How do you improve your bio skills? - I dint know where to put this (May/16/2011 )

I would like to add my little bit here. Like some have already said Read, Study, Revise and Practice. After doing all that, I would suggest PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE. Like they say, Practice makes Perfect. After making the odd mistake here and there, you will eventually get it right. For this I recommend a book that helped me during my days........LABORATORY MANUAL ON Fundamental Principles of Bacteriology...by A. J. SALLE. I hope this will help.

Hey I can even answer this one.

Read alot yeah. Do the whole web reading thing yeah. Hey UTube has lots of great technical stuff. Don't get too hung up on reading journals......i mean read them of course, the more you read, the easier it will come. Science is a language. Reviews, yes good place to start, however just keep in mind that if you ever wriete a thesis they shouldn't be included.

BUT I like the get your hands dirty approach. Go to lots of seminars, especially the technical ones, make some ideas of your own about current projects going on around you and present them fpr a possibility to your current research. There's lots even outside your institute I bet, look em up. Talk to your boss about what you like to learn.....and grab a project suitable if offered, even if it is above your head and have a bang at it. See if you can get funding to go to technical workshops, if youre a student Im sure theres plenty. Email other scientists about stuff you are doing that they are at the forefront of and see what new things you can bring to the table....really, they love to talk about it, most are very helpful and will even give you stuff for your projects that are akin with theirs. Form collaborations.Very key, form a close relationship with your team members and members from other teams including managing staff, lab heads, division heads etc. and really talk to them. Form strong relationships with students....honours to pHDs. My favorite, technitians/research assistants, the don't get the glory but theyre really invaluable actually because they are on the technical front line and are experts in making things work and often have exellent research skills themselves.. Go to presentations given by these ppl.

If you are a student, apply for summer studentships, work experience (although now unfortuanately this one will be limited because of OHS regs) or a mentor program.......

Put some verbs in your learning and trust me it will come to you much better.

If you bother enought ppl you will have great support, and

ORA, LEGE, LEGE, LEGE, RELEGE, LABORA ET INVENIES

I agree that having people around you to discuss your science with shouldn`t be underestimated. And the most important one should be your supervisor. For some basic advice how to find a good mentor see e.g. Ben Barres paper "How to Pick a Graduate Advisor".

well, if you have spare time, you can try a intership in some biology companies, as for me, I have to admit that I've learned a lot in such companies, you can try to do that. by the way, one of  them-Creative Bioarray, you can try to email to them. hope it can help you.

hi , dont be so upset. I guess u just get stuck. everything is changing so all of us need improvements. Reading more and practice more will be helpful. and i have solve my problem by visiting some biology bsites. Good luck .

Well you should know the accurate experiment principles and had better understand the experimental constants. Then check out your experiment equipment. But I think the most important skill is that you are well-prepared, I mean you know what to do and how to do.  Focusing on your experiment might also be a crucial skill.  Taking the peptide experiment as an example, it is necessary to decide the dissolution process before you conduct the experiment. 

Try news things. Make mistakes and learn from them. Talk to peers about your science and theirs. Check out the literature (read the  paper at least twice) and forums like these. Read the manuals that come with the kits!

To echo other sentiments: EXPERIENCE. It takes time. Don't blame yourself if you feel you don't know enough; every day is a learning experience. It never ends. Give yourself a pat on the back when you learn something new.

Hi.
I used to have the same question when I studied in university. All I know is never studying alone. Try to find a learning partner who is better than you and study with him/her. Communication will help you a lot. Thanks for my own experiences, now I am very happy to work on antibody-drug conjugates. Guess my answer won't help you.

The most general answer would be, "Read, Study, Revise, Practice"
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