Vocab time!
Rostral = noseward.
Caudal = tailward.
Dorsal = topward/backward.
Ventral = tummyward.
If you ever wish to tech in a bio lab, these would be good words to learn.
Let me further suggest that if you learn them, you get them correct, and not reversed.
And as a final suggestion, if you do somehow find yourself getting them wrong in front of your mentor, do not turn the incident into a joke by saying, "Oh, yeah. Just checking if you were paying attention!"
That is all.
15 years ago
10 comments:
Hehehe Don't tell me it's Tech again :)
I just want to reassure you that you're not alone. I've seen a lot of GRAD students like that. It's interesting to know that people from different places coming from different universities(even prestigious ones) have similar problems. So it's a global problem ;)
Some problems and mistakes are very surprising and unacceptable indeed. But they happen.
I don't know whether to be sad or encouraged, after this series of posts.
Way to go Tech... What's going on with this person?
The thing is, no single one of these incidents would be a problem. But ALL of them? In the 1.5 weeks he's been in the lab? And no redeeming "hey he knows a lot about X" in between. It's probably good for me to learn how to mentor ignoramuses, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Wow - what did this guy major in as an undergrad? Sounds like it could have been woodworking for all the pre-existing knowledge he's brought to his new job. Didn't you say he plans to apply to medical school?? Scary.
hm, Rostral is not a word I use as much... then again, I've heard it...
Tech sounds like a bit of a.... hmm... fraud? What was the undergrad in? Never pipetted, never done dissections... yeah, I wouldn't let him near a buffer solution before I had triple checked his calculations.
I'm seconding Professor in Training's comment. I'm not even done my undergrad, but based on what you've written I'm more knowledgeable than Tech.
DrJ (other DrJ), I'm having similar problems and frustrations with a new trainee. I am so frustrated by it but most of all feel like I am wasting my time showing someone how to use an analytical balance or a multichannel pipet over and over again. It seems that all we spent doing last week has to be repeated this week while I was hoping she may be ready to fly solo.
Ugh. Let's go for a drink.
Thanks for reassuring me that I am NOT a biologist.
Only non-biologists seem to think I am.
Noseward? I like that. I might even be able to remember it.
My personal mnemonic device:
Rostral rhymes with Nostril.
So rostral means "nostril-ward".
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