A lot of this can be found here: https://bit.ly/bumblingbiochemisttoolbox
- Wet lab skills
- Biochemistry, molecular biology, etc. specific:
- PCR: http://bit.ly/pcrtrain & https://youtu.be/GZSLfECgW3Q
- Molecular cloning: http://bit.ly/molecularcloningguide & https://youtu.be/U0O2T7NBUgg
- Gel electrophoresis: https://bit.ly/agarosegelcompare & http://bit.ly/sdspageruler & https://youtu.be/vbuxf3rcMxg & https://youtu.be/xP7vJnTSNrs
- Protein purification would be ideal if possible
- Familiarity with the concept (if not actual practice with) of fundamental experimental techniques like western blots & co-IPs
- co-IPs & other pull-downs: https://bit.ly/pulldowns
- western blots: http://bit.ly/westernblotworkflow
- Comfort in making buffers and solutions
- buffers: http://bit.ly/phbuffers & https://youtu.be/jJBbCj3Kz7c
- other solutions: http://bit.ly/sciencestocksolutions & https://bit.ly/startwithstocksolutions
- Proficiency with lab math (unit conversions, dilution calculations, master mixes, etc.)
- Practice doing things like μ to m (e.g. μL to mL) quickly in your head
- https://thebumblingbiochemist.com/lets-talk-science/math-y-stuff/
- http://bit.ly/c1v1equalsc2v2
- https://bit.ly/metric_calcs
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v7pff7cEpJTvr-IADLwdwwFOlEDdz8Ny/view?usp=sharing
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqCRh23TO8s5T23DjBcJeCUWl23ps9sI/view?usp=sharing
- Experience – this is a key thing they look for. They really want to see you doing research outside of the classroom setting.
- Biochemistry, molecular biology, etc. specific:
- Computer skills
- Familiarity with using databases (Genbank, UniProt etc)
- https://bit.ly/databases_guide & https://bit.ly/3RYWlS6
- Proficiency with using spreadsheets (e.g. Excel)
- mastermixes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ceAc5JDILORoZkcDEJ2u6V-Bg4dmvLWI/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110501489579733284162&rtpof=true&sd=true
- Ideally: some computer coding/programming (e.g. basic command line & Python)
- Ideally: use of a vector graphics program like Adobe Illustrator or InkScape (free alternative)
- Familiarity with using databases (Genbank, UniProt etc)
- Use of scientific literature
- Use of a reference manager program (e.g. Mendeley, Zotero)
- Finding scientific papers (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, etc.)
- Finding & differentiating primary literature (research articles) and review articles
- And reading and taking notes on both!
- spreadsheet for taking notes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AWmkbfnSHToxWZU709FKar2wzXCqECI_SgQ6rbjpqjU/edit?usp=sharing
- Tracking down references
- Using InterLibrary Loan to request papers through your library
- Scientific presentation
- Ideally, poster presentation(s)
- If you can get on a paper, that’s awesome. But if you can’t, it’s not a deal breaker at all!
- CRUCIAL: Being able to explain what and why you’re doing in the lab and put things into context
- https://bit.ly/explainingyourscience & https://youtu.be/ZDBCivC7K04
- In general: Show initiative and be resourceful!
- Taking initiative to look up answers, look up protocols, etc. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT OVERLOOKED!
- Google is your friend. Stack overflow, even Reddit, can be great sources of info and help when you get stuck.
- Work on strategic Googling to more easily find what you need. As long as it’s not a test or something like that, it’s not cheating to look up these things! I do it all the time!
- https://bit.ly/scientificgoogling & https://youtu.be/Dd6Io3MMn54
- Google is your friend. Stack overflow, even Reddit, can be great sources of info and help when you get stuck.
- Taking initiative to look up answers, look up protocols, etc. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT OVERLOOKED!
- Familiarize yourself with the grad school process & start looking into potential programs
- You can typically find almost all the info you need on their websites
