1. Montana State University

2. Strobelian Advice to a Young Scientist

3. Looking for a Life in Science
Looking for Endophytes

4. A Life in Science Has Its Many Rewards
A. Anticipation of Experimental Results
B. Some New Challenges Each Day
C. Excitement Involved in the Outcomes
D. Sharing Ideas with Students and
Others
E. Feeling That You Are Contributing

5. What Will You Do With Your Life ?
Will you live to do a job, or do a job to live ?

6. Consider some long term
goals in science
• Teaching others
• Seeing the world
• Having a livelihood
• Leaving a legacy
• Making a difference

7. The Circle of Survival In Science
Pay Heed to It
Idea
*PR activities Preliminary Results
*Publication *Proposal /Plan
Results
*requiring help of others

8. Advice Point-Learn to think independently

9. Advice Point-Look around for something that is absolutely
new and work on it.
1. Nothing is known about it
2. It is related to a major problem
3. It has broad significance
4. It can be approached by you

10. The Birth of An Idea
(Identify the Problem)
1. By study and desire
2. By imagination
3. By contemplation
4. By association with other systems
5. Put the problem in your mind
and let it incubate !

11. Let’s Go Dinosaur Bone Hunting !!

12. Be observant –work with an open unencumbered mind

13. Advice Point: When making an important /critical observation try
finding and using an independent experimental method that
corroborates your 1st observation. The data should match.

14. Scientific publication
1. Only about 1 person, on the average, will read your scientific
paper.
2. About 100 will read a review article.
3. Thousands will read a popular science article.
4. Therefore continue to build a body of knowledge that will make
you the expert in a field.
5. Is there a problem with this as it relates to life while at the
same time having good experience in science?

15. Doing Science Has Become a Group Effort
Doing Science in This Century Versus the Last
Examine the number of authors per paper in 1920 in Science
Examine the number of authors per paper in 2005 in Science

16. Form your own group of collaborators
Remember you will not be asked to collaborate
until you can offer something that others may
not have. Build a skill set and competence !!

17. Advice Point- Look for and find your own niche - then
build on it in a concerted and strong manner, being
patient and observant.

18. Advice Point-
Pick good colleagues
Behave professionally
Support others
Be generous

19. Advice Point –read
books on the
history of science,
science philosophy
and works of those
who have done
science.

20. Classes in Science: What can I say? There is something
perverse about our educational system that stifles the
imagination and creativity. Science is not facts or vocabulary it
is a process and method to make new discoveries. It is
important to think, to wonder and to be fascinated with all
things around us. Try to maintain a sense of fascination with
science.

21. General Behavior
1. Making comparisons – don’t do it !
2. Telling falsehoods- don’t do it !
3. Making failing promises- don’t do it !
4. Being egotistical- don’t do it !
5. Have realistic expectations- do it !
6. Be mannerly- do it!

22. Advice Point- Look around and consider developing a
taxonomic specialty

23. Advice Point-don’t spend too much time in the library or at the
computer. Information overload can make you feel
insignificant and unable to anything that is new or useful.

24. Advice Point: Seek help from sagacious, experienced,
respected and knowledgeable peers

25. Advice Point- Remember some trails that you take and things
that you discover in science can literally belong to you (shared
with your institution and co-inventors). Intellectual property-
know about it. Here are some hints on how to proceed.

26. Keep you eyes open for things and processes that may have
potential usefulness to society. The patenting process is
recommended in order to gain ownership.
A.Filing a provisional patent
B.Company interest should be obtained
C.Filing a full patent

27. Advice Point- Put time into others things –family, hobbies, outdoor
activities, sports, keep a balance of perspective and don’t spend
too much time on one thing!! Eventually you may become non-
productive or be considered –odd!!

28. Advice Point- Develop a set of skills and
techniques and cherish them and expand on
them your entire life. They are the crux of
your ability to do experiments and make
conclusions.

29. Advice Point- Don’t become enamored of one technique
and get fixed on it!

30. Advice Point- Mistakes, you will make
them, don’t fret and stew-correct the
error and get on with life.

31. Let Sleeping Tapirs Lie: There are always issues demanding your
time- pick your issues carefully. Most are time wasters !

32. What’s this business? Was a mistake
made?

33. The Field Experiment

34. Black Sigatoka of Banana – Pseudomycin vs Control

35. Advice Point-Handling the Press

36. Advice Point-Have a weekly regime of reading science
and read broadly

37. Advice Point- Administration seems always to be calling, beware of its
insidious nature. It always seems that if it were you in that position you
could do the job better. It takes you out of science in most cases.

38. Advice Point: If your paper, grant proposal or patent
is declined-DO NOT take it personally. Take what is
good about the advice offered and make the
document better. Likewise be a good, kind and firm
reviewer!!

39. Despair: Don’t do it more than two minutes! If the positive result
doesn’t happen and you feel as if a frog has just slept in your mouth,
things will get better. Remember you still have your brain, your
hands and your heart. Get on with life-your greatest gift!

40. BEWARE: The person whose toes you trample today
maybe connected to the face or other bodily part you
have to kiss tomorrow.

41. On to New Ground- the Post Doc- Choose Wisely and
Consider the Following:
1. Ability to be mentored
2. Direction that you will be given
3. The employer and the situation
4. Funding level and ability to network

42. Most likely you will not end up at Yale. There will be some rough
roads at lesser developed colleges, universities and other
organizations. Accept the challenge. Make something where little
or nothing existed before.

43. Some Science Related Activities
(if you do well and become the expert)
• 1.Travel to scientific meetings abroad
• 2. Advice is sought by foreign govts
• 3. Advice is requested by USA agencies
• 4. Panels and grant reviews
• 5. Company consultant activity
• 6. Guest lectures given around the globe
• 7. Congressional testimony