYPZ[OH[`V\
JHU»[JPYJSLHUK\UKLYSPULPTWVY[HU[[OPUNZVU[OLYLHKPUNWHZZHNLZSPRL
WLVWSLKPKPU[OLWHWLY[LZ[ZVKVU»[KVP[VUWYHJ[PJLL_HTZ
‹,HJOÄM[OSPULPZU\TILYLK¶ZV\ZL[OPZ[V`V\YHK]HU[HNL>OLU`V\ZWV[H
^VYKVMWOYHZL[OH[ZLLTZPTWVY[HU[¶QV[KV^UHYLTPUKLYHUKHSPULU\T
ILY@V\KVU»[OH]L[VJV\U[HUKSPZ[[OLL_HJ[SPULU\TILYQ\Z[NL[JSVZL
-VYL_HTWSLSPULZH`Z¸0UJYLHZLKJVUJLU[YH[PVUZVMNYLLUOV\ZLNHZLZ
LUOHUJLNYLLUOV\ZLLMMLJ[[YHWWPUNTVYLOLH[ULHY[OL,HY[O»ZZ\YMHJL¹
MYVT7YPUJL[VU*YHJRPUN[OL.9,
‹5V[LJV\SKZH`!NYLLUOV\ZLNHZVYL]LU./NHZ
‹4H`IL`V\^HU[[VSPZ[¸(VWPU¹MVY[OLH\[OVY»ZVWPUPVUVMHUHY[PJSL
SPZ[LKVUSPUL
‹@V\ULLKQ\Z[LUV\NOVMHYLTPUKLY[VÄUKZVTL[OPUNPUHSVUNWHYHNYHWO
‹>VYRPUNV\[HZ`Z[LTVMHIIYL]PH[PVUZHUKU\TILYPUNHOLHKVM[PTLHZ`V\
YL]PL^TH[LYPHSHUK[HRLWYHJ[PJL[LZ[Z^PSSIL]LY`]HS\HISL
B. CHOOSING CORRECT ANSWERS TO READING
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
/LYLHYLZVTLPTWVY[HU[[PWZ[VYLTLTILYHIV\[[OL.9,!
;OL.9,KVLZU»[\ZLHIZVS\[LZ[H[LTLU[Z\USLZZ[OLX\LZ[PVU
PZHU¸(JJVYKPUN[V[OLH\[OVYVYWHZZHNL¯¹
5VULVM[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYZ^PSSTLU[PVUWVPU[ZUV[YLSL]HU[[V
[OLX\LZ[PVU
5VULVM[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYZ^PSSYHPZLH[VWPJV\[ZPKL[OLZJVWLVM
[OLWHZZHNL
5VULVM[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYZ^PSSILV\[YHNLV\ZVYOH]LH[VULUV[
ZLLUPU[OLWHZZHNL
5VULVM[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYZ^PSSPUJS\KLL_[YLTLZ[H[LTLU[Z
26
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Therefore, eliminate any answer choice that:
T
HRLZHIZVS\[LZ[H[LTLU[Z[OH[\ZL^VYKZSPRL¸HS^H`ZUL]LY
\UKLYL]LY`JPYJ\TZ[HUJL¹\USLZZ[OLX\LZ[PVUPZHU
¸(JJVYKPUN[V[OLH\[OVY¹[`WL
TLU[PVUZZVTL[OPUN`V\KPKUV[YLHKPU[OLWHZZHNL
PZ[VVKL[HPSLKVYZWLJPÄJMVYNLULYHSVYPUMLYLUJLX\LZ[PVUZ
\ZLZL_[YLTLVYV]LYS`LTV[PVUHSSHUN\HNL
TPZYLWYLZLU[Z[OLPUMVYTH[PVUPU[OLWHZZHNL
YLWLH[ZHSHYNLWVY[PVUVM[OLWHZZHNL
THE QUANTITATIVE SECTION:
I. General Quantitative Pointers
;OL.9,[LZ[Z]LY`NLULYHSTH[OZRPSSZ@V\WYVIHIS`SLHYULK[OPZTH[OPUOPNO
ZJOVVS4VZ[.9,TH[O^PSSILHYL]PL^I\[`V\TH`ULLK[V\ZLYL]PL^IVVRZ[V
YLTPUK`V\YZLSMVYSLHYUOV^[VZVS]L[OLWYVISLTZLUJV\U[LYLKVU[OLX\HU[P[H
[P]LZLJ[PVUVM[OL.9,2HWSHUWYVK\JLZH4H[O9L]PL^[OH[THU`VMV\YZ[\KLU[Z
ÄUKOLSWM\S(YL]PL^NYV\WJVTWVZLKVMWLVWSL^P[OKPMMLYLU[TH[OZ[YLUN[OZJHU
ILOLSWM\SPUZH]PUN`V\[PTLVUHJX\PYPUNWVPU[LYZVY[OLMHZ[LZ[^H`[VHWWYVHJO
WYVISLTZ;OL[PTLKUH[\YLVM[OL.9,[LZ[Z[OLHIPSP[`[VLSPTPUH[L[OL^YVUN
HUZ^LYZHUKPKLU[PM`[OLYPNO[HUZ^LYZX\PJRS`UV[I`IY\[LMVYJL0UHKKP[PVU[V
X\LZ[PVUZ[OH[[LZ[HSNLIYHHUKNLVTL[Y`ZRPSSZWYVISLTZ^PSS[LZ[SVNPJZRPSSZ4HU`
JVTWSL_NLVTL[YPJÄN\YLZJHUILIYVRLUKV^UPU[VZPTWSLÄN\YLZ^P[OZPKLZVY
HUNSLZ[OH[`V\JHUKLK\JLMYVTZPTWSLY\SLZ:VTLWYVISLTZ^PSSPU]VS]LLX\H
[PVUZVYU\TLYPJHSJVTWHYPZVU:VTLX\LZ[PVUZ^PSSPU]VS]L¸^VYK¹WYVISLTZMVY
^OPJO`V\^PSSULLK[V^YP[LLX\H[PVUZHUKZVS]L[OLT[VKL[LYTPUL[OLYPNO[HU
Z^LY:VTLX\LZ[PVUZPU]VS]LPU[LYWYL[H[PVUVMNYHWOZVY[HISLZZRPSSZVM[LU\ZLKI`
ZJPLU[PZ[ZHUKLUNPULLYZ;OLYLHYLUVX\LZ[PVUZ[OH[YLSH[L[VJHSJ\S\ZVY[YPNVUVT
L[Y`VU[OLNLULYHS.9,
The Composition of the Quantitative Component is typically
‹.LULYHS(YP[OTL[PJ!
‹(SNLIYH!
‹.LVTL[Y`!^PSSILYLK\JLKPU6J[VILY
‹.YHWOZ!
‹>VYKWYVISLTZTHRL\WVULX\HY[LYVM[OLX\HU[P[H[P]LWYVISLTZ
27
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Pointers for preparing for the Quantitative GRE Exam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12
28
Review math symbols:$“#%˜™
Review math formulas. .VV]LY[OPUNZSPRL[OLHYLHVMHJPYJSL[OLX\H
KYH[PJLX\H[PVU[OLLX\H[PVU[VKL[LYTPUL[OLSLUN[OVM[OLO`WV[LU\ZL
-SHZOJHYKZHYLLZWLJPHSS`OLSWM\SMVYYL]PL^PUNMVYT\SHZ
Review math operations SPRLT\S[PWS`PUN ZX\HYLYVV[ZL_WVULU[Z
KLJPTHSZMYHJ[PVUZMHJ[VYPUNJVUZLJ\[P]LPU[LNLYZWVZP[P]L?ULNH[P]L
U\TILYZWYPTLZL[J
Review geometry:[YPHUNSLZJVTWHYPUNZPKLZHUKHUNSLZ"KPZZLJ[PUN
JVTWSL_ÄN\YLZPU[VZPTWSLMVYTZ^OLYL`V\JHUKL[LYTPUL]HS\LZ
Memorize common values:ŸPZJSVZLLUV\NOZX\HYLYVV[Z
\W[VJVTTVU[YPHUNSLZPKLZ
+
VU»[ILWHUPJRLKI` variablesL]LUZ[YHUNLVULZ^P[OTHKL\W
KLÄUP[PVUZ
3 LHYU[Vapproximate^P[OV\[SLUN[O`JHSJ\SH[PVUZ
@V\JHULSPTPUH[LTHU`HUZ^LYZPTTLKPH[LS`
<ZLJVTTVUZLUZL"JOLJR[OL\UP[Z
In the future, there will be a simple calculator on the computer that
will be used to derive actual numbers for some questions.
*VTWHYPZVUX\LZ[PVUZHSS\ZL[OLZHTLMVYT
@V\T\Z[JVTWHYL[OL]HS\LZPU*VS\TU(HUK*VS\TU)
*VS\TU(PZLP[OLYLX\HS[V$SLZZ[OHU#VYNYLH[LY[OHU%JVS\TU
)VY[OLJVTWHYH[P]L]HS\LVM(HUK)¸JHUUV[ILKL[LYTPULK¹MYVT[OL
PUMVYTH[PVUNP]LUPU[OLWYVISLT
;OLanswer cannot be “cannot be determined” if both sides contain
known numbersZX\HYLYVV[ZTH`ILWVZP[P]LVYULNH[P]LU\TILY
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
II. Analyzing Charts and Graphs
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There are 3 basic kinds of graphs
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3PULNYHWOZ\ZLK[VYLWYLZLU[TH[OLTH[PJHSYLSH[PVUZOPWZ
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1. Pie charts- must add up to 100%
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2. Line graphs-have no lower or upper limit, although 0 is often,
but not always, the start.
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:JHSLZmay be linear,I\[UV[N\HYHU[LLK
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3. Bar graphs (histograms)-used to compare groups to each other
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same time.:JYVSS\WVYKV^U[VNL[[V[OL¸YPNO[¹NYHWOMVY[OLX\LZ[PVU
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29
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
You do not need to do exact calculations[VHUZ^LYTHU`X\LZ[PVUZ7YHJ[PJL
THUPW\SH[PUNHWWYV_PTH[L]HS\LZSPRLHZVYHZ
III. Final Tips for the Quantitative Section
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30
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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[OL.9,
THE ANALYTICAL WRITING SECTION
I. Description of the GRE Writing Assessment
What skills does it measure?
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PUNHUKHUHS`[PJHS^YP[PUNZRPSSZ0[HZZLZZLZ`V\YHIPSP[`[VHY[PJ\SH[LHUKZ\WWVY[
JVTWSL_PKLHZHUHS`aLHUHYN\TLU[HUKZ\WWS`MVJ\ZLKHUKJVOLYLU[KPZJ\ZZPVU
0[PZ56;H[LZ[VMZWLJPÄJJVU[LU[RUV^SLKNLHUK[OLYLPZUVZPUNSLILZ[HUZ^LY
-VY[OLZLYLHZVUZHUKILJH\ZL`V\^PSSILKL]LSVWPUN`V\YV^U^LSSYLHZVULK
YLZWVUZLZYH[OLY[OHUZLSLJ[PUNHUZ^LYZMYVTHT\S[PWSLJOVPJLSPZ[[OLHZZLZZ
TLU[WYV]PKLZ]LY`KPMMLYLU[PUMVYTH[PVUHIV\[`V\YHIPSP[PLZ[OHU[OH[WYV]PKLK
I`[OL.LULYHS;LZ[@V\Y^YP[PUNPZUV[L_WLJ[LK[VILHÄUPZOLKWVSPZOLKLZZH`
0[PZJVUZPKLYLKKYHM[^YP[PUN^OLYL[OLPKLHZHUKOV^`V\WYLZLU[[OLTHYLTVYL
PTWVY[HU[[OHUWLYMLJ[NYHTTHY
The assessment consists of two analytical writing tasks:
1. “Present your Perspective on an Issue” task: 45-minutes
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VWPUPVUVUHUPZZ\LVMIYVHKPU[LYLZ[HUKHZRZ`V\[VKPZJ\ZZ[OLPZZ\LMYVTHU`
WLYZWLJ[P]LZ`V\^PZOHZSVUNHZ`V\WYV]PKLrelevant reasons and examples to
explain and support your views.
This task requires you to construct you own argument by taking a position
and providing evidence supporting your views on the issue.
Issue Topics: 9LSH[L[VHIYVHKYHUNLVMZ\IQLJ[ZMYVT[OLÄULHY[ZHUKO\THUP
[PLZ[V[OLZVJPHSHUKWO`ZPJHSZJPLUJLZ0ZZ\L[VWPJZHYLKLZPNULK[VLSPJP[[OLRPUKZ
VMJVTWSL_[OPURPUNHUKWLYZ\HZP]L^YP[PUN[OH[\UP]LYZP[`MHJ\S[`JVUZPKLYPTWVY
[HU[MVYZ\JJLZZPUNYHK\H[LZJOVVS5V[VWPJYLX\PYLZZWLJPÄJJVU[LU[RUV^SLKNL
In the future, it has been proposed that the GRE will not use pre-set prompts. You
will be presented one prompt, so the time limit will be reduced to 30 minutes.
31
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
2. “Analyze an Argument” task: 30-minutes
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HYN\TLU[[VHUHS`aL;OL¸(YN\TLU[¹[HZRWYLZLU[ZHKPMMLYLU[JOHSSLUNLMYVT[OH[
VM[OL¸0ZZ\L¹[HZR0[YLX\PYLZ`V\[VJYP[PX\LHNP]LUHYN\TLU[I`KPZJ\ZZPUNOV^
^LSSYLHZVULK`V\ÄUK[OLHYN\TLU[@V\^PSSULLK[VJVUZPKLY[OLSVNPJHSZV\UK
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KPZHNYLL^P[O[OLWVZP[PVUP[WYLZLU[Z
This task requires you to critique someone else’s argument by assessing its
claims and evaluating the evidence it provides.
(YN\TLU[;VWPJZ!HYLIHZLKVUHYHUNLVMMHTPSPHYZ\IQLJ[ZHUKZP[\H[PVUZ5V
[VWPJYLX\PYLZZWLJPÄJJVU[LU[RUV^SLKNL
The Published Pools of “Issue” and Argument Prompts
,]LY`VULZOV\SKZWLUKZVTL[PTLWYLWHYPUNMVY[OL.9,>YP[PUN(ZZLZZTLU[
*\YYLU[S`,;:W\ISPZOLZ[OLLU[PYLWVVSVMWYVTW[Z\ZLKVU[OL[LZ[@V\TPNO[ÄUK
P[\ZLM\S[VYL]PL^[OLLU[PYL0ZZ\LHUK(YN\TLU[WVVSZ@V\JHUKV^USVHK[OL
W\ISPZOLKWVVSMYVT[OLMVSSV^PUN^LIZP[L!www.gre.org/writing.htmlVY`V\JHU
VI[HPUHJVW`I`^YP[PUN[V.9,7YVNYHT76)V_7YPUJL[VU51
7YHJ[PJL^YP[PUNLZZH`Z^P[OHML^WYVTW[ZI\[KVU»[[Y`[VWYLWHYLHULZZH`
MVYL]LY`WVZZPISLJOVPJL@V\^PSSNL[[OLOHUNVM^YP[PUNLZZH`ZMYVTWYHJ[PJPUN
^P[OHML^[VWPJZ
Changes to how the prompts will be selected in the future will be announced on
the GRE website. ETS may begin using a broader base of prompts to eliminate preprepared essays. ETS constantly struggles with people trying to find ways to cheat on
their tests.
Scoring Guidelines for the Analytical Writing Section
;OL.9,^YP[PUNHZZPNUTLU[ZHYLNYHKLKVUHZJHSL^P[OHZ[OLOPNOLZ[
ZJVYL;OLZJVYLZHYLYLWVY[LKPUWVPU[PUJYLTLU[Z;OLZJVYPUNN\PKLSPULZHYL
WYV]PKLKVU[OL.9,^LIZP[L
II. STRATEGIES FOR THE “PRESENT YOUR PERSPECTIVE
ON AN ISSUE” TASK
Understanding the “ISSUE” Task
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NLULYHSPU[LYLZ[HUK[VJSLHYS`L_WYLZZ`V\Y[OV\NO[ZHIV\[P[PU^YP[PUN
32
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
,HJO[VWPJPU[OPZZLJ[PVUTHRLZHJSHPTHIV\[HUPZZ\L[OH[[LZ[[HRLYZJHUKPZ
J\ZZMYVT]HYPV\ZWLYZWLJ[P]LZHUKHWWS`[VTHU`KPMMLYLU[ZP[\H[PVUZVYJVUKP[PVUZ
@V\YQVIPZ[VWYLZLU[HJVTWLSSPUNJHZLMVY`V\YV^UWVZP[PVUVU[OLPZZ\L
9LHK[OL[VWPJJHYLM\SS`";OPURHIV\[[OLJSHPTMYVTZL]LYHSWVPU[ZVM]PL^"
THRLUV[LZHIV\[[OLWVZP[PVU`V\^HU[[V[HRL"[OPURVML_HTWSLZ[OH[`V\^HU[
[VKL]LSVWTVYLM\SS`PU`V\YLZZH`;OLL_HTWSLZJHUILMYVTZVTL[OPUN`V\OH]L
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0[PZPTWVY[HU[[OH[`V\HKKYLZZ[OLJLU[YHSPZZ\L"OV^L]LY`V\HYLMYLL[V[HRL
HU`HWWYVHJO`V\^PZO-VYL_HTWSL`V\TPNO[!
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•X\HSPM`HU`VMP[Z[LYTZLZWLJPHSS`PM[OL^H``V\KLÄULH[LYTPZPTWVY[HU[[V
KL]LSVWPUN`V\YWLYZWLJ[P]LVU[OLPZZ\L
•WVPU[V\[^O`[OLJSHPTPZ]HSPKPUZVTLZP[\H[PVUZI\[UV[PUV[OLYZ
•L]HS\H[LWVPU[ZVM]PL^[OH[JVU[YHZ[^P[O`V\YV^UWLYZWLJ[P]L
•KL]LSVW`V\YWVZP[PVU^P[OYLHZVUZ[OH[HYLZ\WWVY[LKI`ZL]LYHSYLSL]HU[
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>OH[L]LYWVZP[PVU`V\[HRL`V\T\Z[THRL`V\YWVZP[PVUJSLHY3LHKLYZT\Z[
VM[LUHUHS`aLJVTWSL_WYVISLTZZV[HRPUNHWVZP[PVUI\[JP[PUNHUHS[LYUH[LO`
WV[OLZPZVYL_HTWSLVMHZP[\H[PVU[OH[KPZHNYLLZ^P[O`V\YNLULYHSWVZP[PVUYLÅLJ[Z
`V\YHIPSP[`[V[OPURIYVHKS`)LZ\YLPM`V\KV[OPZ[OH[`V\KVU»[HWWLHYPUKLJPZP]L
Understanding the Context for Writing: Purpose and Audience
;OPZPZHUL_LYJPZLPUJYP[PJHS[OPURPUNHUKWLYZ\HZP]L^YP[PUN^OVZLW\YWVZLPZ
[VZLLOV^^LSSLX\PWWLK`V\HYL[VKL]LSVWHJVTWLSSPUNHYN\TLU[Z\WWVY[PUN
`V\YV^UWLYZWLJ[P]LVUHUPZZ\L@V\YH\KPLUJLJVUZPZ[ZVMJVSSLNLHUK\UP]LYZP[`
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Preparing for the “ISSUE” Task
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KL]LSVWYLHZVUZHUKL_HTWSLZMVY`V\YHYN\TLU[
33
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
+LJPKL^OH[WVZP[PVUVU[OLPZZ\L`V\^HU[[V[HRLHUKKLJPKL^OH[JVTWLS
SPUNL]PKLUJLYLHZVUZHUKL_HTWSLZ`V\JHU\ZL[VZ\WWVY[`V\YWVZP[PVU
Have Fun Preparing for the “Present
Your Perspective on an Issue” Task
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LU[PYLJHYLLY0U]LZ[`V\Y[PTLHZ^PZLS`HZ`V\^PSSPU]LZ[`V\YTVUL`PU[OLM\[\YL
Writing the “Present Your Perspective on an Issue” Essay
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34
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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III. STRATEGIES FOR THE “Analyze an Argument” TASK
Understanding the “ANALYZE AN ARGUMENT” Task
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HUHS`ZPZVM[OLJSHPTIHZLKVU[OLKH[HNP]LUHUK`V\YHZZLZZTLU[VMP[ZZ[YLUN[OZ
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Understanding the Context for Writing: Purpose and Audience
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Preparing for the “ANALYZE AN ARGUMENT” Task
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JVUJS\ZPVUZ*VUJS\ZPVUZTH`ILWYLJLKLKI`^VYKZSPRLOV^L]LY[O\Z
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35
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Writing the Essay for the “ANALYZE AN ARGUMENT” Task
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VWPUN[OPZZRPSS^PSSILHNVVKJHYLLYPU]LZ[TLU[
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UV[JVUZPKLYLKPUTHRPUN[OLJSHPT+PZJ\ZZHS[LYUH[P]LL_WSHUH[PVUZ
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Do notJVUM\ZL[OPZHZZPNUTLU[^P[O[OL¸7YLZLU[H7LYZWLJ[P]L¹[HZR
+VUV[KPZJ\ZZ^OL[OLY`V\HNYLLVYKPZHNYLL^P[O[OLWVZP[PVU(KKYLZZ
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L_WYLZZ`V\YV^UWLYZVUHS]PL^Z
Psyching-Up to Succeed on the GRE or at Anything
LTLTILY`V\HYLPU[YHPUPUNMVY[OLTLU[HS6S`TWPJZ
9
:[HY[VYJVU[PU\LLH[PUNH healthy diet"SPTP[[OLZ\NHY
:[YLUN[OLU`V\YZ[HTPUHIHJRHUKULJRT\ZJSLZ
:^PTVYQVNVY^HSR"SPM[SPNO[^LPNO[ZPMWVZZPISL
Assess your mental frame of mind during test taking
;OPURIHJR[V`V\YWYHJ[PJLL_HTZ[OL:(;JSHZZL_HTZ
+V`V\NL[ULY]V\ZVYKV`V\Z[HY[KLWYLZZLKHUKWHYHS`aLK&
Nervous reactions: OLHY[PZYHJPUN"KY`TV\[O"QP[[LY`"ZPJRH[Z[VTHJO"
Q\TWHYV\UKMYVTVULX\LZ[PVU[V[OLUL_["[YV\ISL
JVUJLU[YH[PUNVUHX\LZ[PVU
Paralytic reactions:MYVaLU"ZSV^Z[HY["KV\I[ZHIV\[HIPSP[`"\UJLY[HPU
HIV\[HUZ^LYZ"JHU»[THRL\W`V\YTPUK
3LHYU[Valter your mental attitude; L_WLYPTLU[^P[OTLU[HSPTHNLZ"ÄUK[OVZL
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TPUKPUZLJVUKZ@V\YNVHSPZUV[[VNV[VZSLLWH[SLHZ[UV[^OPSL`V\»YL[HRPUN[OL
.9,I\[[VYLSH_LUV\NO[VJVUJLU[YH[L6SKJHSLUKHYZHYLNYLH[]PZ\HSJ\LZ^OLU
`V\Z[HY[[LZ[PUNHUKWYHJ[PJPUNPTHNLZ;OL`»YLYLHSS`JOLHWH[[OLLUKVMH`LHY
36
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Strategies to combat nervousness:
;OPURHIV\[JHSTWLHJLM\SLU]PYVUTLU[ZMVYLZ["TV\U[HPUZ"ZLHZOVYL
LUV\[ILMVYL`V\Z[HY[TLKP[H[L"WYH`"YLTLTILYWVZP[P]L[OV\NO[Z
A
0THNPUL^VYRPUNH[HZ[LHK`WYVK\J[P]LWHJL
-LLS`V\YOLHY[ZSV^KV^U"IYLH[OPUNKLLWLU"T\ZJSLZYLSH_"ZLUZLVMJHST
Strategies to combat paralysis:
7Z`JOL`V\YZLSMVYOP[[OLJHMMLPULPMP[KVLZU»[JH\ZLIHKZPKLLMMLJ[Z
0THNPULHNYLH[Z\JJLZZ"WPJRHTLU[HSPTHNL[OH[^VYRZ
0THNPUL`V\HYLWHY[PJPWH[PUNPUHUL_OPSHYH[PUNZWVY[ZRPPUNZHPSPUNVYHU`[OPUN
LSZL[OH[^VYRZI\[KVLZU»[KPZ[YHJ[`V\-LLS[OLISVVKY\ZOPUN[OYV\NO`V\Y]LPUZ"
`V\YIYLH[OPUNZ[YLUN[OLU"HULULYNL[PJMLLSPUNJV\YZPUN[OYV\NO`V\YIVK`
.YLH[[HJ[PJ[V\ZL^OLU`V\HYLL_OH\Z[LKMYVTH[[LUKPUNHU\UKLYNYHK\H[LYL
ZLHYJOJVUMLYLUJL
3.
Final preparation
A week before the exam
9L]PL^ÅHZOJHYKZVMTH[OMVYT\SHZHUK]VJHI\SHY`
9L]PL^HZTHU`]VJHI\SHY`SPZ[ZHZWVZZPISL"WYHJ[PJL
X\HU[P[H[P]LWYVISLTZ
;HRLHWYHJ[PJL[LZ[VU[OLJVTW\[LYPMWVZZPISL
PUJS\KPUN^YP[PUNLZZH`Z
-PUK`V\Y[LZ[ZP[L
Night before and day of the exam
9L]PL^KPYLJ[PVUZMVYHSSZLJ[PVUZPMULJLZZHY`
;Y`[VNL[HNVVKUPNO[»ZZSLLWILMVYL[OL[LZ[
,H[^OH[^VYRZMVY`V\!TLHS"JHYIVO`KYH[LZ"IYPUNJOHUNLVYHZUHJR
+YLZZJVTMVY[HIS`SH`LYZHYLNVVKMVY[LTWLYH[\YLJVU[YVS
9LTLTILY[VNV[V[OLIH[OYVVTILMVYL`V\Z[HY[[OL[LZ[
(YYP]LLHYS`"NL[ZJYH[JOWHWLY"write anything you
want on scratch paper
+V`V\YV^UWLYZVUHSTLU[HSH[[P[\KLJOLJR"ZSPWPU[V`V\Y
TLU[HSYV\[PUL
Remember you prepared for this- you deserve to do well and
achieve your dreams!
37
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
38
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Three: Enhancing Logical Thinking Skills
6\YVYPNPUHS:4(9;.9,7YLW>VYRZOVWZPUJS\KLKZLZZPVUZVUZVS]PUNKLK\J
[P]LYLHZVUPUNWYVISLTZSPRL[OVZLWYLZLU[LKPU[OLHUHS`[PJHSWVY[PVUVM[OL.9,
;OPZZLJ[PVUVM[OLL_HT^HZLSPTPUH[LKPUI\[Z[\KLU[ZMLS[[OLZRPSSZ[OL`
KL]LSVWLKZVS]PUN[OLWYVISLTZ^LYL]LY`]HS\HISL>LOH]LPUJS\KLKHZL[VM
SVNPJWYVISLTZ[OH[THU`WLVWSL^PSSÄUKPU[LYLZ[PUNHUKOH]LM\UZVS]PUN^OPSL
[OL`LUOHUJL[OLPYKLK\J[P]LYLHZVUPUNZRPSSZ:VTLVM[OLWYVISLTZTH`ZLLT
OHYKH[ÄYZ[I\[V\YZ[\KLU[ZMV\UK[OH[^P[OHSP[[SLWLYZL]LYHUJLHUKZVTL[PTLZ
JOLJRPUN[OLZ[YH[LNPLZNP]LUH[[OLLUKVMWYVISLTZ[OL`KLK\JLKHUZ^LYZMHZ[LY
HUKMHZ[LY/H]LM\U
TOP-RANKED STUDENTS
:P_Z[\KLU[Z(UQLSPJH4PJOHLS3L[PJPH>OP[LJSV\K9H`TVUKHUK1VUH[OHUHYL
[OL[VWZP_YHURPUNZ[\KLU[ZUV[ULJLZZHYPS`PUVYKLYPU[OLPYNYHK\H[PUNJSHZZ,HJO
VM[OLZP_Z[\KLU[ZOHZHKPMMLYLU[THQVY¶)PVSVN`*OLTPZ[Y`4H[OLTH[PJZ7O`Z
PJZ7Z`JOVSVN`VY(YJOP[LJ[\YL)HZLKVU[OLMVSSV^PUNJS\LZWSLHZLHUZ^LY[OL
X\LZ[PVUZILSV^
Clues:
OLYKYHURLKWLYZVUPZH^VTHUHUKKPK56;THQVY
;
PU7Z`JOVSVN`
3L[PJPHYHURLKOPNOLY[OHU1VUH[OHU^OVYHURLKOPNOLY
[OHU4PJOHLS
OLWLYZVU^OVTHQVYLKPU(YJOP[LJ[\YLYHURLKVULOPNOLY[OHU
;
[OLWLYZVU^OVTHQVYLKPU7Z`JOVSVN`HUKVULSV^LY[OHU[OL
WLYZVU^OVTHQVYLKPU*OLTPZ[Y`
Questions:
0M>OP[LJSV\KYHURLKUKOLYTHQVYJV\SK56;IL^OPJO
VM[OLMVSSV^PUN!
H)PVSVN`
I*OLTPZ[Y`
J4H[OLTH[PJZ
K7O`ZPJZ
L(YJOP[LJ[\YL
39
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
>OPJOVM[OLMVSSV^PUNPZHUHJJLW[HISLVYKLYVMYHURMYVTZ[[V[O&
H3L[PJPH>OP[LJSV\K1VUH[OHU9H`TVUK4PJOHLS(UQLSPJH
I>OP[LJSV\K4PJOHLS3L[PJPH9H`TVUK1VUH[OHU(UQLSPJH
J9H`TVUK3L[PJPH(UQLSPJH1VUH[OHU>OP[LJSV\K4PJOHLS
K(UQLSPJH1VUH[OHU>OP[LJSV\K3L[PJPH9H`TVUK4PJOHLS
L3L[PJPH9H`TVUK1VUH[OHU(UQLSPJH4PJOHLS>OP[LJSV\K
0M(UQLSPJHYHURZ[OHUK3L[PJPHKVLZ56;YHURZ[[OLU
1VUH[OHUT\Z[YHUR!
HZ[
IUK
JYK
K[O
L[O
0M(UQLSPJHYHURZ[OHUKTHQVYZPU7Z`JOVSVN`HUK1VUH[OHU»ZTHQVYPZ
*OLTPZ[Y`[OLU3L[PJPHT\Z[YHUR!
HZ[
IUK
JYK
K[O
L[O
0M>OP[LJSV\KYHURZ[OHUK4PJOHLSKVLZ56;YHURSHZ[[OHU4PJOHLS
JV\SKTHQVYPUHU`VM[OLMVSSV^PUN,?*,7;!
H)PVSVN`
I*OLTPZ[Y`
J4H[OLTH[PJZ
K7O`ZPJZ
L(YJOP[LJ[\YL
Answer Key:
TOP-RANKED STUDENTS
40
,
*
+
(
)
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Answer Key with Explanations:
TOP-RANKED STUDENTS
1. E
Explanation: ,PZ[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LY(YJOP[LJ[\YLJV\SK56;IL>OP[LJSV\K»Z
THQVYPMZOL^LYLYHURLKUKMVY[OLMVSSV^PUNYLHZVUZ!*S\L[LSSZ\Z[OH[[OL
(YJOP[LJ[\YLPZYHURLKVULOPNOLY[OHU[OL7Z`JOVSVN`THQVYHUK*S\LZH`Z
[OH[[OLYKYHURLKWLYZVUKPK56;THQVYPU7Z`JOVSVN`;OLYLMVYL[OLUK
YHURLKWLYZVU^OVPZ>OP[LJSV\KJHUUV[THQVYPU(YJOP[LJ[\YL
2. C
Explanation:5LP[OLY(UVY,JHUIL[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYILJH\ZL[OLYKYHURLK
WLYZVUOHZ[VILH^VTLU*S\L)V[OVW[PVUZ(HUK,OH]LHTHSLYHURLK
YK5LP[OLY)UVY+JHUIL[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYILJH\ZL3L[PJPHPZYHURLKOPNOLY
[OHU1VUH[OHU^OVYHURLKOPNOLY[OHU4PJOHLS*S\LHUK[OLVYKLYVMYHUR
PUIV[O)HUK,]PVSH[L[OPZY\SL*PZ[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LYILJH\ZLP[KVLZUV[
]PVSH[LHU`VM[OL[OYLLJS\LZ
3. D
Explanation: >LHYL[VSK[OH[(UQLSPJHYHURZ[OHUK3L[PJPHKVLZ56;YHURZ[
.P]LU[OPZ^LHYLHZRLK[VYHUR1VUH[OHU(PZUV[JVYYLJ[1VUH[OHUJHUUV[
YHURZ[ILJH\ZLJS\LZ[H[LZ[OH[3L[PJPHYHURZOPNOLY[OHU1VUH[OHU)PZUV[
JVYYLJ[1VUH[OHUJHUUV[YHURUKILJH\ZL3L[PJPH56;YHURPUNZ[NP]LUPU
X\LZ[PVU^PSSUV[HSSV^3L[PJPH[VYHUROPNOLY[OHU1VUH[OHU*S\L*PZUV[
JVYYLJ[;OLWLYZVUYHURLKYKOHZ[VILH^VTLU*S\L,PZUV[JVYYLJ[
1VUH[OHUJHUUV[YHUR[OILJH\ZL4PJOHLSOHZ[VYHURSV^LY[OHU1VUH[OHU
*S\LHUK[OPZ[OLSV^LZ[YHURPUNNP]LUPU[OLWYVISLT+PZ[OLJVYYLJ[
HUZ^LY1VUH[OHUT\Z[YHUR[OPUVYKLYUV[[V]PVSH[LHU`VM[OLNP]LUJS\LZ
4. A
Explanation: >LHYL[VSK[OH[(UQLSPJHYHURZ[OHUKTHQVYZPU7Z`JOVSVN`
HUK1VUH[OHU»ZTHQVYPZ*OLTPZ[Y`>LHYLHZRLK^OH[3L[PJPHT\Z[YHUR0M[OL
[OYHURLKWLYZVU»ZTHQVYPZ7Z`JOVSVN`NP]LU[OLU[OLYKYHURLKWLYZVU»Z
THQVYT\Z[IL(YJOP[LJ[\YLHUK[OLUKYHURLKWLYZVU»ZTHQVYT\Z[IL*OLT
PZ[Y`*S\L;OPZ^V\SKYHUR1VUH[OHUUKZPUJL^LHYL[VSK[OH[OPZTHQVYPZ
*OLTPZ[Y`.P]LU[OPZ3L[PJPHT\Z[YHURZ[ILJH\ZL*S\L[LSSZ\Z[OH[3L[PJPH
YHURZOPNOLY[OHU1VUH[OHU:V(PZ[OLJVYYLJ[HUZ^LY)PZUV[JVYYLJ[3L[PJPH
JHUUV[YHURUKILJH\ZL1VUH[OHUYHURZUKIHZLKVU[OLHIV]L*+HUK,
HYLUV[JVYYLJ[ILJH\ZL3L[PJPHJHUUV[ILYHURLKSV^LY[OHU1VUH[OHU*S\L
41
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
5. B
Explanation: >LHYL[VSK[OH[>OP[LJSV\KYHURZ[OHUK4PJOHLSKVLZ56;
YHURSHZ[>LHYLHZRLK^OPJOTHQVY4PJOHLSJV\SK56;IL*S\L[LSSZ\Z[OH[
4PJOHLSPZ[^VYHURZILSV^3L[PJPHTLHUPUN[OH[4PJOHLSJHUUV[ILYK)`[OL
PUMVYTH[PVUNP]LUPU[OLX\LZ[PVU4PJOHLSPZUV[[OVY[OZVOLPZTVZ[SPRLS`
[O)`*S\L^LRUV^[OH[[OL*OLTPZ[Y`THQVYPZHIV]L(YJOP[LJ[\YLHUK7Z`
JOVSVN`HUKZPUJL[OLYLHYLVUS`Z[\KLU[ZWSHJPUN4PJOHLS[O^V\SKTLHU
[OH[OLJHUUV[IL[OL*OLTPZ[Y`THQVY
SUITEMATES
;OLWYVNYHTKPYLJ[VYVMHZ\TTLYYLZLHYJOWYVNYHTT\Z[WSHJLMV\YWYVNYHT
WHY[PJPWHU[ZPU[V[^VZ\P[LZPU[OLKVYT!Z\P[LU\TILYHUKZ\P[LU\TILY
LHJOVM^OPJOJVU[HPUZHYVVT(HUKHYVVT);OLMV\YNPYSZ5H[HSPL2OHU;HUP
ZOH;OVTWZVU9LUL,HNSLMLH[OLYHUK=HULZZH:HSHaHYHYLLHJOTHQVYPUNPUHKPM
MLYLU[ÄLSK5L\YVZJPLUJL)PVJOLTPZ[Y`,JVUVTPJZHUK)PVLUNPULLYPUN;OL`HYL
LHJOM\UKLKI`HKPMMLYLU[ZV\YJL!;OL5H[PVUHS:JPLUJL-V\UKH[PVU5:-;OL5H
[PVUHS/LHY[3\UNHUK)SVVK0UZ[P[\[L5/3);OL+LWHY[TLU[VM+LMLUZL+6+
VY[OLZ[\KLU[»ZTLU[VY<ZPUN[OLMVSSV^PUNJS\LZHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZILSV^
Clues:
9
LUL,HNSLMLH[OLYPZULP[OLY[OL5L\YVZJPLUJLTHQVYUVYPZZOL
M\UKLKI`[OL+6+
5
LP[OLY=HULZZH:HSHaHYUVY[OLNPYSPU(PZM\UKLKI`5:-VY
PZHULJVUVTPJZTHQVY
;OLNPYSPU)PZUV[[OL5L\YVZJPLUJLTHQVY
5H[HSPL2OHUPZUV[PU(VY(
;OLNPYSM\UKLKI`5/3)PZULP[OLY[OL5L\YVZJPLUJLUVY[OL
)PVLUNPULLYPUNTHQVY
;HUPZOH;OVTWZVUPZUV[PU)
Questions:
9LUL,HNSLMLH[OLYPZM\UKLKI`^OPJOVM[OLMVSSV^PUNZV\YJLZ&
H4LU[VY
I5:-
J5/3)
K+6+
5H[HSPL2OHUPZZOHYPUNHZ\P[L^P[O[OLNPYSTHQVYPUNPU^OH[ÄLSK&
H)PVJOLTPZ[Y` I5L\YVZJPLUJL
J)PVLUNPULLYPUN
K,JVUVTPJZ
;OLZ[\KLU[M\UKLKI`[OL+LWHY[TLU[VM+LMLUZLPZZOHYPUNHZ\P[L^P[O
^OPJONPYS&
H9LUL,HNSLMLH[OLY I=HULZZH:HSHaHY J5H[HSPL2OHU K;HUPZOH;OVTWZVU
42
National Science Foundation
Mentor
K)
DOD
NSF
Bioengineering
Economics
Biochemistry
Neuroscience
202B
202A
201B
Suitemates
Suitemates
201A
;OLZ[\KLU[THQVYPUNPU)PVLUNPULLYPUNPZSP]PUNPU^OPJOYVVT&
H(
I)
J(
NHLB
Baylor College of Medicine
Natalie Khan
Tanisha Thompson
Rene Eaglefeather
Vanessa Salazar
NSF
NHLB
DOD
Mentor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Economics
<ZPUN[OPZ[HISL`V\JHUJVYYLJ[S`HUZ^LY
HSSVM[OLX\LZ[PVUZHZRLKPU[OPZWYVISLT
(UZ^LYZVUWHNL
Bioengineering
ROADTRIP
-P]LZ[\KLU[ZPUHZ\TTLYIPVTLKPJHSZJPLUJLZYLZLHYJOWYVNYHTOH]LILJVTL
MHZ[MYPLUKZHUKOH]LKLJPKLK[V[HRLH^LLRLUKYVHK[YPW[V5L^)YH\UMLSZ[VNV
[\IPUNKV^U[OL.\HKHS\WL9P]LY,HJOZ[\KLU[JVTLZMYVTHKPMMLYLU[WHY[VM[OL
JV\U[Y`HZTHSSJVHSTPUPUN[V^UPU7LUUZ`S]HUPH"HUL^S`KL]LSVWLKULPNOIVY
OVVKPU9LUV5L]HKH"HJH[[SLYHUJOPUNJVTT\UP[`PU>LZ[;L_HZ"HUPUULYJP[`
ULPNOIVYOVVKPU*OPJHNVHUKHUHMÅ\LU[NH[LKJVTT\UP[`V\[ZPKLVM+HSSHZHUK
[OL`LHJOTHQVYPUKPMMLYLU[ÄLSKZWOPSVZVWO`TVSLJ\SHYIPVSVN`WYLTLKPJPUL
LUNPULLYPUNHUKWZ`JOVSVN`;OLTVYUPUNVM[OLYVHK[YPWLHJOZ[\KLU[IVHYKLK
[OLJHYH[HKPMMLYLU[[PTL!!!!!HUK!<ZPUN[OLMVSSV^PUN
JS\LZHZN\PKHUJLHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZILSV^
Clues:
.
SVYPH*HTWILSSIVHYKLKZVTL[PTLHM[LY[OLZ[\KLU[MYVT5L]HKHHUK
Q\Z[ILMVYL[OLLUNPULLYPUNTHQVY
43
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
;OLÄ]LZ[\KLU[ZHYL![OLWYLTLKPJHSTHQVY[OLZ[\KLU[MYVT*OPJHNV
[OLZ[\KLU[[OH[IVHYKLKH[![OLTVSLJ\SHYIPVSVN`THQVYHUK[OL
Z[\KLU[[OH[IVHYKLKH[!
;OLZ[\KLU[MYVT7LUUZ`S]HUPHIVHYKLKQ\Z[ILMVYL[OLWYLTLKPJHS
Z[\KLU[
:OHUKH4VYYPZ^OVPZUV[[OLWZ`JOVSVN`THQVYIVHYKLKH[!
4LYLKP[O>VUNIVHYKLKQ\Z[ILMVYL[OLWZ`JOVSVN`THQVY^OVKPKU»[
IVHYKH[!
;
OLZ[\KLU[MYVT>LZ[;L_HZPZULP[OLY:OHUKH4VYYPZUVY4HYPV=HSKLa
UVYPZ[OPZZ[\KLU[[OLWYLTLKPJPULTHQVY
Questions:
>OPJOZ[\KLU[PZMYVT7LUUZ`S]HUPH&
H4HYPV=HSKLa
I.SVYPH*HTWILSS
K+HSL([R\Z
L4LYLKP[O>VUN
;OLZ[\KLU[[OH[IVHYKLKH[!PZTHQVYPUNPU^OPJOÄLSK&
H7OPSVZVWO`
I7Z`JOVSVN` K,UNPULLYPUN
L4VSLJ\SHY)PVSVN`
4HYPV=HSKLaPZMYVT^OPJOWHY[VM[OLJV\U[Y`&
H5L]HKH I+HSSHZ
K>LZ[;L_HZ
L7LUUZ`S]HUPH
([^OH[[PTLKPK.SVYPH*HTWILSSIVHYK[OLJHY&
H!
I!
J!
K!
;OLZ[\KLU[MYVT5L]HKHPZTHQVYPUNPU^OPJOÄLSK&
H7YL4LKPJPUL
I7Z`JOVSVN` K4VSLJ\SHY)PVSVN` L7OPSVZVWO`
J:OHUKH4VYYPZ
J7YL4LKPJPUL
J*OPJHNV
L!
J,UNPULLYPUN
TRICK-OR-TREAT
-P]LNPYSZKYLZZLK\WHUK[YPJRVY[YLH[LKMVY/HSSV^LLU1LZZPJH:VWOPH0ZHKVYH
.SLUKHSPaHUK5PZOH,HJOVM[OLT^VYLHKPMMLYLU[JVZ[\TL-PYLÄNO[LY=L[LYPUHY
PHU(Z[YVUH\[6S`TWPJPJLZRH[LYVY)HSSLYPUHPZHKPMMLYLU[HNLVY
HUK^LU[V\[[YPJRVY[YLH[PUNH[HKPMMLYLU[[PTLVU/HSSV^LLU!WT!WT
!WT!WT!WT)HZLKVU[OLMVSSV^PUNJS\LZWSLHZLHUZ^LY[OL
X\LZ[PVUZILSV^
44
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Clues:
;
OLNPYS^OVKYLZZLKHZHU6S`TWPJPJLZRH[LY^OVPZUV[:VWOPHPZ
VSKLY[OHU5PZOHHUK^LU[V\[ILMVYL[OLNPYS^OVPZ`LHYZVSK^OV
KPKUV[KYLZZHZH-PYLÄNO[LY
0ZHKVYH^OVKPKUV[KYLZZHZH(Z[YVUH\[PZ`V\UNLY[OHU[OLNPYS^OV
KYLZZLKHZH)HSSLYPUHI\[VSKLY[OH[[OLNPYS^OV^LU[V\[H[!WT
^OVKPKUV[KYLZZ\WHZH=L[LYPUHYPHU
1LZZPJH^OVPZUV[`LHYZVSK^LU[V\[TPU\[LZHM[LY[OLNPYS[OH[PZ
`LHYZVSKI\[TPU\[LZILMVYL[OLNPYS^OVKYLZZLKHZH-PYLÄNO[LY
.SLUKHSPaKYLZZLKHZH=L[LYPUHYPHUHUK^LU[V\[TPU\[LZILMVYL
:VWOPHI\[HM[LY[OLNPYS^OVKYLZZLKHZHU(Z[YVUH\[
Questions:
>OH[KPK[OLNPYS^OV^LU[V\[H[!WTKYLZZHZ&
H-PYLÄNO[LY I=L[LYPUHYPHU
J(Z[YVUH\[ K6S`TWPJPJLZRH[LY
L)HSSLYPUH ([^OH[[PTLKPK[OL`LHYVSK[YPJRVY[YLH[&
H!WT
I!WT
J!WT
K!WT
L!WT
>OH[KPK[OL`LHYVSKNPYSKYLZZ\WHZ&
H-PYLÄNO[LY
I=L[LYPUHYPHU
J(Z[YVUH\[ K6S`TWPJPJLZRH[LY
L)HSSLYPUH >OVKYLZZLKHZH-PYLÄNO[LY&
H1LZZPJH
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K.SLUKHSPa L5PZOH
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H!WT I!WT
J!WT
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L!WT
K!WT
L!WT
>OLUKPK[OL6S`TWPJ0JL:RH[LY[YPJRVY[YLH[&
H!WT
I!WT
J!WT
45
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
8:30pm
8:15pm
8:00pm
7:45pm
7
7:30pm
Time Trick-or-Treated
6
5
4
3
Age
Ballerina
Astronaut
Olympic ice
skater
)LUH¿JKWHU
Trick-or-Treat
Trick-or-Treat
Veterinarian
Costume
Jessica
Sophia
Name
Isadora
Glendaliz
Nisha
7:30pm
7:45pm
Time Trick-orTreated
8:00pm
8:15pm
8:30pm
3
4
Age
5
6
7
<ZPUN[OPZ[HISL`V\JHUJVYYLJ[S`
HUZ^LYHSSVM[OLX\LZ[PVUZHZRLK
PU[OPZWYVISLT(UZ^LYZVU
WHNL
US AIR FORCE
1VOU/HPRH^H2LPZOH>HZOPUN[VU(UQLSPJH;VYYLZ9VSSPU:[YHJRHUK7L[LY
+VLYYLHYLPU[OL<UP[LK:[H[LZ(PY-VYJL,HJOVM[OLTOHZHKPMMLYLU[YHUR.LU
LYHS3PL\[LUHU[*VSVULS:LYNLHU[VY4HQVYHKPMMLYLU[HTV\U[VM[PTLPU[OL
ZLY]PJLVY`LHYZHUKÅPLZHKPMMLYLU[HPYJYHM[)))
-VY*)HZLKVU[OLMVSSV^PUNJS\LZWSLHZLHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZILSV^
Clues:
46
OL.LULYHS^OVKVLZUV[Å`[OL)OHZILLUPU[OL(PY-VYJL
;
`LHYZSVUNLY[OHU1VOU/HPRH^HI\[`LHYZSLZZ[OHU[OLWLYZVU^OV
ÅPLZ[OL-
(UQLSPJH;VYYLZ^OVKVLZUV[Å`[OL)OHZILLUPU[OL(PY-VYJL
`LHYZSVUNLY[OHU[OL4HQVY
2LPZOH>HZOPUN[VUOHZSLZZL_WLYPLUJL[OHU[OLSPL\[LUHU[
;
OLWLYZVU^OVÅPLZ[OL*^OVPZUV[7L[LY+VLYYLOHZ`LHYZ
SLZZZLY]PJL[OHU[OL*VSVULSI\[`LHYZTVYLZLY]PJL[OHU[OL4HQVY
9VSSPU:[YHJRÅPLZ[OL-
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
;OLWLYZVU^P[O`LHYZVMZLY]PJLPU[OL(PY-VYJL^OVPZUV[2LPZOH
>HZOPUN[VUKVLZUV[Å`[OL*HUKOHZTVYLZLY]PJL[OHU[OL
:LYNLHU[^OVKVLZUV[Å`[OL-
;OLWLYZVU^OVÅPLZ[OL)OHZSLZZL_WLYPLUJL[OHU1VOU/HPRH^H
Questions:
>OH[YHURPZ(UQLSPJH;VYYLZ&
H.LULYHS I3PL\[LUHU[ J*VSVULS
K:LYNLHU[
L4HQVY
>OH[KVLZ2LPZOH>HZOPUN[VUÅ`&
H)
I)
J)
K-
L*
>OVOHZ`LHYZVMZLY]PJLPU[OLHPYMVYJL&
H.LULYHS I3PL\[LUHU[ J*VSVULS
K:LYNLHU[ L4HQVY
>OH[HPYJYHM[KVLZ[OLWLYZVU^P[O`LHYZVMZLY]PJLÅ`&
H)
I)
J)
K-
L*
/V^THU``LHYZVMZLY]PJLKVLZ[OL:LYNLHU[OH]L&
H
I
J
K
L
>OVÅPLZ[OL*&
H1VOU/HPRH^HI2LPZOH>HZOPUN[VUJ(UQLSPJH;VYYLZK
K9VSSPU:[YHJRL7L[LY+VLYYL
>OVÅPLZ[OL)&
H.LULYHS I3PL\[LUHU[ J*VSVULS
K:LYNLHU[
L4HQVY
/V^THU``LHYZVMZLY]PJLKVLZ[OLWLYZVU^OVÅPLZ[OL)OH]L&
H
I
J
K
L
WAITSTAFF
(UKYL^;\SH9HUKHSS/LPKPHUK7OV\UNHYLHSS^HP[LYZH[KPMMLYLU[YLZ[H\YHU[Z
6SP]L.HYKLU*HYYHIH»Z6\[IHJR:[LHROV\ZL*OPSP»ZVY/\UHU»Z;OL`HYLLHJO
^VYRPUNVUHKPMMLYLU[KH`UL_[^LLR4VUKH`¶-YPKH`HUKHYL^VYRPUNHKPMMLYLU[
ZOPM[HTWTHTWTHTWTWTWTVYWTWT)HZLKVU[OL
MVSSV^PUNJS\LZWSLHZLHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZVU[OLMVSSV^PUNWHNL
Clues:
OLWLYZVU^OV^VYRZVU;\LZKH`^OVPZUV[9HUKHSSOHZHZOPM[[OH[
;
Z[HY[ZSH[LY[OHU[OLTHU^OV^VYRZH[6\[IHJR:[LHROV\ZLHUKOHZH
ZOPM[[OH[PZZOVY[LY[OHU;\SH»Z
47
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
(
UKYL^^OVKVLZUV[^VYRVU;\LZKH`^VYRZHKH`LHYSPLY[OHU[OL
WLYZVU^OVZLZOPM[Z[HY[ZH[HT^OVKVLZUV[^VYRH[*OPSP»ZI\[
VULKH`HM[LY[OL^VTHU^OV^VYRZH[*HYYHIH»Z^OVZLZOPM[PZUV[
OV\YZSVUN
/
LPKP^OVKVLZUV[^VYRH[*OPSP»ZOHZHZOPM[[OH[Z[HY[ZLHYSPLYHUK
SHZ[ZSVUNLY[OHU[OLWLYZVU[OH[^VYRZH[[OL6SP]L.HYKLU^OVKVLZ
UV[^VYRVU;\LZKH`
Questions:
>OLYLKVLZ[OLWLYZVU^OVZLZOPM[PZWTWT^VYR&
H6SP]L.HYKLU I*HYYHIH»Z
J6\[IHJR:[LHROV\ZL
K*OPSP»Z
L/\UHU»Z
;OLWLYZVU^OV^VYRZVU-YPKH`OHZHZOPM[[OH[PZOV^THU`OV\YZSVUN&
H
I
J
K
L
>OV^VYRZH[/\UHU»Z&
H(UKYL^ I;\SH
J9HUKHSS
K/LPKP
6U^OH[KH`KVLZ[OLWLYZVU^OVZLZOPM[PZOV\YZSVUN^VYR&
H4VUKH` I;\LZKH`
J>LKULZKH` K;O\YZKH`
L7OV\UN
L-YPKH`
>OLYLKVLZ[OLWLYZVU^OV^VYRZ[OLKH`ILMVYL9HUKHSS^VYR&
H6SP]L.HYKLU I*HYYHIH»Z
J6\[IHJR:[LHROV\ZL
K*OPSP»Z
L/\UHU»Z
;OLWLYZVU^OV^VYRZVU4VUKH`OHZHZOPM[[OH[PZOV^THU`OV\YZSVUN&
H
I
J
K
L
48
National Science Foundation
Friday
Thursday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Monday
12pm-8pm
11am-4pm
Day Working
12pm-7pm
10am-2pm
Chili’s
Shift
Hunan’s
Outback Steakhouse
Carraba’s
Waitstaff
Waitstaff
Olive Garden
Restaurant
10am-4pm
Baylor College of Medicine
Andrew
Tula
Name
Randall
Heidi
Phoung
Monday
Tuesday
Day Working
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
10am-2pm
10am-4pm
Shift
11am-4pm
12pm-7pm
12-pm-8pm
<ZPUN[OPZ[HISL`V\JHUJVYYLJ[S`
HUZ^LYHSSVM[OLX\LZ[PVUZHZRLK
PU[OPZWYVISLT(UZ^LYZVU
WHNL
SUNSET TRAIL
(\KYL`)LHS1\HUP[H4LUKLa1\Z[PU*OLU4PJOHLS3LPZRH\HUK3VYYHPUL7H[LS
HSSSP]LVU:\UZL[;YHPSPU[OL*YLLR^VVK7HYRULPNOIVYOVVK,HJOYLZPKLU[OHZH
KPMMLYLU[JHYLLYLUNPULLYJOLTPZ[\UP]LYZP[`TH[OWYVMLZZVYJVTW\[LYWYVNYHT
TLYHUK]PYVSVNPZ[,HJOVM[OLPYOVTLZPZWHPU[LKHKPMMLYLU[JVSVY[H\WLT\Z[HYK
WLYP^PURSLJOHYJVHSVYZLHNYLLUHUKOHZHUHKKYLZZYHUNPUNMYVT[V(SS
VM[OLOV\ZLZHYLVU[OLZHTLZPKLVM[OLZ[YLL[0M`V\KYP]LMYVT[OLOV\ZL
[V[OLOV\ZL`V\HYL[YH]LSPUNZV\[O>P[O[OLMVSSV^PUNJS\LZHZN\PKHUJL
WSLHZLHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZILSV^
Clues:
(
\KYL`)LHS^OVZLUL_[KVVYULPNOIVY[V[OLZV\[OPZH\UP]LYZP[`TH[O
WYVMLZZVYHSZVSP]LZZV\[OVM1\Z[PU*OLU^OVZLOV\ZLPZUV[WLYP^PURSL
49
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
4
PJOHLS3PLZRH\^OVPZUV[HJVTW\[LYWYVNYHTTLYPZ[OLZV\[OLYU
ULPNOIVYVM[OLYLZPKLU[VM[OL[H\WLOV\ZL
;
OLUVY[OLYUTVZ[OV\ZLVU[OLISVJRPZWLYP^PURSLHUKPZKVVYZH^H`
MYVT[OLOVTLVM[OL]PYVSVNPZ[
3 VYYHPUL7H[LS^OVZLOV\ZLPZUV[ZLHNYLLUSP]LZYPNO[PU[OLTPKKSLVM
[OLISVJR
;
OLYLZPKLU[^P[O[OL[H\WLOV\ZL^OVPZHULUNPULLYPZULPNOIVYZ^P[O
3VYYHPUL7H[LS
;
OLJVTW\[LYWYVNYHTTLYKVLZUV[SP]LPU[OLJOHYJVHSOV\ZLUL_[KVVY
[V1\HUP[H4LUKLa
;
OLZLHNYLLUOV\ZLPZZV\[OVM[OLT\Z[HYKOV\ZLUL_[[V^OLYL[OL
JOLTPZ[SP]LZ
Questions:
([^OH[HKKYLZZKVLZ(\KYL`)LHSSP]L&
H:\UZL[;YHPS
I:\UZL[;YHPS
K:\UZL[;YHPS
L:\UZL[;YHPS
J:\UZL[;YHPS
>OH[PZ[OLWYVMLZZPVUVM[OLYLZPKLU[VM[OLJOHYJVHSOV\ZL&
HJVTW\[LYWYVNYHTTLY
ILUNPULLY
J]PYVSVNPZ[
K\UP]LYZP[`TH[OWYVMLZZVY LJOLTPZ[
>OVPZ[OLJVTW\[LYWYVNYHTTLY&
H(\KYL`)LHS
K4PJOHLS3LPZRH\
I1\HUP[H4LUKLa J1\Z[PU*OLU
L3VYYHPUL7H[LS
>OH[JVSVYPZ[OL]PYVSVNPZ[»ZOV\ZL&
H[H\WL
KJOHYJVHS
IT\Z[HYK
LZLHNYLLU
JWLYP^PURSL
>OVPZ[OLYLZPKLU[VM:\UZL[;YHPS&
H(\KYL`)LHS
I1\HUP[H4LUKLa J1\Z[PU*OLU
K4PJOHLS3LPZRH\
L3VYYHPUL7H[LS
>OH[JVSVYPZ1\HUP[H4LUKLa»ZOV\ZL&
H[H\WL
IT\Z[HYK
KJOHYJVHS
LZLHNYLLU
JWLYP^PURSL
>OH[PZ4PJOHLS3LPZRH\»ZWYVMLZZPVU&
HJVTW\[LYWYVNYHTTLY ILUNPULLY
K\UP]LYZP[`TH[OWYVMLZZVY LJOLTPZ[
J]PYVSVNPZ[
50
National Science Foundation
sea green
charcoal
mustard
periwinkle
taupe
House Color
Virologist
Engineer
Occupation
The Patel’s
The Chen’s
The Leiskau’s
Sunset Sunset
Trail Trail
The Beal’s
The
Mendez’s
Family’s Last Name
Chemist
Math
Professor
Computer
Prog
Baylor College of Medicine
500
501
Address
502
503
504
taupe
mustard
House Color
periwinkle
charcoal
sea green
Engineer
Chemist
Occupation
Math Professor
Computer Progammer
Virologist
<ZPUN[OPZ[HISL`V\JHUJVYYLJ[S`
HUZ^LYHSSVM[OLX\LZ[PVUZHZRLK
PU[OPZWYVISLT(UZ^LYZVU
WHNL
51
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
SUITEMATES
Answer Key:
*
(
+
*
Answer Key with Explanation: SUITEMATES
+6+
;HUPZOH;OVTWZVU)
5L\YVZJPLUJL
5:-
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
.
.
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
52
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
Bioengineering
x
Economics
x
.
Biochemistry
x
x
Neuroscience
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
Mentor
x
x
x
.
Economics
201A
.
x
x
x
x
DOD
x
x
x
NHLB
NSF
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
Vanessa Salazar
.
Rene Eaglefeather
x
Tanisha Thompson
x
Natalie Khan
x
Suitemates
Suitemates
.
.
x
x
.
x
x
x
Mentor
)PVLUNPULLYPUN
DOD
=HULZZH:HSHaHY(
x
4LU[VY
x
x
,JVUVTPJZ
)
x
x
.
5H[HSPL2OHU
NSF
5/3)
Bioengineering
)PVJOLTPZ[Y`
Biochemistry
9LUL,HNSLMLH[OLY(
Neuroscience
Funding Source
202B
Major
202A
Room
201B
Student Name
NHLB
0M`V\^VYRLK[OLWYVISLTJVYYLJ[S``V\ZOV\SKOH]LKL[LYTPULK[OL
MVSSV^PUN[OPUNZ! x
x
.
x
.
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
ROAD TRIP
Answer Key
*
(
)
)
+
Names
Region
Major
Time
4HYPV=HSKLa
+HSSHZ
7YL4LKPJPUL
!
.SVYPH*HTWILSS
*OPJHNV
7Z`JOVSVN`
!
:OHUKH4VYYPZ
7LUUZ`S]HUPH
,UNPULLYPUN
!
+HSL([R\Z
>LZ[;L_HZ
7OPSVZVWO`
!
4LYLKP[O>VUN
5L]HKH
4VSLJ\SHY)PVSVN`
!
53
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
TRICK-OR-TREAT
Answer Key:
,
+
*
)
,
Answer Key with Explanation: TRICK-OR-TREAT
0M`V\^VYRLK[OLWYVISLTJVYYLJ[S``V\ZOV\SKOH]LKL[LYTPULK[OL
MVSSV^PUN[OPUNZ!
1LZZPJH
)HSSLYPUH
7
!WT
:VWOPH
-PYLÄNO[LY
3
!WT
0ZHKVYH
6S`TWPJPJLZRH[LY
6
!WT
.SLUKHSPa
=L[LYPUHYPHU
5
!WT
5PZOH
(Z[YVUH\[
4
!WT
54
x
.
x
x
x
.
8:15pm
8:30pm
x
x
.
8:00pm
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
7:45pm
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
7
7:30pm
x
.
x
x
6
.
x
x
7
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
5
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
4
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
3
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
Ballerina
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
Time Trick-or-Treated
x
x
x
x
x
Astronaut
)LUH¿JKWHU
Olympic ice
skater
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
6
x
5
Age
x
Age
x
3
4
x
8:30pm
x
8:15pm
.
8:00pm
x
7:45pm
Time Trick-orTreated
.
Nisha
7:30pm
x
Glendaliz
x
Isadora
x
Sophia
Name
.
Jessica
x
Trick-or-Treat
Trick-or-Treat
Veterinarian
Costume
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
AIR FORCE
Answer Key:
(
*
)
+
)
(
)
(
Answer Key with Explanation: US AIR FORCE
0M`V\^VYRLK[OLWYVISLTJVYYLJ[S``V\ZOV\SKOH]LKL[LYTPULK[OL
MVSSV^PUN[OPUNZ!
1VOU/HPRH^H
:LHYNLU[
*
15
2LPZOH>HZOPUN[VU
4HQVY
)
10
(UQLSPJH;VYYLZ
.LULYHS
)
20
9VSSPU:[YHJR
*VSVULS
-
25
7L[LY+VLYYL
3L\[PULU[
)
30
55
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
WAITSTAFF
Answer Key: )
)
+
)
*
*
Answer Key with Explanation: WAITSTAFF
0M`V\^VYRLK[OPZWYVISLTJVYYLJ[S``V\ZOV\SKOH]LKL[LYTPULK
[OLMVSSV^PUN[OPUNZ!
(UKYL^
6\[IHJR:[LHROV\ZL
HTWTOY
;O\YZKH`
;\SH
*HYYHIH»Z
WTWTOY
>LKULZKH`
9HUKHSS
6SP]L.HYKLU
HTWTOY
-YPKH`
/LPKP
/\UHU»Z
HTWTOY
4VUKH`
7OV\UN
*OPSP»Z
WTWTOY
;\LZKH`
56
x
.
x
x
x
x
Friday
Thursday
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
Tuesday
Wednesday
x
.
Monday
x
x
x
x
12pm-8pm
.
x
x
x
.
x
12pm-7pm
x
x
x
12-pm-8pm
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
11am-4pm
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
10am-4pm
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
Hunan’s
Chili’s
10am-2pm
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
Day Working
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
12pm-7pm
.
x
Carraba’s
Outback
Steakhouse
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
Shift
x
11am-4pm
x
10am-4pm
Shift
x
Friday
10am-2pm
x
Thursday
.
Wednesday
x
Day Working
x
Monday
Tuesday
x
Heidi
Phoung
x
Randall
x
Tula
Name
.
Andrew
x
Waitstaff
Waitstaff
Olive Garden
Restaurant
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
SUNSET TRAIL
Answer Key
+
,
)
)
+
*
+
Answer Key with Explanation: SUNSET TRAIL
0M`V\^VYRLK[OLWYVISLTJVYYLJ[S``V\ZOV\SKOH]LKL[LYTPULK[OL
MVSSV^PUN[OPUNZ!
Address
Resident
House Color
Profession
1\HUP[H4LUKLa
7LYP^PURSL
*VTW\[LY7YVNYHTTLY
501
1\Z[PU*OLU
*OHYJVHS
*OLTPZ[
3VYYHPUL7H[LS
4\Z[HYK
=PYVSVNPZ[
503
(\KYL`)LHSL
;H\WL
,UNPULLY
504
4PJOHLS3LPZRH\ :LH.YLLU
<UP]LYZP[`4H[O7YVM
charcoal
sea green
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
mustard
periwinkle
.
x
taupe
x
x
x
x
Virologist
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
Chemist
Math
Professor
Computer
Prog
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
Engineer
.
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
The Patel’s
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
House Color
.
x
x
x
Virologist
x
x
x
.
x
The Chen’s
The Leiskau’s
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
Computer Progammer
x
.
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
x
x
x
x
.
x
.
Occupation
x
Math Professor
.
Chemist
Occupation
x
Engineer
x
charcoal
sea green
x
periwinkle
x
House Color
x
taupe
mustard
x
504
x
503
x
502
.
Address
x
500
501
x
Sunset Trail
Sunset Trail
The Beal’s
The
Mendez’s
Family’s Last Name
x
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57
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
58
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Four: Making the Most
of Mentor Relationships
Science is taught through an apprenticeship model
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Understanding what type of mentorship you need:
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ZPNULKI`IV[OWLVWSL
59
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Gathering information to choose a mentor:
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60
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Mentor versus Role Models
Some people provide valuable encouragement, guidance or inspiration, but do not
fit the role of professional advisor because they have little knowledge about professional skills. My 8th and 9th grade science teacher was a true mentor. Genevive Cousins
not only “adopted me” and treated me like her daughter, she taught me important principles of scientific writing. Every week I turned in a progress report on my science fair
projects, that she returned covered in red ink. I won the Southeastern Division of the
Ford Foundation Future Scientists of America Science Paper Writing Competitions in
the 9th and 10th grades. As I matured, I found that the principles Mrs. Cousins taught
me provided an excellent foundation for writing an NIH NRSA post-doctoral fellowship
and numerous grants and scientific papers.
Gladys Mallory was a powerful influence and role model, but not a mentor. My
mother was sick a lot with unexplained illnesses. I always hoped that Gladys would be
working at the hospital as we raced my mother to medical care. I was 15 or 16 years
old the night that Gladys leaned across the bed while she was checking my mother’s
vital signs and said, “There’s something I always wanted to do.” I yawned, “What’s that
Gladys?” “I want to be a real nurse.” That caught my attention. She was so competent
that it hadn’t occurred to me she wasn’t a “real” nurse. Gladys was the first African
American nurses’ aid at our parish hospital, in an era when some white patients would
not let her touch them. I naively asked, “Why don’t you go to college.” “I can’t pass
chemistry,” she responded. “Oh, don’t worry. If I’m in town I’ll be glad to help you.”
Several years later I had become a chemistry major at our local college and Gladys
contacted me. She had started a two year associate degree in nursing and was failing
chemistry. We started working together after the second test. She stayed in the class
until the last day to drop - there was no way to pass that semester. But, she passed
the chemistry course the next semester and the semester after that and she finished
the associate degree. Then she finished a R.N. degree, then a Master’s Degree in
Nursing while she continued to work full time and be the mother to three children. At
times she got up at 4 am to wash and iron her children’s clothes, drove 70 miles each
way for clinical studies in a larger town, worked a shift at the hospital and then got up
and did it all over again. Gladys
became the supervisor of the intensive care unit at our hospital and according to one
physician, “...was the best nurse in a 60 mile radius.” My mantra in grad
school was, “If Gladys can do it, so can I.” Gladys Mallory didn’t have to know more
chemistry than I did to teach me valuable lessons about persevering toward your goals.
61
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
0UJOVVZPUNHdissertation advisor,`V\ZOV\SKYL]PL^[OLZJPLUJL
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Approaching Individuals about Mentorship:
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62
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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General Pointers for Working with Mentors
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Who do women undergraduates see as mentors?
A survey of mentor issues with 123 women alumni of the SMART Program
revealed interesting information. Mentor relationships were considered as very
important by 62% of the respondents and as unimportant by only 6% of the students. The undergraduates listed a variety of people who had been mentors, but
there was a correlation between the education level of people and the frequency
with which they were identified as mentors. Faculty were the most frequent mentors and cited by 77% of the respondents. The most valuable characteristics of
mentors were being approachable, knowledgeable and that they challenged the
mentee. The characteristic that ranked the lowest (8th) was kindness. Students
didn’t appreciate those who were too afraid of hurting their feelings to be honest.
The most valuable aspects of mentor relationships involved practical issues with
63
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
writing letters of recommendation as the most important function. Discussing
career opportunities and discussing science were the other functions ranked
as important. Many women felt the gender of the mentor wasn’t relevant. Only
12% of those who listed males as mentors thought gender was relevant, while
68% of those who had female mentors thought the gender of their mentor
was relevant. (The survey was funded as a part of the NSF Model Project for
Women and Girls (HRD-9631519) through which the first SMART GRE prep
workshops were developed.)
64
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Working Effectively with Your Research Mentor
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65
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Making Your Way Out of Mentoring that Becomes Messy:
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66
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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67
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Five: Data Management
Why are scientific records important?
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Systems of data acquisition:
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69
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Organizing Your Lab Notebook: HKHW[LKMYVTHWYLZLU[H[PVUI`:\ZHU/HTPS
[VU7O+*OHPYVM4VSLJ\SHY7O`ZPVSVN`HUK)PVWO`ZPJZ)*4
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Notes on scraps of paper or unorganized loose papers are unacceptable
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L
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71
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Making Corrections to Lab Notes:
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Guidelines for Computer Records:
72
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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73
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
74
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Six: Reading the Scientific Literature
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ULLKHM[LY[OLÄYZ[YLHK
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75
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
(ZZLZZP[ZTL[OVKZHUKJVUJS\ZPVUZ:JPLUJLPZHÄLSK^OLYLOLHS[O`
ZRLW[PJPZTPZLZZLU[PHS:JPLU[PZ[ZZOV\SKTHRL[OLPYJHZLHZJSLHYS`HZ
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MVY`V\YZ[HNLVMKL]LSVWTLU[@V\TH`YL[\YU[VHWHWLYH[HSH[LYKH[H
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6YNHUPaLHUKÄSL[OLWHWLYZ`V\»]LYLHK;OLZLJHUIL\ZLM\SMVYSH[LY
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HY[PJSLZMVY`V\YV^UPUMVYTHS\ZL9LTLTILY[V\ZLWYVWLYJP[H[PVU
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YLHKPUN/V^T\JOTVYL^PSS`V\YJHYLLYILULÄ[MVYTKPZJ\ZZPUNH
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SH[LZ[KH[PUNZJHUKHSVMHYHWVYYVJRZ[HY
Locating Papers
*VUZPKLY[OLMVSSV^PUNZV\YJLZMVYSVJH[PUNWHWLYZ[OH[HYLIV[O^VY[O`V\Y[PTL
HUKPTWVY[HU[MVY`V\YZ\JJLZZ
7HWLYZHZZPNULKPUJSHZZ
7HWLYZYLJVTTLUKLKI``V\YTLU[VYJVSSLHN\LZVYMVYQV\YUHSJS\IZ
7HWLYZSVJH[LKI`ZLHYJOPUNQV\YUHSZSPRL:JPLUJLHUK5H[\YLVY,UNP
ULLYPUN5L^Z
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V]LYTPSSPVUYLMLYLUJLZPUJS\KLKHSSV^Z`V\[VZLHYJOI`Z\IQLJ[
H\[OVYQV\YUHSW\ISPJH[PVUKH[LHUKTVYL6M[LU`V\HYLNP]LU[OL
HIZ[YHJ[ZVM[OLWHWLYZHUKZVTL[PTLZ`V\HYLL]LUNP]LU[OLM\SS[L_[VM
[OLHY[PJSL3VVRH[SPURZSPRL! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ or http://www.
nih.govHUKMVSSV^[OLSPURZ[VSPIYHY`YLZV\YJLZ
Publication Myths:
9LHKLYZZ[HY[^P[OT`[OZ[OL`T\Z[\USLHYU[VLMMLJ[P]LS`YLHK[OLSP[LYH[\YL
If it’s published, it must be true.)V[OH\[OVYZHUKYL]PL^LYZJHUTHRL
TPZ[HRLZPUHSSZ[LWZVM[OLYLZLHYJOWYVJLZZ4HPU[HPUHJYP[PJHSWLYZWLJ
[P]L^OPSL`V\YLHK
76
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
If it’s published, it must be important. ;OLYLHYLQV\YUHSZ[OH[W\ISPZO
YLWL[P[P]LVY[YP]PHS^VYROVWPUN[OH[^OH[SVVRZ[YP]PHS[VKH`PZYLJVN
UPaLKHZZPNUPÄJHU[[VTVYYV^;OLYLHYLO\UKYLKZVMQV\YUHSZ[OH[]LY`
ML^WLVWSLYLHK:VTL[PTLZWLVWSLZ[HY[HQV\YUHSILJH\ZL[OL`JHU»[
NL[[OLPY^VYRHJJLW[LKPULZ[HISPZOLKQV\YUHSZ:VTL]LY`WYVTPULU[
OPNOX\HSP[`QV\YUHSZILNHU[OPZ^H`
No one would publish a figure where you can’t see results. :VTL
ZJPLU[PZ[Z^PSSW\ISPZOHU`[OPUN[OL`JHUNL[I`[OLPYYL]PL^LYZ6M[LUH
YLZLHYJOLY»Z^PZOM\S[OPURPUNNL[ZPU[OL^H`VM[OLPYHIPSP[`[VVIQLJ[P]LS`
HUHS`aL[OLPYYLZ\S[Z
If you can’t see results, it’s the author’s fault. 0UMVYTH[PVUHUKYLZVS\
[PVUPZVM[LUSVZ[PUYLWYVK\J[PVULZWLJPHSS`PMWVVYX\HSP[`WHWLYPZ\ZLK
[VWYVK\JLVYWYPU[[OLHY[PJSL:VTLYLZ\S[ZJHUVUS`ILZLLUPMWYPU[LK
PUJVSVY
Reading Objectives:
<ZL[OLYPNO[HWWYVHJOKLWLUKPUNVU`V\YW\YWVZLPUYLHKPUNHWHWLY*VUZPKLY
[OLMVSSV^PUNVIQLJ[P]LZ!
‹3VVRPUNMVYOV[KPZJV]LYPLZ
‹:LHYJOPUNMVYHWWSPJHIPSP[`
‹9LZLHYJOPUNH[LJOUPX\L
‹9LHKPUNMVYIHJRNYV\UKPUMVYTH[PVU
‹(UHS`aPUNHWHWLYMVJ\ZVU[OLZV\UKULZZVMZJPLUJL
1. Looking for Hot Discoveries:
Reason-@V\TPNO[^HU[[VSVVRMVYOV[KPZJV]LYPLZPUVYKLY[VRLLW\W^P[O[OL
HK]HUJLZILPUNTHKLPUZJPLUJLHUKÄUKHYLHZMVYM\Y[OLYKL]LSVWTLU[6M[LU
KVPUN[OPZJHUIL[OLKPMMLYLUJLIL[^LLUHTVKLZ[HUKHZR`YVJRL[PUNJHYLLY
Focus-3VVRWYPTHYPS`H[RL`^VYKZHUKZ[H[LTLU[ZHIV\[\UPX\LULZZMV\UKPU
[OL[P[SLHUKHIZ[YHJ[(SZVSVVRH[[OLKH[HHUKKPZJ\ZZPVUZLHYJOPUNMVY^H`ZP[
JVUULJ[Z[V`V\YV^U^VYR
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SLTZ`V\^V\SKSV]L[VZVS]L;OLZLWHWLYZTPNO[ILJVTL[OLIHZPZVMH5:-MLS
SV^ZOPWWYVWVZHS
77
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
2. Searching for Applicability:
Goal-0Z[OPZWHWLY^VY[OTVYL[PTL&+V0TV]LVU[VHWHWLYYLMLYLUJLKOLYL&
Reason-@V\TPNO[JVUZPKLY[OPZVIQLJ[P]LPM`V\HYL[Y`PUN[VHJJ\T\SH[LWH
WLYZMVYHWYVQLJ[HYL[Y`PUN[VÄUKTVYLKL[HPSZVUHUPU[LYLZ[PUN[VWPJVY^HU[[V
RUV^OV^[VHWWYVHJOHWYVISLTHUK^OH[[LJOUPX\LZ[V\ZL
Hints-3PTP[[OL[PTL`V\ZWLUKPKLU[PM`PUNPMHWHWLYPZ^VY[OJVW`PUNVYKV^U
SVHKPUNMYVT[OLPU[LYUL[<ZLRL`^VYKZPU[OL[P[SLHIZ[YHJ[OLHKPUNZKPZJ\ZZPVU
HUKÄYZ[ZLU[LUJLZVMPU[YVK\J[PVUHUKKPZJ\ZZPVU[VLMMLJ[P]LS`PKLU[PM`PTWVY[HU[
PUMVYTH[PVU
3. Researching a Technique or Procedure:
Reason->OH[[LJOUPX\LZWYVJLK\YLZOH]LILLU\ZLK[VHWWYVHJO[OPZWYVI
SLT&>OH[PZ[OLWV^LYHUK^OH[HYL[OLSPTP[H[PVUZVM[OPZ[LJOUPX\L&/V^^HZH
WYVJLK\YLPTWSLTLU[LK&
Hints--VJ\ZVU[OLTL[OVKZHUKYLZ\S[ZZLJ
[PVUZ:VTL[PTLZÄN\YLSLNLUKZHYLOLSWM\S0U
[OLTL[OVKZZLJ[PVUSVVRMVYHKLZJYPW[PVUVM[OL
WYVJLK\YLP[ZLSM[OLSPTP[H[PVUZVM[OLWYVJL
K\YLHUK[OLZ\WWSPLYZVMYLHNLU[ZTH[LYPHSZ
LX\PWTLU[;VVVM[LU`V\^PSSILYLMLYYLK[VH
WYL]PV\ZWHWLY1\Z[ILWH[PLU[HUKMVSSV^[OL
SLHKMYVTVULWHWLY[V[OLUL_[HUKZVTL[PTLZ
[OLUL_[HUKUL_[@V\JHUÄUKZ\WWSLTLU[HY`
PUMVYTH[PVUH[!http://www.biovisa.net
Warnings-)LJHYLM\S^OLUHSV[VMKH[HPZ
UV[ZOV^UVYKPZJ\ZZLK(JVW`VYKV^USVHKLK
KVJ\TLU[TH`UV[HSSV^`V\[VHJJ\YH[LS`
L]HS\H[LYLZ\S[Z"THU`ÄN\YLZHYLPUJVSVY:VTL
[LJOUPX\LZ^VU»[WLYMVYTHZKLZJYPILKILJH\ZL
VMPUHKLX\H[LPUMVYTH[PVU@V\TH`^HU[[VJVU
[HJ[[OLH\[OVYKPYLJ[S`[VHZRKL[HPSLKX\LZ[PVUZ
:VTLH\[OVYZJP[LPYYLSL]HU[WHWLYZ\Z\HSS`[OLPY
V^U0OH[L[OH[
78
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
4.Reading for Background Information:
eason- 6M[LU[OPZ[LJOUPX\LPZ\ZLM\SPM`V\HYLZ[HY[PUNYLZLHYJOPUHU\UMHTPS
R
PHYHYLHHUK^HU[[VRUV^^OH[OHZHSYLHK`ILLUHJJVTWSPZOLK0[PZHSZVILULÄJPHS
MVYZVTLVULL_WSVYPUNHWYVQLJ[VYHYLHMVYM\Y[OLYZ[\K`
Hints H
Abstracts:9LHKJHYLM\SS`[VNL[[OLMLLSVM[OLWHWLY5V[LRL`^VYKZ
HUKOPNOSPNO[PTWVY[HU[WVPU[Z5V[PJL^OH[[OLH\[OVYZJVUZPKLYLK[V
IL[OLPYJVU[YPI\[PVU
I
Introduction:)LJH\ZLP[NLULYHSS`Z\TTHYPaLZKPZJV]LYPLZPUHÄLSK
[OPZPZVM[LUHOLSWM\SYLZV\YJLMVY
IHJRNYV\UKYLMLYLUJLZHUKYL]PL^
HY[PJSLZ[OH[Z\TTHYPaLHSV[VM^VYR
PU[OLÄLSK
J
ethods and Techniques:@V\
M
ZOV\SKYLHK[OPZLHYS`VUPM`V\HYL
\UMHTPSPHY^P[O[OLHYLH0M`V\HYL
MHTPSPHY^P[O[OL[LJOUPX\LZZH]L
[OPZWHY[MVYSH[LY5L]LYMVJ\ZVU[OL
KL[HPSZOLYL
K
Results: :[HY[^P[O[OLKH[HP[ZLSM
SPRLNYHWOZ[HISLZWOV[VNYHWOZHUK
ÄN\YLZ:LHYJO[OL[L_[MVYX\HSPÄLYZ
HUKKL[HPSZ[OH[JOHUNL[OLPU[LYWYL
[H[PVUVM[OLKH[H
L
iscussion:;OPZZLJ[PVUPZ]LY`PT
D
WVY[HU[HZ`V\HYLSLHYUPUNHZWLJPÄJ
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`V\ÄUKJVYYLSH[PVU^P[OV[OLYZ[\KPLZVYJYLH[P]LZWLJ\SH[P]LPKLHZ
5.Analyzing a Scientific Paper
Reason-@V\TPNO[^HU[[VHUHS`aLHZJPLU[PÄJWHWLY^OPSL`V\HYLSLHYUPUN[V
YLHK[OLSP[LYH[\YLVYPM`V\HYLWHY[PJPWH[PUNPUHYLHKPUNYV[H[PVU^P[OMHJ\S[`PM`V\
HYLSLHYUPUN[VPTWYV]L`V\YV^U^YP[PUNZRPSSZPM`V\HYLSVVRPUNMVYZ\WWVY[MVY
`V\YPKLHZVYYLZ\S[ZVYPM`V\KPZHNYLL^P[O[OLH\[OVYZ»JVUJS\ZPVUHUKHYLSVVR
PUNMVYÅH^ZVYKPMMLYLUJLZIL[^LLU`V\Y^VYRHUK[OLPYZ
Focus-7YV]LP[[VTL
79
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Hints-;OPZPZH[PTLJVUZ\TPUNKL[HPSVYPLU[LKHUHS`ZPZZVÄUKHJVTMVY[
HISLX\PL[SVJH[PVU[VYLHK@V\KVU»[OH]L[VILPUKVVYZPM`V\JHUJVUJLU[YH[L
;OPZTH`IL[OLILZ[Q\Z[PÄJH[PVU`V\JHUJVTL\W^P[OMVYI\`PUN[OH[P7VK^P[O
`V\YMH]VYP[L¸MVJ\ZT\ZPJ¹7H`TVZ[H[[LU[PVU[V[OLHIZ[YHJ[[VVYPLU[`V\[OL
HWWYVWYPH[LULZZVM[OL[LJOUPX\LZ[OLPUMVYTH[PVUILPUNWYLZLU[LK[OL]HSPKP[`VM
[OLPUMVYTH[PVUHUK[OLHWWYVWYPH[LULZZVM[OLJVUJS\ZPVUZ(KKP[PVUHSS`SVVRH[
[OLVYNHUPaH[PVUHUKJSHYP[`VM[OLWHWLYHUK[OLH\[OVYZ»HIPSP[`[VJVTT\UPJH[L
OPZOLY[OLPYWVPU[ZJSLHYS`HUKLMÄJPLU[S`
Secondary concerns:
‹VYNHUPaH[PVUVM[OLWHWLY
‹JSHYP[`VM[OLWHWLY
‹LMÄJPLUJ`VMJVTT\UPJH[PVU!Be concise, be precise
Analyzing Components of A Scientific Paper
@V\»SSKL]LSVW`V\YV^UZ`Z[LTVMHUHS`ZPZHZ`V\NHPUHU\UKLYZ[HUKPUNHUK
JVUÄKLUJLPUL]HS\H[PUN[OLSP[LYH[\YL;OLZLWVPU[LYZTH`OLSW`V\NL[Z[HY[LKHZH
JYP[PJHSHUHS`aLY
Title: +VLZP[V]LYZ[H[L[OLJHZLVYPTWS`WYVNYLZZUV[THKL&
Abstract:
OH[PZ[OLZPNUPÄJHUJLVM[OL^VYR&0ZP[JSLHY&
>
+VLZP[NL[[V[OLWVPU[&
(YLHWWYVWYPH[LYLZ\S[ZKH[HPUJS\KLK&
>OH[HYL[OLJVUJS\ZPVUZ&(YL[OLJVUJS\ZPVUZV]LYZ[H[LK&
Introduction: +VLZP[JSLHYS`Z[H[L[OLW\YWVZLHUKZPNUPÄJHUJLVM[OL^VYR&
+VLZP[WYV]PKLLUV\NOIHJRNYV\UKMVY[OLYLHKPUNH\KPLUJL&
(YLOLSWM\SYLMLYLUJLZWYV]PKLK&
Methods:
80
0Z[OLYLZ\MÄJPLU[KL[HPS[V\UKLYZ[HUK^OH[HUKOV^[OL^VYR
OHZILLUKVUL&
0Z[OLYLZ\MÄJPLU[KL[HPSNP]LUVYYLMLYLUJLK[V\ZL[OL[LJO
UPX\LZ&>V\SKV[OLY[LJOUPX\LZILTVYL\ZLM\S&
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Warning:
+VH\[OVYZPUHWWYVWYPH[LS`YLMLYLUJLV^U^VYR&;OPZTLHUZKV
`V\LUK\WMVSSV^PUNMV\YWHWLYZ[VNL[IHJR[V[OL¸YLHS¹YLMLY
LUJL[OH[[LSSZ`V\OV^[OL^VYR^HZKVUL&(S^H`ZYLMLYLUJL[OL
WHWLY^OLYLWYVJLK\YLZHYLKLZJYPILK
Data:
/HZ[OLULJLZZHY`KH[HILLUPUJS\KLK&
0Z[OLWHWLYWHKKLK^P[O\UULJLZZHY`ÄN\YLZ&
0Z[OLKH[H^LSSVYNHUPaLKHUKJSLHYS`WYLZLU[LK&
>LYLHWWYVWYPH[LJVU[YVSZ\ZLKHUKZOV^U&
>LYLJVYYLJ[[LJOUPX\LZ\ZLK[VHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZ&
(YLNYHWOZHUK[HISLZ\ZLKHWWYVWYPH[LS`&
0ZKH[HJVYYLJ[S`HUKJSLHYS`SHILSLK&
>LYLJVYYLJ[Z[H[PZ[PJHSTL[OVKZLTWSV`LK&
(YL[OLÄN\YLZLMMLJ[P]LS`KLZJYPILKPU[OL[L_[&
Results:
>OH[HYL[OLZPNUPÄJHU[ÄUKPUNZ&+V`V\HNYLLVYKPZHNYLL&
+V[OLYLZ\S[ZPU[OL[L_[HNYLL^P[O[OLÄN\YLZ&
*HU[OLZ[H[LTLU[PU[OL[L_[IL]LYPÄLKI`[OLKH[HZOV^U&
(YLHWWYVWYPH[LKL[HPSZHUKX\HSPÄLYZPUJS\KLKPU[OL[L_[&
Discussion:
(YL[OLJVUJS\ZPVUZZV\UK&+V`V\HNYLLVYKPZHNYLL&
0ZP[Q\Z[HYLJHWP[\SH[PVUVM[OLYLZ\S[Z&)(+
0Z[OL^VYRWYLZLU[LKJVTWHYLK[VWYL]PV\ZZ[\KPLZ&
(YLJVU[YV]LYZPLZPUPU[LYWYL[H[PVUKPZJ\ZZLK&
+VLZP[PUJS\KLUL^KH[HYHPZLUL^PZZ\LZHUKPKLHZ&
+VLZP[JVU[HPUPYYLSL]HU[PUMVYTH[PVU&
81
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
82
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Seven: Plagiarism and
Copyright Infringement
Plagiarism is a short cut… to failure.
Good scientists know the literature and don’t appreciate
people who abuse others’ work.
What is Plagiarism?
‹7HZZPUNVMM[OL^VYKZVMV[OLYZHZ`V\YV^U
‹7YLZLU[PUN[OLPU[LSSLJ[\HS^VYRVMV[OLYZHZPMP[^LYL`V\YV^U
;OPZPUJS\KLZPKLHZUV[Q\Z[^VYKZ
‹7SHNPHYPZTPZHMVYTVMIV[OPU[LSSLJ[\HS[OLM[HUKPU[LSSLJ[\HSMYH\K
Avoiding Plagiarism:
‹.P]LJYLKP[^OLYLJYLKP[PZK\L
‹@V\HYLUV[L_WLJ[LK[VPUJS\KLVUS`UL^PKLHZPU`V\Y
^YP[PUNVY[HSRZ
‹@V\HYLL_WLJ[LK[VRUV^HUKYLMLYLUJL[OLSP[LYH[\YL
‹-HPS\YL[VJP[LZRPSSM\SS`TH`JVUZ[P[\[LWSHNPHYPZT
Mechanics of Citation:
‹*P[H[PVUTLHUZYLMLYYPUN[VWYL]PV\ZS`W\ISPZOLK^VYR
‹2LLWHYLJVYKVM^OLYL`V\YPUMVYTH[PVUJVTLZMYVT[OLHJ[\HSWH
WLYZHIZ[YHJ[WHNLVYUV[H[PVUHIV\[[OLHY[PJSLZV[OH[`V\JHUÄUKP[
[VILZ\YL`V\HYL\ZPUNPUMVYTH[PVUJVYYLJ[S`
‹<ZLJVTW\[LYIPISPVNYHWO`THUHNLYZ[VOLSW^P[O`V\YYLMLYLUJLZ
‹)LJHYLM\S[V\ZLHWYVWLYZ[`SLVMJP[H[PVU!H]VPKX\V[H[PVUZHUK
HS^H`ZMVSSV^PUMVYTH[PVU^P[OHYLMLYLUJLU\TILYVYUHTL3VVRH[
W\ISPZOLK^VYR[VZLL[OLZ[`SLZVMJP[H[PVU<UMVY[\UH[LS`[OLYLPZUV
JVTWSL[LS`\UPMVYTZ[`SLVMYLMLYLUJLMVYTH[MVYHSSQV\YUHSZ)PISPVN
YHWO`THUHNLYZ^PSSMVYTH[YLMLYLUJLZMVY`V\MYVTHKH[HIHZLVMPUMV
HIV\[[OLHY[PJSL
83
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Examples of Citations:
‹(JJVYKPUN[V:TP[OHUK1VULZ¯
‹4`^VYRPZPUHNYLLTLU[^P[O[OH[W\ISPZOLKI`:TP[OHUK1VULZ
PU^OPJO[OL`MV\UK¯
‹;OLYLPZHMVSKPUJYLHZLPU95(¯
Common Questions about Citation:
84
When do I quote?8\V[LZ[YPUNZVM^VYKZJVU[HPUPUN[OYLL^VYKZVY
TVYLMYVT[OLZV\YJL(S[OV\NOZVTL[PTLZZPUNSL^VYKZ^OLU\ZLK
PUHZPTPSHYLUV\NOJVU[L_[ZOV\SKILJP[LKHZ^LSS:[YHPNO[X\V[LZHYL
YHYLS`\ZLKPUZJPLU[PÄJ^YP[PUN\USPRLZVTLSPILYHSHY[ZSP[LYH[\YL
ow do I paraphrase? 9L^YP[L[OLPKLHPU`V\YV^U^VYKZI\[ILZ\YL
H
[VJP[LP[0[PZIL[[LY[VZ`U[OLZPaLPKLHZ[OHU[VWHYHWOYHZL0UZ[LHKVM
Z\TTHYPaPUNH^VYR[Y`HUHS`aPUNVYJYP[PX\PUN[OL^VYR
Which ideas should I cite?(U`PKLHZ[OH[HYLUV[`V\YV^UVYHTVUN
[OLPU[LSSLJ[\HSJVTTVUZVM`V\YÄLSK
ow do I know which ideas are the intellectual commons of my field?
H
5V[L^OPJOMHJ[ZHYLYHYLS`YLMLYLUJLKSPRL¸JVTWSLTLU[HY`IHZL
WHPYPUNHSSV^ZO`IYPKPaH[PVUVMU\JSLPJHJPKZ¹7H`H[[LU[PVUPUJSHZZ
9LHKJVU[LTWVYHY`HY[PJSLZ[L_[IVVRZHUKYL]PL^Z([[LUKTLL[PUNZ
HUKHZRX\LZ[PVUZ2UV^[OH[[OL¸JVTTVUZ¹JOHUNLZHZTLTILYZ
QVPUVYSLH]LHÄLSKHZPKLHZJVTLHUKNVHUKHZZJPLU[PÄJMHKZ
LTLYNLHUKKPZHWWLHY
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Summery of Pointers:
*P[LPTWVY[HU[ÄUKPUNZ
+VU»[JP[LL]LY`[OPUNL]LY^YP[[LUVU[OL[VWPJ
9LHKHSSVM[OLYLMLYLUJLZ`V\JP[L
.
L[WLYTPZZPVUMYVT[OLQV\YUHSIVVRHUKH\[OVYZ[V\ZLHU`JVW`YPNO[
LK^VYRLZWLJPHSS`ÄN\YLZ0M`V\HYL\ZPUNKPYLJ[JVWPLZVMÄN\YLZMYVT
L]LU`V\YV^UWHWLYMVYHUV[OLYW\ISPJH[PVU`V\T\Z[OH]LWLYTPZZPVU
MYVT[OLVYNHUPaH[PVU[OH[W\ISPZOLK[OL^VYR(TLYPJHOHZSH^Z[OH[
WYV[LJ[\ZLVMW\ISPZOLKTH[LYPHS
*Material in this section was adapted from presentations by Gayle Slaughter, Ph.D. and
John Rodgers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Immunology at BCM.
85
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
86
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Eight: Research Proposals/Fellowships
When would you write a research proposal?
,]LU\UKLYNYHK\H[LZTH`^YP[LYLZLHYJOWYVWVZHSZMVYHWYVQLJ[HZLUPVY[OLZPZ
HMLSSV^ZOPWHWWSPJH[PVU5:-HUKHML^ZJPLU[PÄJZVJPL[PLZHJJLW[MLSSV^ZOPW
WYVWVZHSZMYVTZLUPVYZ^OVJHU[OLT\ZL[OLTH[HU`NYHK\H[LZJOVVS[V^OPJO
[OL`HYLHKTP[[LKO[[W!^^^UZMNV]4VZ[7O+JHUKPKH[LZ^PSS^YP[LYLZLHYJO
WYVWVZHSZMVY[OLPYX\HSPM`PUNL_HTZHUKWVZZPIS`MVYWYLKVJ[VYHSMLSSV^ZOPWZ
General Pointers:
9
LHSPaL[OH[^OPSL^YP[PUNHYLZLHYJOWYVWVZHSTPNO[ZLLT
V]LY^OLSTPUN^P[OVYNHUPaH[PVUHUKWYLWHYH[PVUP[KVLZU»[OH]L
[VILHKH\U[PUN[HZR
,_WLJ[^YP[PUNHWYVWVZHS[V[HRL^VYRHUKWSHUUPUNHUKTHRLZ\YL
`V\HSSV^HUHKLX\H[LHTV\U[VM[PTLMVYLHJOZ[LW;OLSL]LSVMKL[HPS
YLX\PYLK^PSSKLWLUKVU[OLWHNLSLUN[OHUK`V\YZ[HNLVMJHYLLYKL
]LSVWTLU[5VVULL_WLJ[ZHJVSSLNLZLUPVY[V^YP[L[OLZHTL[`WLVM
WYVWVZHSHZH7O+JHUKPKH[L^YP[PUNHX\HSPM`PUNL_HTWYVWVZHS
>OLUIYHPUZ[VYTPUN[VÄUKH[VWPJJVUZPKLYSVVRPUNPU[VPKLHZMYVT
JSHZZLZZLTPUHYZVYZVTL[OPUN`V\YLHK[OH[JH\NO[`V\YH[[LU[PVU
9LHSPaL[OH[^OPSLP[PZPTWVY[HU[[OH[`V\Y[VWPJILPU[LYLZ[PUN`V\Y
NVHSZZOV\SKILHJOPL]HISL;OPZTLHUZ`V\T\Z[OH]LHZ\MÄJPLU[
HTV\U[VMIHJRNYV\UKPUMVYTH[PVUVU^OPJO[VIHZL[OLZ[\K`HUKH
YLHSPZ[PJWSHU[VHJJVTWSPZO[OLNVHSZ@V\»YLUV[WYVWVZPUNHWSHU[OH[
^V\SK[HRLWLVWSL`LHYZ[VKV[OLWYVQLJ[
Common Components of a Research Proposal:
`WPJHSWYVWVZHSMVYTH[
;
L_[LU[VMKL[HPSZPUJS\KLK^PSS]HY`^P[O[OLWHNLSPTP[
‹Aim: [VHZRHX\LZ[PVUVYW\[MVY^HYKHZWLJPÄJNVHSUV[[VZ\NNLZ[H
ZWLJPÄJL_WLYPTLU[*SLHYS`KLÄUL`V\YW\YWVZL^P[OWYLJPZLX\LZ
[PVUZ`V\^PZO[VPU]LZ[PNH[LHUK[OL[LJOUPX\LZ[OH[`V\^PSS\[PSPaL
6M[LUOH]PUNHPTZPZHUHWWYVWYPH[LHTV\U[)LZ\YL[OH[KVPUN
[OLWYVQLJ[KVLZUV[KLWLUKVUHZWLJPÄJV\[JVTLMYVT[OLÄYZ[HPT
87
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
‹Background: >OH[PZRUV^UHUK\URUV^UHIV\[[OLWYVISLT`V\
WYVWVZL[VZ[\K`&>O`PZ[OLX\LZ[PVUZ`V\HYLHZRPUNPTWVY[HU[&
>OH[^PSSILNHPULKI`HUZ^LYPUNP[&>OH[HYL[OLJVU[YV]LYZPLZ
YLSH[LK[V[OL[VWPJ&
‹Experimental design:>OH[L_WLYPTLU[Z^PSS`V\KV[VJVTWSL[L[OL
HPTZ[LZ[[OLO`WV[OLZPZHUKHUZ^LY[OLX\LZ[PVUZ&-VYLHJOL_WLYP
TLU[PUJS\KLHW\YWVZL[OL[LJOUPX\LZ`V\^PSS\ZLHUKOV^`V\^PSS
PU[LYWYL[[OLKH[H
‹Methods (sometimes combined with experimental design):>OH[
HYL[OLZWLJPÄJ[LJOUPX\LZHUKWYVJLK\YLZ`V\^PSS\ZLPU`V\Y
L_WLYPTLU[Z&+LZJYPIL[OL[LJOUPX\LZPU[OLHTV\U[VMKL[HPS[OH[PZ
HWWYVWYPH[LMVY[OLSLUN[OHUKZVWOPZ[PJH[PVUVM[OLWYVWVZHS([^V
WHNLWYVWVZHSSLH]LSPTP[LKZWHJLMVYKPZJ\ZZPUN[OLKL[HPSZVM[LJOUP
JHSPZZ\LZ-VYSVUNLYWYVWVZHSZ`V\JHUWVPU[V\[[OLHK]HU[HNLZHUK
KPZHK]HU[HNLZHUK[OLSPTP[ZVM[OL[LJOUPX\L@V\ZOV\SKJVUZPKLY
SPTP[H[PVUZSPRL!ZLUZP[P]P[`L_WLUZLU\TILYVMHUPTHSZWYLJPZPVUVM
KH[HHTV\U[VMJVTW\[LY[PTLYLX\PYLKL[J
‹Conclusions: >OH[KV`V\L_WLJ[[VSLHYU&>OH[WYVISLTZJV\SK
HYPZL&>OH[V[OLYHWWYVHJOLZTPNO[`V\JVUZPKLY&>OPSL[OLKLW[O
[V^OPJO`V\JHUHKKYLZZV[OLYHWWYVHJOLZ]HYPLZ^P[O[OLSLUN[OVM
[OLWYVWVZHSP[»ZNVVKPM`V\JHUPUJS\KLH[SLHZ[HZ[H[LTLU[HIV\[
HS[LYUH[P]LPKLHZ
Common Barricades to Writing:
88
Don’t know enough. Solution:9LHK[OLSP[LYH[\YL[HSR[VL_WLY[Z
an’t get organized. Solution:.L[HSS`V\YPUMVYTH[PVU[VNL[OLYHUK
C
VYNHUPaLP[I`[`WLVMPUMVYTH[PVUVY[OLWVPU[P[Z\WWVY[Z:[HY[IYHPU
Z[VYTPUN`V\Y[OV\NO[ZPUHU`VYKLYHUKNVIHJRSH[LY[VVYNHUPaL[OLT
PUHSVNPJHSZLX\LUJL
Too overwhelmed. Solution: )YLHRKV^U[OLWYVQLJ[PU[VZTHSSLY\UP[Z
OV\YVYOV\YPUJYLTLU[ZZ[HY[[`WPUN^P[OV\[ILPUNJYP[PJHSHIV\[
`V\Y^VYKZZV`V\JHUNL[Z[HY[LK
Language barrier.Solution:0M`V\YIHYYPLYOHZ[VKV^P[O[OL[LJOUPJHS
SHUN\HNLRLLWYLHKPUN[OLSP[LYH[\YLHUK[HSR[VL_WLY[ZMVYL_WSHUH[PVUZ
HUKJSHYPÄJH[PVU0M`V\YIHYYPLYPZ[OH[,UNSPZOPZ`V\YZLJVUKSHUN\HNL
[OLUOH]LHKPJ[PVUHY`PUOHUK^OPSL`V\^YP[L(SZVILZ\YL[VKPZJ\ZZ
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
`V\YWYVQLJ[^P[OV[OLYZHUKOH]L[OLTYLHK[OYV\NOP[[VJYP[PX\L`V\Y
^VYKPUN@V\TPNO[OH]L[V^YP[L[OLWYVWVZHSPU`V\YUH[P]LSHUN\HNL
[OLU[YHUZSH[LP[PU[V,UNSPZO@V\TH`L]LU^HU[[VÄUKHUVYNHUPaH[PVU
[OH[OLSWZWLVWSLPTWYV]L,UNSPZOZRPSSZ
Not in the mood. Solution: .L[V]LYP[HUKQ\Z[KVP[(SV[VMNVVK
^YP[PUNOHWWLUZ^OLUWLVWSLHYLU»[PU[OLTVVK6M[LU^OH[OHWWLUZPZ
`V\»SSRLLWWYVJYHZ[PUH[PUN\U[PS`V\OH]LZVSP[[SL[PTL[V^YP[L[OH[`V\
NL[Z[YLZZLKV\[HUKL]LUTVYLV]LY^OLSTLK1\Z[Z[HY[^YP[PUN*YLH[L
HUH[TVZWOLYLJVUK\JP]L[VWYVK\J[P]L^YP[PUNI`LSPTPUH[PUNKPZ[YHJ
[PVUZOH]PUN[OL¸^YP[L¹YLZV\YJLZSHW[VWWHWLYZHX\PL[WSHJL[OL
YPNO[T\ZPJ[VOLSW`V\JVUJLU[YH[L0M`V\NL[[OLMLSSV^ZOPWTH`IL`V\
JHUI\`[OLP7VKUV[VU[OLNYHU[^P[O[OLTVUL``V\Y+LHUZOV\SK
NP]L`V\MVYILPUNPUK\Z[YPV\ZHUKNL[[PUN`V\YV^UTVUL`
Waiting for adrenalin to flow. Solution: 5L]LY^HP[[VVSVUNL]LUPM
`V\¸^VYRIL[[LY\UKLYWYLZZ\YL¹7YLZZ\YLJHUJH\ZL`V\[VQ\KNL`V\Y
^VYRPUHJJ\YH[LS`
Really blocked. Solution: 7YL[LUK`V\»YLNP]PUNH[HSRHUKZ[HY[[HRPUN
UV[LZ+PZJ\ZZ[OL[VWPJ^P[OHMYPLUKHUKOH]LWHWLYVYHSHW[VWYLHK`
Scared of writing. Solution: ;OLMLHYPZ\Z\HSS`T\JO^VYZL[OHU[OL
HJ[>OH[»Z[OL^VYZ[[OH[JHUOHWWLU&:VTLVUL^OVZLLZP[^PSS[OPUR
`V\HYLUV[HNVVK^YP[LY:VSLHYUPUN[V^YP[L^LSSPZWHY[VM`V\Y
LK\JH[PVU5V[^YP[PUN^PSSYLHSS`PUOPIP[`V\YJHYLLYWYVNYLZZ0[»ZUV[HZ
OHYKHZ`V\[OPUR
89
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
How hard can it be to write a fellowship proposal?
I left graduate school terrified of writing grant proposals. I’d seen faculty hide from
everyone for months while they wrote proposals. It seemed like a daunting task. My
post-doc mentor, Anthony Means, Ph.D., tricked me into writing a NIH NSRA postdoctoral fellowship by telling me it wasn’t a real grant and that I probably wouldn’t get
it because it was so competitive, but he thought it would be a good experience for me
and after all he was funding me. Well, he lied, at least about it not being a real grant. It
was a small grant for one person to do in three years. But an amazing thing happened.
As I started thinking about how to study protein phosphorylation in a totally new system
to me, I started having fun writing the proposal. By the time I had completed the
proposal, I had finished something that I didn’t do earning my Ph.D. I had developed
a logical plan beginning to end to answer a relevant biological question. My Ph.D. dissertation project had evolved so gradually and with so many dead-ends that proposing
a new project was a joy. What was even more amazing was that the proposal was
funded and my plans worked. The same skills that I used writing the fellowship, I later
adapted to writing educational grants. Leaving graduate school I would never have
imagined that some day I would write and supervise projects that garner a million dollars a year to train the next generation of scientists. Grant writing phobia – be gone!
90
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Practical Considerations:
0UMVYTV[OLYZ[OH[`V\HYLWYLWHYPUNHWYVWVZHSHUKSL[[OLTRUV^OV^
T\JO[PTLP[^PSS[HRL`V\[VJVTWSL[LP[
.YVJLY`ZOVWWH`IPSSZHUK^HZOJSV[OLZHOLHKVM[OLKLHKSPULZV`V\
JHUMVJ\ZVU`V\YWYVWVZHS
+
VU»[^VYY`HIV\[[OLZTHSS[OPUNZ[OH[KVU»[NL[KVUL^OPSL`V\HYL
^VYRPUN@V\^PSSOH]L[VZHJYPÄJLZVTL[OPUNZPUVYKLY[VKL]V[LL_[YH
[PTL[V`V\WYVWVZHS
3 L[WLVWSLILZ\WWVY[P]LHUKYLJVNUPaL[OL]HS\LVMJVUZ[Y\J[P]L
JYP[PJPZT
)LJH\[PV\ZHIV\[KPZJV\YHNLTLU[YLNHYKPUN^YP[PUN[OLHWWSPJH[PVU0M
ZVTLVUL^OVYL]PL^Z[OLHWWSPJH[PVUZ[LSSZ`V\[OH[`V\^VU»[TLL[
[OLYLX\PYLTLU[ZMVYM\UKPUNILJH\ZL`V\OH]LH.7([OH[PZKPM
MLYLU[MYVTZVTLVULZH`PUN`V\ZOV\SKU»[IV[OLY[V^YP[L[OLWYVWVZHS
ILJH\ZLUVVULMYVT`V\YZJOVVSOHZL]LYYLJLP]LKVUL(UKPM`V\OHK
[OH[.7(KVIL[[LYPUNYHKZJOVVSHUK[OLUHWWS`6UJLWLVWSL
NL[[\YULKVU[VZJPLUJLHUKZ[HY[[VTLL[[OLPYM\SSWV[LU[PHS[OL`TH`
YLJLP]LMLSSV^ZOPWZIHZLKVUV\[Z[HUKPUNWYVWVZHSZ
Fellowship Applications
Purpose and applicant pool
-LSSV^ZOPWZWYV]PKLZV\YJLZVMM\UKPUN[VMHJPSP[H[LZJPLU[PÄJ[YHPUPUN6YNH
UPaH[PVUZZLLR[VZWVUZVY[HSLU[LKTV[P]H[LKZJPLU[PZ[Z^P[OWYVTPZL[VKL]LSVW
PUKLWLUKLU[JHYLLYZ-LSSV^ZOPWH^HYKZHYL\ZLKMVY-69,=,9PUHZZLZZPUN`V\Y
JVTWL[P[P]LULZZMVYV[OLYM\UKPUN;OLYLHYLHML^MLSSV^ZOPWZMVY^OPJO\UKLY
NYHK\H[LZJHUHWWS`ILMVYL[OL`Z[HY[7O+WYVNYHTZPUJS\KPUN[OVZLMYVT5:-
^OPJO`V\[OLU[HRL^P[O`V\[V[OLNYHK\H[LZJOVVS`V\KLJPKL[VLU[LY9LHSPaL
[OH[[OLLHYSPLYPU`V\Y[YHPUPUN`V\^YP[L[OLWYVWVZHS[OLSLZZSPRLS``V\HYL[VKV
[OLHJ[\HSWYVQLJ[`V\KLZJYPIL9L]PL^JVTTP[[LLZ\ZL[OLWYVWVZHS[VNL[HZLUZL
VM^OH[`V\RUV^HUKOV^`V\[OPURHIV\[ZJPLUJLVYLUNPULLYPUN@V\HYLUV[
JVTTP[[LK[VKVPUN[OLWYVQLJ[`V\KLZJYPILPUHMLSSV^ZOPWWYVWVZHS
4VZ[MLSSV^ZOPWZHYL[HYNL[LK[V^HYKKL]LSVWPUNZJPLU[PZ[Z"WYLKVJZVYWVZ[
KVJZVYYLJLU[4+ZZLLRPUNYLZLHYJO[YHPUPUN
4HU`MLSSV^ZOPWZHYL[HYNL[LK[V^HYKZWLJPÄJHYLHZVMYLZLHYJOTVZ[S`[VWYV
]PKL`V\UNZJPLU[PZ[Z^P[OHUPU[YVK\J[PVU[VHÄLSKVMYLZLHYJOUV[ULJLZZHYPS`H
ZWLJPÄJWYVQLJ[6[OLYZMVYL_HTWSL5:-VY//40HYLKLZPNULK[VZ\WWVY[WOHZLZ
91
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
VMLK\JH[PVUHUK[YHPUPUNPUZJPLUJLPUNLULYHS^P[OPUIYVHKLYKPZJPWSPULZ50/MLS
SV^ZOPWZHYLHO`IYPKKLZPNULK[VZ\WWVY[[YHPUPUNI\[HYLHKTPUPZ[LYLKI`HNLUJPLZ
^P[OZWLJPÄJZJPLU[PÄJNVHSZ
Budget restrictions
4VZ[MLSSV^ZOPWZWYV]PKLZHSHY`Z\WWVY[4HU`WYV]PKLVUS`WHY[PHSZHSHY`^OPJO
TH`ILZ\WWSLTLU[LKI`[OLSHIVYNYHK\H[LZJOVVS[VIYPUN[OLYLJPWPLU[[VH
Z[HUKHYKJVTWLUZH[PVU
:VTLPUJS\KLM\UKZMVY[YH]LS[VJVUMLYLUJLZZ\WWS`TVUL`JVTW\[LYZL[J
I\[UV[P7VKZVYWH``V\YOLHS[OPUZ\YHUJL
:VTLWYV]PKL[\P[PVU[V[OLPUZ[P[\[PVUMVYWYLKVJ[VYHSYLJPWPLU[Z
Length of award
=HYPLZ^P[OVYNHUPaH[PVUHUKW\YWVZLVMH^HYK6M[LUH`LHYK\YH[PVU
;OLYLHYLZWLJPHSH^HYKZMVY[OVZL^YP[PUNKPZZLY[H[PVUZ
Finding fellowship information
<
ZL[OL^LI-PUKSPURZMVY5:-MVYMLSSV^ZOPWZ[OH[`V\JHUHWWS`MVYPU
`V\YZLUPVY`LHY
*OLJR^LIZP[LZMVY50/HUK5:-MVYMLSSV^ZOPWZVUJL`V\HYLPUNYHK\
H[LZJOVVS[OL.9,(;.YV\W^LIZP[LO[[W!^^^HHTJVYNTLTILYZ
NYLH[VY[OVZLVMWYVMLZZPVUHSZVJPL[PLZ[OH[Ä[`V\YPU[LYLZ[Z
;
HSR[VV[OLYZPU`V\YWYVNYHTHUKKLWHY[TLU[KPZJ\ZZVWWVY[\UP[PLZ
^P[O`V\YHK]PZVY
@V\Y\UKLYNYHK\H[LYLZLHYJOWYVNYHTVMÄJLVYJHYLLYJLU[LYTH`OH]LH
SPZ[VMMLSSV^ZOPWZ
Preparing application materials
92
.L[ZWLJPÄJPUMVYTH[PVUMYVT[OLNYHU[PUNHNLUJ`-VSSV^HSSKPYLJ[PVUZ
LZ\YL`V\HYLLSPNPISLMVY[OLH^HYK"WH`H[[LU[PVU[V[`WLZVM[YHPUPUN
)
JV]LYLK[PTLZK\YPUN[YHPUPUNHSSV^LKKLNYLLWSHUZHSSV^LKHYLH
VMMVJ\ZYLZPKLUJ`VYJP[PaLUZOPWYLX\PYLTLU[ZZWLJPHSWVW\SH[PVU
YLX\PYLTLU[Z
4
H[JO[OL[PTL`V\JHUJVTTP[[V[OLHWWSPJH[PVUYLX\PYLTLU[Z*HU
`V\ÄUPZOI`[OLKLHKSPUL&+VLZ[OLHWWSPJH[PVUYLX\PYLHWHNLWYV
WVZHSVYHWHNLKL[HPSLKNYHU[&
4HRLHJOLJRSPZ[VM^OH[`V\ULLK[VWYV]PKL^OPJO^PSS]HY`IL[^LLU
HWWSPJH[PVUZ
;`WPJHSPUMVYTH[PVUPUJS\KLZZVTLVYHSSVM[OLMVSSV^PUN!WLYZVUHS
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
KH[H.9,ZJVYLZ[YHUZJYPW[ZMVYTWHNLZ^P[OZPNUH[\YLZI`PUZ[P[\[PVU
VMÄJPHSZSL[[LYZVMYLJVTTLUKH[PVUSPZ[VMOVUVYZHIZ[YHJ[WYVWVZHS
L_WSHUH[PVUVMOV^[OLMLSSV^ZOPW^PSSLUOHUJL`V\Y[YHPUPUNVYV[OLY
LZZH`ZSPZ[ZVMWYLZLU[H[PVUZVYW\ISPJH[PVUZ
3 L[[LYZVMYLJVTTLUKH[PVUHYLHUPTWVY[HU[WHY[VM[OLHWWSPJH[PVU
;OLZOVY[LY`V\YJHYLLY[OLTVYLYL]PL^LYZYLS`VUSL[[LYZMYVTZJPLU[PZ[Z
^OVRUV^`V\HUKJHUL]HS\H[L`V\YWV[LU[PHS
9
LX\LZ[SL[[LYZVMYLJVTTLUKH[PVUH[SLHZ[VULTVU[OPUHK]HUJL
PMWVZZPISL
0UMVYTYLJVTTLUKLYVM[OLUH[\YLVM[OLMLSSV^ZOPWPU^YP[PUN
+
PWSVTH[PJHSS`HZRYLJVTTLUKLYPMOLZOLJHU^YP[LHNVVK
YLJVTTLUKH[PVUSL[[LY
7
YV]PKLPUMVYTH[PVUVU`V\YHJJVTWSPZOTLU[ZJVWPLZVMHIZ[YHJ[Z
VYW\ISPJH[PVUZ
-VSSV^\W[VZLL[OH[SL[[LYPZYLJLP]LK
(
WWSPJH[PVUZTH`ULLK[VILZ\ITP[[LK[OYV\NOHU6MÄJLVM
9LZLHYJO^P[OHWWYVWYPH[LMVYTZ
Writing a proposal
+L]LSVWHJVUJLW["[OLUJSHYPM`PKLHZ
*VUK\J[HSP[LYH[\YLZLHYJO[VÄUK^OH[OHZU»[ILLUKVUL
(ZZLZZYLZV\YJLZHUK[PTLMVY^OPJO[YHPUPUN^PSSILZ\WWVY[LK
>
OH[V[OLYÄUHUJPHSYLZV\YJLZ^PSSILH]HPSHISL[VZ\WWVY[[OLWYVQLJ[&
:OV\SK`V\JVUZPKLYPU]VS]PUNJVSSHIVYH[VYZ&
+LÄUL[OLZWLJPÄJHPTZ^OH[`V\OVWL[VHJJVTWSPZO
>
YP[LHUHIZ[YHJ[TH`ILYLX\PYLK"NVVK^H`[VVYNHUPaL[OV\NO[ZL]LU
PMUV[ULLKLK
+
LZJYPIL[OLYLZLHYJOHWWYVHJO[OLWYVISLTZSPTP[H[PVUZHU[PJPWH[LK
HUKHWWYVHJOLZ[VZVS]L[OLWYVISLTHJOPL]L[OLNVHSZHUZ^LY[OL
X\LZ[PVUZ
6UJL`V\RUV^^OH[`V\^PSSKVNL[MVYTZHUKPUZ[P[\[PVUHSJSLHYHUJL
MVYL_WLYPTLU[Z
,TWOHZPaL[OLZPNUPÄJHUJLVM`V\Y^VYR
7YV]PKLIHJRNYV\UKPUMVYTH[PVU[OH[SH`ZHMV\UKH[PVUMVY`V\YWYVWVZHS
*
YLH[LÄN\YLZMVY`V\YWYLSPTPUHY`KH[HPMHSSV^LKHUK`V\OH]LHU`
WYLSPTPUHY`KH[H
.L[V[OLYZ[VYLHKHUKJYP[PX\L`V\YWYVWVZHS
9L]PZL`V\YWYVWVZHS
93
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
7YVVMYLHK`V\YWYVWVZHS
9L]PL^`V\YJOLJRSPZ["ÄSLHWWSPJH[PVUHUKYLSL]HU[PUMVYTH[PVU
-VSSV^\W[VILZ\YL[OLHWWSPJH[PVU^HZYLJLP]LK
0U[LYT\S[PKPZJPWSPUHY`YLZLHYJOPZILPUNLTWOHZPaLKHZ[OLRL`[VZJPLUJLVM
[OLM\[\YL9LTLTILY[OVZL^LPYKJV\YZLZ`V\[VVR[OH[^LYLU»[YLHSS`YLX\PYLK
MVY`V\YTHQVY`V\Q\Z[[OV\NO[P[^V\SKILPU[LYLZ[PUN[V[HRL[OLT&;OL`TH`
IL[OLSH\UJOWVPU[MVY[OPURPUNTVYLIYVHKS`HIV\[OV^[VHWWYVHJOHWYVISLT
,]LY`ZJPLUJLHUKLUNPULLYPUNTHQVY^V\SKILULÄ[MYVT[HRPUNIPVSVN`JOLTPZ
[Y`JVTW\[LYWO`ZPJZLUNPULLYPUNHUKZ[H[PZ[PJZJV\YZLZ6YL]LUIL[[LYTH`IL
`V\YJHTW\ZOHZKL]LSVWLKPU[LYKPZJPWSPUHY`JV\YZLZVYZLTPUHYZLYPLZVYQV\YUHS
JS\IZ[VOLSWZ[\KLU[ZKL]LSVWIYVHKLYWLYZWLJ[P]LZVU[OPURPUNHIV\[ZJPLUJLHUK
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(http://www.bcm.edu/diversityprogams.)
94
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
If fellowship is awarded:
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95
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
96
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Nine: Writing Abstracts
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97
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Organization and Content of Abstracts for Meetings
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Common Mistakes in Writing Abstracts:
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99
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
100
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Ten: Creating Effective Figures
General guidelines
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101
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Tables:X\HU[P[H[P]LKH[HVYIYVHKJH[LNVYPLZVMYLZWVUZL
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102
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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103
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
104
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Eleven: Making Posters
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105
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Poster Preparation
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106
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Disadvantages:
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107
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
108
Get prepared.
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TH`MVYNL[^OV[VSK`V\[OLRL`[VZVS]PUNHWYVISLT
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
How much can presenting a poster affect your career and life?
I met Wanda Vila-Carriles at her poster at a meeting her junior year of college. I was
very impressed with her protein purification work. The University of Puerto Rico at Rio
Piedras provides some wonderful opportunities for undergraduates to do research. I
encouraged her to apply for the SMART Program. She would not only get to do terrific
research, she could improve her English skills. Wanda did a fantastic job in the program. Then she used her SMART Program project as the basis for writing a successful
fellowship proposal for graduate study. She didn’t get the Ford Foundation fellowship,
but she did get the NSF fellowship. And she used it to come back to BCM to continue
her education.
As a Ph.D. student, Wanda initially struggled with classes, mostly due to language
skills. Our IMSD grant (NIH GM56929) provided English language development and
tutoring and faculty in her Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Department set up
readings with her during which she would discuss papers in a one-on-one setting
with faculty. Gradually, Wanda’s English skills strengthened. Her science was already
off to a great start. Soon after joining Joe Bryan’s lab, she isolated more recombinant
potassium channel protein in a weekend than everyone in the lab had isolated in two
years. She created mutations for a structure/function study of this ion channel that is
important in insulin secretion. Wanda was thrilled when she received perfect scores
from both judges and won the Endocrine Society Award at a SACNAS meeting, but
we were all ecstatic when she received the Young Investigator Award at the FEBS
ABC Proteins Short Course in Vienna, Austria! How many Ph.D. students win an
award as the best in the world in their field? All of the top guns autographed the book
she received as the award winner. Her NSF fellowship ran out before she completed
her Ph.D. project, so she applied for and received a NIH fellowship, which of course,
included much more detail about her work than the shorter NSF proposal.
I’ll never forget talking with one of the faculty members who worked with Wanda as
she learned to read papers. He was still grinning as he told me about looking up and
seeing Wanda sitting at the head table at a banquet of the editors and editorial boards
of the journals of the American Physiology Society. Wanda was being “courted” as
a potential post-doc by the chief editor for the journals of the society. He had invited
Wanda to the banquet, picked her up in a limo, and introduced her to everybody. Dr.
Reid said he finished the banquet and then realized he had to get something to eat.
Every time he looked at Wanda, he smiled so much he didn’t have time to eat. With
Wanda’s talent and perseverance and faculty who care that much about developing the next generation of scientists, it’s no surprise that Wanda Vila Carriles, Ph.D. is
maturing into an independent scientist that you will read about in the future.
109
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Twelve: Oral Presentations
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111
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
A Very Long Talk – A Very Receptive Audience
When Carlos Bustamante, Ph.D. presented a talk on using molecular tweezers to
study the structure of a functioning RNA polymerase at BCM, the audience was enthralled. He logically explained complex experiments and results in terms people could
understand. His slides and videos were informative and eye-catching. People were
so excited about the work that they kept interrupting him with questions, which he patiently answered. About 50 minutes into the talk, he turned to the audience and said,
“ I’m running behind. I want to share more of this story with you. The seminar may run
overtime.” Everyone nodded and said, “OK”. Only two people had to leave, everyone
else stayed until he finished the story twenty minutes after the seminar was supposed
to end. Then he had to wait for the applause to die down. When he spoke at the
2004 ABRCMS the undergraduates and faculty were on their feet cheering before he
finished the talk. One faculty member said, “If that doesn’t get you excited about science, nothing will!” We have stars in science, too. They do great science, sometimes
using high tech physical techniques to answer biological questions and have a flare for
explaining their work in understandable, exciting terms. Thanks Carlos!
Common Components of a Scientific Presentation:
112
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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113
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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114
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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115
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
116
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Thirteen: Attending Conferences
and Networking
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BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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119
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
120
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Fourteen: Grad School Applications
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122
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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Application forms::WLJPÄJMVYTZHYLÄSSLKV\[MVYLHJOZJOVVS[V
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Transcripts: @V\^PSSULLK[VZ\ITP[HUVMÄJPHS[YHUZJYPW[MYVTHU`JVS
SLNLVY\UP]LYZP[`MYVT^OPJO`V\OH]LYLJLP]LKJVSSLNLJV\YZLJYLKP[
Letters of Recommendation: ;OLZLHYLHJYP[PJHSWHY[VM`V\YHWWSPJH
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123
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Writing A Personal Statement:
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124
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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1.
What do graduate schools want?
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125
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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2.
126
Practical Pointers for Describing Research/Work Experiences
*
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Impact of Research Descriptions
Your research/work description can make or break your graduate school application. Having excellent grades won’t matter much to a reviewer if you write three
sentences about your research/work experience. Don’t laugh – I’ve seen students who
submitted no more than a few nebulous lines about their research. Even if your mentor
has great things to say about your work, you need to convey what you did, what you
learned, and what it meant.
I know of cases when a student’s grades were less than stellar and GRE scores
were not strong, but whose research description was so strong and reflected such
interest and commitment that faculty took the time to read letters of recommendation
carefully. One such student was invited for an interview and wowed everyone. Her
knowledge and enthusiasm were evident. The program decided to give her a chance.
Once she was taking courses in the field she loved, her grades improved, her research
was outstanding, she received a national fellowship, and became a leader in her Ph.D.
program. She was not only selected as her program’s most outstanding Ph.D. student,
she received the award as the most outstanding Ph.D, student in the entire graduate
school of nearly 500 students. Without a strong research description, the grad school
that became the home in which she could develop so completely might not have given
her the chance to “sell herself”.
127
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
128
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Fifteen: Grad School Interviews
Purpose of Graduate School Interviews
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129
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Three students from a west Texas campus were selected to interview for medical
school at BCM. The Dean of Admissions felt it would be thoughtful to schedule them
for the same interview date, so they could share a ride. The students responded,
quickly, that they wanted to interview on different weekends. The Dean thought this
was unusual, but honored their request. An astute interviewer noticed that the suit,
(which is obligatory for medical, business or law school interviews), worn by one
student fit, was too big for one student and too small for another. Yes, it was the same
suit. So what happened? All three were academically acceptable. All three were accepted. Students who were willing to help each other that much, displayed important
characteristics that one wants to see in physicians. (Gas prices were cheaper then.
Today you could buy a suit for what it costs to drive from west Texas to Houston.)
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Helpful Hints During the Interview
130
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Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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Overcoming Shyness in an Interview Setting
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131
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Sample Interview Questions:
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132
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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9LTLTILY!Your goal is to relate your interest in and preparation for graduate
study in a professional, confident but realistic way.
Social Events as a Part of the Interview
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133
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
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Comments and Behaviors that May Torpedo Your Interview:
What to Avoid
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Avoiding A Misunderstanding About Your Interest in a Program
Some situations become heart-breaking. I was delighted when a wonderful SMART
summer undergraduate research program alumnae was invited for an interview by a
very competitive program. She had expressed her intense interest in the program to
me and to others. After her visit, people who met her commented that she just didn’t
seem interested in our program. I talked with program administrators and expressed
surprise at the conclusion. I was discouraged from contacting her to discuss the issue.
Regrettably, I listened to them. Eventually the program made her an offer, but we were
too late. She had already accepted another offer. I later learned that she had been sick
during the interview weekend, but didn’t want to cancel because she really wanted to
come to the program. Better communication may have resulted in a different outcome.
I know the program she entered has benefited from her participation – but I really miss
her!
134
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
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135
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
136
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Chapter Sixteen: Choosing the Right
Graduate School for You
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1.
2.
Research interests and environment
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137
BEYOND THE BEAKERS
4.
5.
6.
Professional development opportunities
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138
Baylor College of Medicine
National Science Foundation
Acknowledgements
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