Buddhini Samarasinghe @drhalfpintbuddy - Tumblr Blog

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Musings of an Academic Refugee Three months ago, I started working at Cancer Research UK as a Science Communications Manager. The position was a temporary one; a part time, maternity cover for just one year, but I was told during my interview that there would be a possibility of making it a permanent position depending on "how things worked out". At first, my contract was just for working from Monday to Wednesday. But within 3 weeks of starting, I was made full time (so Monday to Friday) and then in less than 3 months I was made permanent. For the first time in my life, I have a job and an income without an obvious expiry date. This is remarkable; in science, especially for grad students and postdocs, short term contracts with low pay, with no real guarantees of a permanent position is a way of life that we tolerate well into our late 30s/early 40s. I have always loved science, and ever since I was a teenager, I always wanted to be a scientist. I loved the way science could answer questions. Curiosity about the world around us is one of the things that defines our species, and science was always a way for me to engage with what those answers were. So it was a little difficult to reconcile the fact that I would be leaving a career in research behind, with this new job. But then...actually getting paid for and being able to make a living out of science communication is something that I never thought could happen either. There is immense satisfaction in being appreciated for something that I am good at, and the sense of validation that comes with it feels priceless. I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am right now. I've had a tough couple of years, and it's an ongoing process to recognise that the circumstances involved were beyond my control, and the people involved were not my responsibility. It's very easy for troubleshooting to turn into victim-blaming, i.e. berating myself for not seeing the red flags that I somehow should have seen. My self-confidence was buoyed up only because of my friends who believed in me when I wasn't able to. A few weeks ago, I gave a talk to a group of final year PhD students about 'Science Communication as an Alternative Science Career' (or, as I titled it, “Musings of an Academic Refugee” :P). I've attended plenty of talks like this during my student days but never thought I'd be invited to give one. One key piece of advice that seems obvious is that outside of academia, no one really cares how many papers you have authored; for a career in science communication, what matters is evidence and examples of good scicomm. "Just Google my name" is a pretty satisfying reply to give when asked to provide these examples at a job interview :P. For the first time in a long time, thinking about my career does not fill me with dread like it used to, when I considered the grim reality of how few postdocs make it into permanent positions in academia. I jokingly refer to myself as an 'academic refugee', but there is a grain of truth to that description too. It is possible to love science, and continue working in science, outside of academia. It is possible to make a living out of something that brings you joy. There is a life outside academia. https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/STVmtyPR5i7

Nature's Ice Sculptures It was a really cold frosty morning here in Cambridge and I luckily had my macro lens with me to capture it. I love how delicate the lighting and the colours are here. https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/FYP1bTvDvGW

Malignant Melanoma: Drug Resistance is Futile As we approach the end of 2014, I want to write about targeted cancer therapy, using malignant melanoma as an example. In this article, I explain how a new drug (vemurafenib) works, and why resistance sometimes develops, and the latest research into how we can overcome this problem. Most melanomas have a mutation in a key gene known as B-RAF. Mutant B-RAF is a signal that tells the cancer cell to keep dividing - it is an accelerator that is jammed, so the cancer cell replicates endlessly. Knowing this mechanism allows us to target mutant B-RAF, which is the epitome of targeted therapy. Yet all is not quite as it seems, and most cancers develop resistance to B-RAF inhibitor drugs; how can we prevent the development of drug resistance, and how can we combat it when it happens? "Cancer is not one single disease. Even a hundred different instances of melanoma, though pathologically classified as the same disease, will have a hundred different variations; is B-RAF mutated? What about the other proteins in the ERK pathway? What about other pathways? Do the metastases have the same mutations as the primary tumour, and if not, how different are they? There is a dizzying array of possibilities, and in turn cancers have a dizzying array of variations within them. This is known as the biological heterogeneity of cancer, and it demands therapeutic heterogeneity in the way we approach it. The same treatment cannot be indiscriminately applied to all cancers. Targeted therapies that can home in on the unique vulnerabilities of a cancer with precision are the way of the future. Indeed, vemurafenib was a breakthrough in every sense of the word; it allowed a once untreatable disease to become treatable." Read the full article here: http://www.jargonwall.com/cancer/malignant-melanoma-drug-resistance-futile/ #ScienceEveryday https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/bHvxvZxiqyc

#ScienceEveryday

Molecular Biology 101: Translation This is Part 3 of my 'back to basics' series on molecular biology (Part 1 is here: http://goo.gl/5ltt87, and Part 2 is here: http://goo.gl/pxTm7e). In this article, I explain what protein translation is and how it works. In the previous article on Transcription, I explained how a DNA template is used to create a 'transcript' of a gene required by the cell. In this step, the transcript is 'translated' into a protein molecule. It is a beautifully elegant system in which the genetic code embedded in our DNA is translated into the proteins that are the workhorses of our cells. The vast majority of the functions within a cell is carried out by proteins. All the chemical reactions, the structural functions, the respiration, and indeed the very act of being alive, is down to proteins and their actions. This article explains how those proteins are made. You can read the full article here: http://www.jargonwall.com/molecular-biology/translation/ "The chain of amino acids ordered in the sequence dictated by the genetic code, assembled within the ribosome, represents how every single protein in every single living organism is made. Given how important it is, there are quality control checkpoints at various steps of this process to ensure that the linear amino acid chain is folded correctly. This ensures that the freshly produced protein has the correct structure that allows it to carry out its function within the cell. Protein synthesis is a fundamental process in molecular biology, and indeed, of life itself." https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/5cPB1nAvtUi

Molecular Biology 101: Transcription This is Part 2 of my 'back to basics' series on molecular biology (Part 1 is here: http://goo.gl/5ltt87). In this article, I explain what transcription is and how it works. Transcription is the first step in gene expression, which is how cells ensure that the right proteins are present in the right amount at the right time. Through gene expression, the myriad different cell types in our bodies can carry out their functions. The end goal of gene expression is typically (though not always) the production of proteins. "Transcription is the first and sometimes only step in gene expression. It is how the genetic material encoded within DNA is utilised by the cell to express genes. This is a fundamental process which provides the cell the ability to control its structure and function, and is the basis for the adaptability that allowed our cells to survive and evolve for billions of years." Read the full article, complete with a handy video link to help visualise some of these processes here: http://www.jargonwall.com/molecular-biology/transcription/ And yes, again the artwork is me experimenting with some water colour double helices! #ScienceSunday https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/dzJxoKNXRXW

#ScienceSunday

Molecular Biology 101: DNA Replication As I mentioned previously, I want to write a 'back to basics' series of posts on some fundamental molecular biology processes. I start this series with explaining how DNA replication works. Before a cell divides, it must replicate its DNA by producing an identical copy of DNA through the process of DNA replication. This is one of the most fundamental biological processes, occurring in all living organisms. A series of reactions regulated by various enzymes makes sure that the DNA molecule is unwound from its double helix configuration so that one strand can act as a template for the synthesis of a new strand of DNA. Just as, in film photography, the negative of a photograph is the same image with its colours reversed, so too in DNA. In its sequence of nucleotide letters, each DNA strand is a “photo-negative” mirror of the other. The “A” on one strand always pairs with a “T” on the other, while “G” always pairs with “C”; a sequence like “GATTACA” on one strand is mirrored as “CTAATGT” on the other, each letter binding to its partner, zipping the strands together into a single 2-metre-long molecule. This pairing, a pairing that arises straightforwardly from the laws of Chemistry, is the key to the DNA molecule’s marvelous ability to copy itself. For each strand when unzipped from its partner grows back its missing complement, automatically creating two identical DNA molecules where once was but one Read the full article, complete with handy video links to help visualise some of these processes here: http://www.jargonwall.com/molecular-biology/dna-replication/ And yes...the accompanying artwork is something I've always wanted to do with watercolour, because a DNA double helix is so inherently beautiful! #ScienceSunday https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/PSAx5WU14bA

#ScienceSunday

Changes I've been very quiet online lately because I recently got a new job that I am very excited about. A couple of weeks ago, I started working as a Science Communications Manager at Cancer Research UK. Writing about science, particularly cancer research, started out as a hobby for me. I dabbled in writing posts here on G+ since 2012-ish, and then in August 2013 started writing the Hallmarks of Cancer series on Scientific American. It's still a bit surreal to think that I can actually get paid to do something I've always loved to do, but I'm excited to be able to make a living from explaining how cancer works at the cellular level. Working at the world's largest independent cancer charity is also very cool, because I get to see from the inside how much progress we are making towards finding new treatments for cancer. Working in London is also new to me but so far I am enjoying the hustle and bustle of it all. It's still early days, but I am excited about my new position. I will of course continue writing about science and cancer here on G+ and my website Jargonwall (www.jargonwall.com), but standard disclaimer, my views/opinions are my own etc :) https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/5upP4uxc4m8

Crappy Gabor Paper aka The Benefits of Proofreading I read this article today with a mixture of laughter, horror, disbelief and a twinge of sympathy for the authors. In this paper published in the journal Ethology, the authors forgot to proofread their final draft before submitting it for review. The reviewers forgot to proofread the manuscript before sending it to the editor. The editor(s) forgot to proofread it before sending it to the layout/print department. And now, unfortunately for poor Culumber et al, their mistake is preserved for the whole world to witness and laugh at. If Gabor et al ever end up reviewing a grant or another paper by Culumber et al, my guess is that they won't be very nice. Even more hilariously, the Altmetrics for this paper have gone through the roof because it's being snarked talked about on social media so much! Please remember to proofread your manuscripts, even if you have read them a bazillion times already and you're sick of seeing them. Because if not...this could be you :P Links Original paper (behind paywall): http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eth.12282/full Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=onlinelibrary.wiley.com&citation_id=2808007 https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/KC1VtsKxYP2

Blind Spots: Seeing Sexism in STEM I wrote this piece for +Digital Science a few weeks ago and it came out this week. In this article I highlight the many blind spots in sexism that I have witnessed over the years. "It compounds the problem when male colleagues, newly aware of the issue, derail the discussion by celebrating their new-found enlightenment. It is truly heartening to see supportive male colleagues become aware of the iniquities they are privileged never to experience; it is disheartening to see those selfsame allies shift the focus, grab centre stage and turn what was a productive discussion of measures to restore fairness into a festival of male redemption" A great example of derailment via the male redemption story happened a few weeks ago. The Grace Hopper Celebration had a disastrous attempt at discussing 'women in tech' with a panel of male allies - (read an excellent summary by +A.V. Flox here: https://storify.com/avflox/these-are-not-the-allies-you-re-looking-for). This event, and subsequent discussions with friends helped crystallise the ideas that I espouse in this article. http://www.digital-science.com/blog/guest/blind-spots-seeing-sexism-in-stem/ https://plus.google.com/108510686109338749229/posts/RnkYFTfDYgs

Independent Bookstore in Ely There is something magical about being in an old school bookstore. I could easily spend hours here browsing the books and dipping into them whole sitting at the cute little window seat. http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/a8mD/5221820b

Gorgeous evening at Canary Wharf. The temperature is a lot milder than Glasgow at the moment! This Photosphere has a bunch of disembodied legs, but it was really busy so practically impossible to avoid :-P http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/a7o7/5221820b

Stroke at 33 This is an amazing essay about what it was like to have a stroke at 33. It also gives a fascinating glimpse into how the brain functions, and can adapt as a response to injury. This is a must read. "Each time I thought about whether I needed to make a left turn or right or stop or go, I felt lost. I had no idea. And so I pressed on without thinking, while relying on intuition. Each time I stopped, recognized landmarks — a tree or a house or a store. I knew I was getting closer to home, but I did not know how to continue. Intuition carried me when logic and memory failed" I made it home. And then I thought, I need to get to a hospital. I picked up the phone and then I asked myself, What is the phone number for 911? I looked at the numeric keypad, and I could not figure out what number each shape represented. And what is the number for 911? Read the full article at http://www.buzzfeed.com/xtinehlee/i-had-a-stroke-at-33 http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/a3Vk/5221820b

The Hallmarks of Cancer: 9 - Reprogramming Energy Metabolism The 9th article in my series is finally published! To coincide with this, I also want to announce my (newish) website - Jargonwall (http://www.jargonwall.com/). For now, it is an archive of all my science articles, easily searchable and under my own control. It feels really good to have my own website, and have my own 'home' for my outreach efforts. I will continue posting about science here on G+, but I will also use Jargonwall for longer articles explaining detailed molecular biology processes minus the jargon. I don’t have any ads on my site, and I’ve also made sure that it displays well on mobiles and tablets. I hope you enjoy it! The Hallmarks of Cancer are ten anti-cancer defense mechanisms that are hardwired into our cells, that must be breached by a cell on the path towards cancer. The Ninth Hallmark of Cancer is defined as "Reprogramming Energy Metabolism". You can read the detailed article here (http://goo.gl/Au7vQD), and the previous Hallmarks of Cancer articles can be found here (http://goo.gl/6F1Q7q). ✤ Uncontrolled growth defines cancer. Growth requires a cancer’s cells to replicate all of their cellular components; their DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids must all be doubled in order to divide into daughter cells. Of course, this process requires energy. Cancer cells must adjust their metabolism accordingly, to enable this frenzied growth. ✤ Cancer cells switch their metabolic pathway, from normal respiration to a process known as aerobic glycolysis. Cancer cells consume more than 20 times as much glucose compared to normal cells, but do so through an inefficient metabolic pathway. Why do cancer cells do this, when they can obtain sixteen times as much ATP per molecule of glucose by opting for normal respiration? ✤ Although cancer cells produce far less ATP per molecule of glucose, they produce it much faster. Cancer cells produce ATP almost a hundred times faster than normal cells. It is essentially a cost-benefit calculation, where the benefits of speedy ATP production outweigh the costs associated with inefficient glucose breakdown. Cancer cells undergoing aerobic glycolysis also produce many intermediate biosynthetic precursors. These molecules are used as building blocks for the production of proteins, lipids and DNA required by the rapidly dividing cells. ✤ Cancer cells are addicted to these metabolic precursors; the enzymes that control these pathways are often over-expressed or mutated in cancer cells. This addiction is exploited in chemotherapy strategies. For example, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, and pemetrexed inhibit the biosynthesis of DNA precursor molecules. The high glucose consumption of cancer cells is also exploited when imaging cancer; Positron Emission Tomography (PET) combined with Computer Tomography (PET/CT) is used to detect the absorption of the glucose analogue fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by tumours, and has a better than 90% sensitivity and specificity for the detection of metastases of most cancers. ✤ Cancer cells do not function in isolation. Tumours are complex tissues, made up not only of cancer cells, but blood vessels, immune cells and other bystanders. These healthy cells are co-opted and subverted to perform tasks that support cancer progression. The cellular pathways described in the Hallmarks of Cancer are not only interconnected, the body’s own cells, when trapped inside the tumour microenvironment, engage in complementary metabolic pathways, supporting and encouraging cancer cell survival and growth. Image adapted from Jens Maus, Wikimedia Public Domain (http://goo.gl/jXjR9P) http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/a10E/5221820b

In 30 mins time my mom +Siromi Samarasinghe will be talking to +STEM Women on G+ about her career in STEM as a professor of Chemistry. I won't be hosting this time, but she will be in the very capable hands of +Zuleyka Zevallos and +Rajini Rao :) Hope you can tune in! ▼ Reshared Post From STEM Women on G+ ▼ Join us for a STEM Women HOA as we speak to Professor +Siromi Samarasinghe from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka. Siromi lectures in organic chemistry and her research interests include the chemistry of tea compounds. She will talk to us about her research and career path, and also share her experiences of studying abroad and mentoring students. You can read more about Siromi here: http://www.stemwomen.net/science-helped-me-to-overcome-challenges-in-life/ This HOA will be hosted by Dr +Zuleyka Zevallos and Professor +Rajini Rao. You can tune in on Sunday 5th October at 1.30 PM Pacific or 9.30PM UK/ Monday 6th 7.30 AM AUS. The hangout will be available for viewing on our YouTube channel after the event: http://www.youtube.com/stemwomen http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/9Oha/5221820b

Last few days in Singapore, and +Chad Haney asked for a cheesy photo of me so here you go :-P http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/9B6S/5221820b

Day 7: Cityscape through the Forest Despite the dense population and the "concrete-jungle" that is the city, Singapore also has some excellent national parks. The Southern Ridges National Park provides stunning views of the city through lush tropical rainforests. It was hot, sweaty, and tiring but totally worth the 10 km distance! More info: http://goo.gl/fqUuKY http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/9AeZ/5221820b

Day 6: Singapore at Night I've always wanted to photograph the skyline of Singapore at night. There is something uniquely intimate about the anonymity of a big city; a smaller town cannot offer the same feeling of privacy. Being able to gaze down at the city below, seeing the cars as tiny moving dots of light while the warm quietness of the night air surrounded me was exactly how I imagined it would be. http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/9yZQ/5221820b

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Buddhini Samarasinghe