pseudonyms in research

[Physics of Math]

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Can you publish under a pseudonym, as protection from your lab, and still take credit on your medical school application?

It's an odd question I know, but a pseudonym is preferable to going over my lab director's head.

Thanks

 

[CielloStelatto]

i have absolutely no idea, but isn't that still going over the director's head? or just behind their back?..

 

[Physics of Math]

Ignorance is bliss, and a pseudonym keeps me in his good graces. In all honestly it might not be an issue, but it's not a risk I want to take unless I absolutely have to.

 

[Physics of Math]

and by "Over his head" I meant take it to the school's dean, or at least the dean of chemistry.

 

[gaccboom]

I don't know if you can take credit for it, as such. But if you do so, there's likely to be some pointed questions during the application process about why you had to publish under a pseudonym. It's likely to be 'messier' than just claiming credit for publications under your own name. Medical schools and research faculty may wonder whether the same issue is likely to come up again. Perhaps, if you're going to take credit for it, you should also have an explanation that will reassure them that you're not going to publish work behind their backs later on.

At least, I think this is how it would go. But I can't say that I've known of anyone who's done this.

 

[Physics of Math]

I don't know if you can take credit for it, as such. But if you do so, there's likely to be some pointed questions during the application process about why you had to publish under a pseudonym. It's likely to be 'messier' than just claiming credit for publications under your own name. Medical schools and research faculty may wonder whether the same issue is likely to come up again. Perhaps, if you're going to take credit for it, you should also have an explanation that will reassure them that you're not going to publish work behind their backs later on.

At least, I think this is how it would go. But I can't say that I've known of anyone who's done this.

Any questions I can answer; I'm trying to avoid offending the person writing my principle lor.

Also, the research I conducted was not done at this lab. It was done elsewhere on a personal grant. The content, however, is what I'm worried will offend the lab director. I am not trying to steal credit from the university or anything.

The issue could (in theory) come up again, but by that time I'd be in med school and would be less concerned with a single lor. Id est, once I'm accepted to medical school (hopefully MSTP), I could really care less what people think.

 

[gbwillner]

Any questions I can answer; I'm trying to avoid offending the person writing my principle lor.

Also, the research I conducted was not done at this lab. It was done elsewhere on a personal grant. The content, however, is what I'm worried will offend the lab director. I am not trying to steal credit from the university or anything.

The issue could (in theory) come up again, but by that time I'd be in med school and would be less concerned with a single lor. Id est, once I'm accepted to medical school (hopefully MSTP), I could really care less what people think.

Dude,
You sound really sketchy. If I saw you publshed under a pseudonym I would be asking why you keep secrets from your PI. I don't even know you and I already wouldn't accept you.

 

[Physics of Math]

Dude,
You sound really sketchy. If I saw you publshed under a pseudonym I would be asking why you keep secrets from your PI. I don't even know you and I already wouldn't accept you.

I'm glad you are so good at snap judgments...and reading...

The stated problem is with my lab director and not the PI, as the PI in this case is me.

*sigh*

The lab director is one of those no-math, no-physics evolutionary biologists to the point where if you even suggest a problem with darwin's theory he'll peg you as an anti-science, right-wing, geocentric, flat-young-earth creationist of which I am the antithesis.

My research is on quantum evolution (not the "alternative" quantum evolution), with specific regards to the leap from organic molecules to "life"
by way of crude short-string data (think primitive DNA). The problem is I needed to list possible ways for the chemicals I needed get to where my research picks up (which is beyond the scope of my article). I preceded to list several theories including neo-darwin mutation, panspermia transfer, and intelligent design. While intelligent design : religion/non-science :: racism : being Caucasian, my lab director would still probably trash me in his lor.

Also, scientists have used pseudonyms in the past....
Given how touchy biologists get when the physics comes in, I still think a pseudonym is safer.

 

[RxnMan]

Back in the day, things like the "student's t-test" were published without names because it removed the bias of the name or fame of the author from the science. Today reviewers and readers want to know who to contact when they have questions. Here's my suggestions:

Where was the work done? Ask that PI to help you out.

Since you don't have a PhD or MD, someone must have been giving you guidance during this project. Ask that person. Besides, any journal you write to will ask who was the PI on the project and why that person isn't signing off on the authorship paperwork.

That grant must have come from a proposal. Who helped you get the personal grant in the first place? Have you talked to them?

Lastly, data is data. If someone gets offended because of data, that's their problem. Part of science is looking at data objectively.

 

[RxnMan]

...The stated problem is with my lab director and not the PI, as the PI in this case is me...

You might have been effectively the PI, but you can't be the one of record. See above.

...The problem is I needed to list possible ways for the chemicals I needed get to where my research picks up (which is beyond the scope of my article). I preceded to list several theories including neo-darwin mutation, panspermia transfer, and intelligent design...

1) If you have one line in your paper that would offend your PI, then take that line out and be done with it.
2) If you want to be taken seriously, I would never put forth intelligent design as an explanation for anything.

...While intelligent design : religion/non-science :: racism : being Caucasian, my lab director would still probably trash me in his lor.

So intelligent design is to religion/non-science as racism is to being Caucasian? Perhaps intelligent design is seen as poorly by scientists as the general public sees racism, but that's not what you've written here. I for one don't believe racism is intrinsic to being Caucasian.

 

[Physics of Math]

I'll talk to my adviser and see what she thinks.
Thanks.

Back in the day, things like the "student's t-test" were published without names because it removed the bias of the name or fame of the author from the science. Today reviewers and readers want to know who to contact when they have questions. Here's my suggestions:

Where was the work done? Ask that PI to help you out.

Since you don't have a PhD or MD, someone must have been giving you guidance during this project. Ask that person. Besides, any journal you write to will ask who was the PI on the project and why that person isn't signing off on the authorship paperwork.

That grant must have come from a proposal. Who helped you get the personal grant in the first place? Have you talked to them?

Lastly, data is data. If someone gets offended because of data, that's their problem. Part of science is looking at data objectively.

 

[gbwillner]

I'm glad you are so good at snap judgments...and reading...

The stated problem is with my lab director and not the PI, as the PI in this case is me.

*sigh*

The lab director is one of those no-math, no-physics evolutionary biologists to the point where if you even suggest a problem with darwin's theory he'll peg you as an anti-science, right-wing, geocentric, flat-young-earth creationist of which I am the antithesis.

My research is on quantum evolution (not the "alternative" quantum evolution), with specific regards to the leap from organic molecules to "life"
by way of crude short-string data (think primitive DNA). The problem is I needed to list possible ways for the chemicals I needed get to where my research picks up (which is beyond the scope of my article). I preceded to list several theories including neo-darwin mutation, panspermia transfer, and intelligent design. While intelligent design : religion/non-science :: racism : being Caucasian, my lab director would still probably trash me in his lor.

Also, scientists have used pseudonyms in the past....
Given how touchy biologists get when the physics comes in, I still think a pseudonym is safer.

Do you think the administrators and directors of the MD/PhD program you are applying to WON'T make snap judgements on your application? You just threw a big red flag in my face and I was being honest. If you don't think they will react the same way you are fooling yourself. Maybe you should tell them about that DUI you got that one time... but they won't make any snap judgements.

I would follow RXNMan's advice to the letter. Why are you publishing something "offensive?" Maybe people react badly to the prospect of "intelligent design" because it is completely unsupported by any evidence. Unless you have discovered something amazing to support this claim, using it will make you look like a hack.

 

[QofQuimica]

I have nothing to contribute to this discussion, except that I want to thank you all for creating what is probably the most entertaining thread I have ever seen in the Physician Scientists forum.

 

[reine1jb]

I have nothing to contribute to this discussion, except that I want to thank you all for creating what is probably the most entertaining thread I have ever seen in the Physician Scientists forum.

haha I was just going to post that!

 

[bubbachuck]

haha I was just going to post that!

I think it's still the applicant who got drunk and somehow arrested. the only phone number he had locally was the MSTP director who he called to bail him out of jail.

 

[LadyLightning20]

I think it's still the applicant who got drunk and somehow arrested. the only phone number he had locally was the MSTP director who he called to bail him out of jail.

I've definitely made my share of interview bloopers (the most spectacular of which was me backing out of the MSTP director's office while shaking his hand, somehow stepping into the trash can by the door and falling on my ass out the door into the hallway) but this makes me feel so much better.

 

[gbwillner]

I think it's still the applicant who got drunk and somehow arrested. the only phone number he had locally was the MSTP director who he called to bail him out of jail.

I haven't heard this one... please enlighten us.

/ I did have a friend who got hammered during a residency recruitment dinner and hit on a female attending while wasted... he basically got blackballed from all programs and had to switch fields.

 

[OddNath]

Do you think the administrators and directors of the MD/PhD program you are applying to WON'T make snap judgements on your application? You just threw a big red flag in my face and I was being honest. If you don't think they will react the same way you are fooling yourself. Maybe you should tell them about that DUI you got that one time... but they won't make any snap judgements.

I just wanted to second this. When we're reading applications (and we have alot to read), you are representing yourself on paper by the words you choose. For example, if someone says something completely ******ed in their essay (it happens more than you'd think), I will keep that in mind while reading the rest of the application. It's a snap judgment, sure, but what you've presented on paper is all we've got.

Anyhow, now I want to hear more about the applicant who was bailed out by the MSTP director!! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

[RxnMan]

I just wanted to second this. When we're reading applications (and we have alot to read), you are representing yourself on paper by the words you choose. For example, if someone says something completely ******ed in their essay (it happens more than you'd think), I will keep that in mind while reading the rest of the application. It's a snap judgment, sure, but what you've presented on paper is all we've got.

Anyhow, now I want to hear more about the applicant who was bailed out by the MSTP director!! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have a somewhat different view.

When someone lower than you on the totem-pole says something completely crazy like "intelligent design," there's two ways you can take it - rule the kid out, or understand the person is coming from a position of ignorance and try to educate.

The OP came to us with a clearly odd question which I believed was the strange result of a new stressful situation for him, not the strange result of fundamentalist belief. In apps, yes, it makes sense that you can't address these sorts of issues - crazy/stupid just goes in to the circular file. But here in this forum we have the luxury of conversation. Here we can figure out if 'pseudonyms' is the actual problem, or if it some other, more basic misunderstanding. Here, he just had a loss of mentorship.

 

[Newquagmire]

I've definitely made my share of interview bloopers (the most spectacular of which was me backing out of the MSTP director's office while shaking his hand, somehow stepping into the trash can by the door and falling on my ass out the door into the hallway) but this makes me feel so much better.

Most importantly, did you get in?

 

[redsquareblack]

My research is on quantum evolution (not the "alternative" quantum evolution), with specific regards to the leap from organic molecules to "life"
by way of crude short-string data (think primitive DNA). The problem is I needed to list possible ways for the chemicals I needed get to where my research picks up (which is beyond the scope of my article). I preceded to list several theories including neo-darwin mutation, panspermia transfer, and intelligent design. While intelligent design : religion/non-science :: racism : being Caucasian, my lab director would still probably trash me in his lor.

Also, scientists have used pseudonyms in the past....
Given how touchy biologists get when the physics comes in, I still think a pseudonym is safer.

I'm at a loss to figure out what the heck intelligent design has to do with "Given how touchy biologists get when the physics comes in". ID is a non-starter, an anti-hypothesis that has no merits scientifically. And considering ID was built upon a creationist foundation, to say "intelligent design : religion/non-science :: racism : being Caucasian" is either coy or ignorant. I'll leave it to you to choose.

But to the point at hand, going above or behind your PI, except in extraordinary circumstances, is generally a Very Bad Idea.

 

[Neuronix]

This seems appropriate:

(warning foul language)

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGNRYNdVT7g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[SunnyBlues]

This seems appropriate

 

[QofQuimica]

This seems appropriate:

(warning foul language)

That song is pretty sick, Neuro. I'm glad I don't eat mashed potatoes. 😉

 

[Drexon]

Not to sound too offensive but ..
where do you plan on publishing? [ please don't say JYI *zing* because if you've got data then put it in a real journal ]
I mean without a PhD or MD attached to your name people might not take you seriously when publishing even though you have a legitimized grant to pay for your project.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I'm a little puzzled as to why people are jumping on the OP regarding ID. The OP was listing potential theories as to life's origins.

The origins of life are not at all clear and there is no decently-supported theory for it as there is for life's diversity.

If the author is going to list panspermia, why would intelligent design be any worse? There is absolutely no evidence for panspermia at all, yet it is entertained as a potential hypothesis as to how life arose. If we reject ID because of lack of evidence, we ought to do the same with panspermia and all other unsupported theories.

Regarding the OP:

Caucasians aren't universally racist.

Biologists don't hate physicists or chemists (on the contrary, they respect them highly and often more than they deserve, in my view), but they want intuitive explanations. It is not sufficient to just write up a few equations without providing some motivation for them and a physical correlate that can be understood by almost any scientist.

You are being delusional if you think anyone would take you as a PI, grant or no grant. At this stage, you must prove yourself by going through graduate school and then residency/fellowship/post-doc. You will continue to prove yourself until you get a real award like a K or an R01, and then you can realistically call yourself PI. I strongly suggest against calling yourself a PI at interviews.

 

[RxnMan]

...If the author is going to list panspermia, why would intelligent design be any worse? There is absolutely no evidence for panspermia at all, yet it is entertained as a potential hypothesis as to how life arose. If we reject ID because of lack of evidence, we ought to do the same with panspermia and all other unsupported theories...

The difference lies not in the lack of evidence for panspermia or ID (I wouldn't list either, myself). ID has the added layer of being an attempt by fundamentalists to force the issue of creationism and religion into public schools. ID has been pushed as an equal alternative to evolution which should be taught to "provide all views" to students.