What to do with a novel post doc request?

1.  What is he/she trying to do, and why?  (Any road will get him there, if
he doesn't know where he is going.)

2.  Often the post doc's interest has been stimulated by the work of others.
He/she should provide the references AND the articles.  Sometimes the
published Methods help, but often they do not.  Ask the post doc to get the
phone number of the referenced people who claim to have done the work.
(This used to work as a good test of the post doc's committment to the
study, but today, with the iinternet, it is less so.)  Sometimes talking to
the referenced people is really helpful, not only about the methods related
to the published work, but also about methods related to extensions of their
work.  (Keep records, and acknowledge anything significant.)  Sometimes,
though, they are not helpful. 

3.  When a method needs to be modified or developed, integrate the post doc
as much as possible into the process.  The end result will be better, the
process will be faster, and the post doc will continue his/her education to
his/her profit.


4.  How to get seal whiskers?  I'd try a night sortie to Seal Beach in La
Jolla (after getting the necessary regulatory seals of approval.  Use a
flash light, and wear gloves.  They bite.

MJ
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	P. Emry [SMTP:emry@u.washington.edu]
> Sent:	Friday, July 07, 2000 5:01 PM
> To:	HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	sealwhiskers
> 
> Hi Netters,
> 
> I have a post-doc who wants to do seal whiskers.  Anyone out there with
> some information/experiense on that?
> 
> Thanks for your time.
> 
> Trisha  
> U of Washington, Seattle
>