Female Scientist + Nematodes = best Vogue article ever

Without a doubt, this has become my absolute favorite photo EVER in Vogue magazine (and with any luck, maybe one day I will have a similar photoshoot...swoon...):

While unpacking some moving boxes, I came across an article I had saved from the October 2013 issue, profiling Cori Bargmann. Her research focuses on neural pathways in C. elegans (yes, a nematode in Vogue too!), and all around I think I have found my new science idol: Bargmann not only lives in New York City and works at the unparalleled Rockefeller University (where she is a Howard Hughes investigator and National Academy of Science member), but has a "predilection for Christian Louboutin high heels", goes to the opera regularly, and has a twitter feed peppered with both science and fashion.

My favorite, but slightly depressing, quote from the article:

"Being a scientist is extremely boring and frustrating. You have a good idea and it doesn't work; you write a grant and it isn't accepted; you submit a paper for publication, it's rejected. You basically have to be able to delay gratification indefinitely."

Unfortunately I can't seem to find an archived version of the Vogue article anywhere online, but I've scanned a copy to PDF (tweet/email me if you want to read it!)

The social media revolution in fashion (and its parallels to science)

I came across this article in the May 2014 issue of Vogue: "Follow Me! Kate Upton Leads the Charge of Models Who've Gone Crazy for Social Media". The entire article itself is worth a read, and as I was paging through I noticed some quotes that could have been easily applied to social media and science:

Is fashion, at least as it is presented on the runway, really still doing this? The no-personality, samey-samey thing? Is it any wonder so many models have taken to Twitter and Instagram and Facebook and Tumblr to establish themselves as actual humans, with quirks, style, and interests all their own? No one should be the least bit surprised that Upton, who looks nothing like most models, has stormed the gates. The hunger for personality—for stars—in the modeling world is just that great.

Are scientists still really being presented as stereotypes, the parade of old white men? It's no wonder that the younger generation of researchers are now presenting their own, diverse public faces on Twitter and other social media.

For models these days, social media offer the promise of a different kind of career: one that is more connected, more fulfilling, and, if they are lucky (and want it), lasts longer than three or four years. And while there’s nothing surprising about the fact that this new crop feels comfortable on social media—they are part of the generation that’s grown up on them—it still takes a certain mastery of the form (your own jargon, an irresistible personality) to really stand out. Even then, the top models might have only one million followers, as opposed to the tens of millions that actors and pop stars have. 

In the wake of Kate Upton’s social-media-fueled rise, models are grappling with exactly how to present themselves. “It’s a really interesting opportunity for them,” says Lara Cohen, Twitter’s head of TV and film talent, “because it gives them a voice and makes them more three-dimensional. There’s no shortage of pictures of Coco Rocha out there, but to know that she likes watching New Girl humanizes her.”

I strongly believe that social media helps to humanize scientists too, and steer us away from the "unfeeling robot" perception.

There’s no such thing as living in the moment anymore. Thanks to social media, every event, from the Super Bowl to the State of the Union, from the Olympics to your best friend’s wedding, now happens in real time and “real” time. It certainly has completely transformed our experience of Fashion. As Zac Posen says, “I think the big transition started almost a decade ago, with the realization that fashion had gone beyond the industry and had become fashion-tainment.” Posen, of course, is a judge on Project Runway, a show whose success has served to point out that, surprisingly enough, untold millions are fascinated by how dresses are made—and how someone from Kalamazoo gets to Fashion Week.

Social media is changing science too, helping connect people to the researchers doing the work and relaying the process of science itself. Just look at the online buzz that #cosmos created!

Dressing for interviews, finding your style, and why you need to think about your clothes.

Upfront Disclaimer: This is not a post where I tell you what to wear (or what not to wear) to an interview. There are a lot of those floating around this time of year, and this post is partially a response to this seasonal flood of tips and tricks. But I also felt it was time to reflect on what I perceive as a persistent issue in science: people are simultaneously dying for advice, and also do not want to think about, how to dress.

Science lures you in with its false pretense of informality. Sure, it isn't the corporate world (just look around at a conference). But it is also a profession.

You will be judged on your appearance. I'm not saying this is fair, but that is the society we live in. Humans are visual creatures and first impressions are important. The way you dress will have a huge impact on how you are perceived by other people (and can definitely affect how you perceive yourself), so why not give it some thought? Your wardrobe is akin to curating your online identity - it's in your best interests to Google yourself so you know what people will see about you on the internet (and make sure they're seeing your professional website as the first result, instead of those drunk pictures from Facebook). Likewise, by controlling how you dress you are helping to guide people's impressions. Dress in clothes that make you happy and confident, and are true to the image you want to project.

I'll also preface this post by saying that I personally HATE shopping with a PASSION. You will not find me hanging out at the mall on Saturday, and I'll never understand people who do that for "fun".  Over time I've found ways to work around this repulsion: focus on the end result (a killer wardrobe!), go armed with one or two specific goals ("Today I will find a pair of dark wash jeans"), choose stress-free online shopping, or visit stores on Sunday when crowds are much much quieter. Many other workarounds are discussed below. In the end, clothes shopping is like buying groceries: it's an errand you must do occasionally (but not every day or even every week), you might not enjoy it, but if you suck it up and don't focus on the negatives it will be over and you will have a good result soon enough.

I wasn't sure how to structure this post, so here is a general list of things you should be thinking about. Especially if you're going to need an interview wardrobe soon:

Before you do anything, watch TLC's "What Not To Wear" 

(herein referred to as WNTW) Seriously, this show will change your life. You will learn so many things! Like these tips, for example. In fact, a lot of my advice below is pulled straight from WNTW. The hosts, Stacy London and Clinton Kelley, don't just talk about how to style yourself and put together outfits, but they also discuss the emotional and personal reasons underlying the way that people dress. Its amazing to see people regain their confidence and reboot their life with something as simple as a wardrobe makeover. WNTW just had its series finale, so I would recommend watching the last 2-3 seasons (episodes from 2010 onwards, just so you are getting the most "on trend" advice). All grad students and postdocs should definitely watch this episode where they revamp the wardrobe of an algae researcher. WNTW also has a few shows featuring men, but another show for men's fashion advice is "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" (although the trend advice might be a little dated now, not sure what year that show went off the air).

Shopping is hard. And emotional. And exhausting.

That doesn't mean you should give up, or not even try. It just means you should be prepared for inevitable frustration and periods of hopelessness. Case in point: every episode of WNTW involves someone breaking down from stress. You are not alone, and it happens to everyone (including me). I'm still traumatized by an incident in 2008 where I spent SEVEN HOURS in the mall shopping for a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding the next day. I learn from these mistakes - I do not leave important shopping trips until the last minute anymore, and I try to shop in spurts (only visit one or two stores on any given trip). I also plan ahead - I always have one or two "unworn" (e.g. I haven't been photographed in) dresses in the closet that I can break out for formal occasions. I buy conference outfits way ahead of time (usually randomly if I see something I like while browsing online or at a store), and I choose items that can be multipurposed for different things.

Shopping is a process.

You won't know what stores you like at first. Hell, you won't even know what stores' clothes you can fit into. Eventually you will have shopping down to a science. Indeed, you should view it a bit like science. Define your aims ("I will find a pair of comfortable heels"), pursue methods that test your hypothesis ("Null hypothesis: Nine west wedges will not be comfortable"), and then observe and reflect on your results ("I could walk all day in those red 2" wedges, but anything higher than that will make me fall over"). Take incremental steps, don't be afraid of this trial-and-error approach, and build on from there. I have a few stores I really like at any given time, and I occasionally add or drop brands from my roster (sometimes stores change their sizing or product quality without notice). One of my stalwarts is Express, and I've gotten to the point where I know my exact sizing and can just order some things online without having to go into a physical store.

Get to know your body type, and what styles work for you.

I will never be able to wear empire lines or bandage dresses - I'm 5'3" and neither of these items have ever worked well when I've tried them on (however, they both look fabulous on leggy supermodels). Dress for the body you have, not the body you think (or want) to have. Otherwise it will not turn out well. Refer to WNTW for lots of tips on body type (hourglass, pear shaped, broad shoulders, etc.).

Give some thought to how you want to define your style, and how your lifestyle (or the event you're dressing for) will influence your wardrobe choices.

Above all, clothes must be practical for your lifestyle. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. Maybe you run around all day and need to buy a pair of chic flat boots instead of those killer heels. Once you build up the right wardrobe and learn how to put together outfits, dressing in the morning should be a snap. It usually takes me <10 minutes to get dressed in the morning: I'll usually know what my day is like (biking around campus a lot? Sitting mostly at my desk?) and then I'll specifically think about something particular I want to, or need to, wear (flat boots are better for biking. Or if I have an meeting, I know heels will make me feel more professional). Then I'll build an outfit from there. I'll admit, this might sound a bit like voodoo - it can be more of an art than a science - but you'll eventually get the hang of it. The most important think is thinking about (and buying!) clothes in terms of "outfits" that can fit together. Again, watch WNTW and see advice about BASE below.

You MUST try things on. 

Even things that you don't think will look good on you (keep an open mind, especially at first). You must try things on in an unfamiliar store to get to know their sizing. If you're interested in a new trend or style, definitely do some experimenting in the dressing room. Trying on clothes is time consuming and one of the reasons I only target a few stores at a time - often I have to go back into the dressing room a few times to make sure I tried on everything I wanted (stores inevitably have limits on how many items you can bring in, which is annoying), and usually I have to exchange sizes and/or colors of items I really liked but didn't quite fit.

Evaluate every piece of clothing you try on using the BASE acronym (straight off WNTW):

Body - Does this suit my body?
Age - Is this appropriate for my age?
Suitable - Is this item suitable for the event/occasion/purpose I'm going to buy it for? Is it multipurpose so I mix it with other things in my wardrobe?
Expense - Is this item worth the expense? Do I already own something similar?

Your local tailor is your new best friend.

If you find a pair of pants that you love, don't immediately discount them if they're a bit too long. It is usually very easy, and relatively inexpensive, to find a local tailor to take up the hem. Same with dresses - loose fabric at the shoulder or waist is extremely easy to get taken in.  In fact, thinking about  tailoring during shopping can make the clothes more comfortable in the long run: you don't have to squeeze into that smaller size (and risk discomfort in certain places) just to get rid of the baggy waist, shoulders, etc. WNTW has some fantastic advice about tailoring peppered throughout their episodes.

Shoes: The Eternal Debate.

#1: These must be suitable for the occasion. Sure, I have 5" diamante sandals that I absolutely loooove. But I cannot walk in them, and they are only appropriate for a fancy event where all I have to do is walk into a room and sit down for the rest of the evening. Personally, I will always wear (appropriate) heels to interviews and important meetings. Heels give me confidence and make me feel powerful, in a way that no other piece of clothing can. I would not sacrifice that feeling for anything, regardless of what people in the room might think or what advice is out there on the web. Plus, I think at this point they're kind of my trademark (I can't help it if I have a weakness for colorful shoes...) - and if a piece of clothing can make you memorable as an early career scientist, hey, I'm all for it. #2: Unless you are going to the Oscars, buy comfortable shoes. #3: Comfortable shoes will not necessarily look comfortable. Try on every pair of shoes that grabs your attention. Every pair of heels I buy gets scrutinized for about 20 minutes. I will wear them around the store while I shop more, run down the aisle, jump around. They must be comfortable or be capable of being comfortable (e.g. putting in gel inserts, or knowing that new leather in boots will stretch out). Some brands are going to be way more comfortable than others (my personal favorites for comfort are Nine West and Calvin Klein). Just like clothes, you will figure out what shoe stores suit your feet best. Places like DSW are great, because they offer a range of brands and both classic/trendy styles at affordable prices. Zappos is also fabulous because you can order online and get free return shipping if the shoes don't fit (also they have comprehensive photo angles and zoom features for all the shoes, making it easier to evaluate what they'll look like in person).

Cheap clothes look cheap.

Unless it is in near-mint condition (and originally bought from a good store), I will be able to tell if you bought that outfit from the thrift store. Now, other people might not notice, but why take that chance? It pays to invest in new clothes. Especially for important events like interviews!

Expensive-looking clothes can be very affordable.

You just have to know where to find them (and initially, this might take some work to figure out). I personally am a big fan of H&M and Nordstrom Rack, two places where you usually get durable jeans and nice dresses for $25-50. More classic styles can be found at stores such as Banana Republic (they have a great Mad Men collection), although this is a more upscale store and more thus more expensive. Other places I love are ModCloth and vintage stores such as Concetta's Closet (my former local haunt when I lived in New Hampshire) - often you can nab unique, quality goods at these kind of quirky stores for $50-100. Note here: I typically spend $50-80 on each of my dresses, and I get good use out of them at multiple conferences; usually I "retire" a subset of dresses every year if I'm bored of the item, if it shows wear & tear, or if it isn't fitting quite right anymore. I'm always willing to spend more money on quality fabric/sewing so I don't have to be afraid of things falling apart (this is especially a problem with some of the cheaper clothes from H&M and Express - you often have to be careful how much you wash them...).

Accessories make an outfit versatile.

A little black dress can be uber-fancy or super casual depending on how you style it. WNTW has awesome advice on accessories, but the bottom line is: accessories make an outfit interesting, and either dress it up or dress it down. They're an essential part of constructing outfits and should not be overlooked. Accessories include jewelry, belts, hats, bags, and yes, even your visible tattoos. For example, part of your interview outfit should be a professional bag (briefcase, purse) that is not a) a backpack or b) in tatters or showing serious signs of wear. These details can make or break an outfit.

These are just some general musings and not meant to be a comprehensive guide or hard and fast rules. Above all, remember that your wardrobe will require a time investment, but it will be 100% worth your time. Please discuss and add further comments, and I will update this post as necessary!

#scioStyle at #scio13 - Impressions Matter: Embracing art & design in research and science communication

@LizNeely and I are excitedly preparing for our upcoming session at ScienceOnline2013, entitled "Impressions Matter: Embracing art & design in research and science communication" (scheduled for the 10:30-11:30AM slot on Thursday, January 31st). Liz comes as a science communicator, and I come from the tower of Academia: we're trying to blend our two viewpoints to come up with some commonalities and differences surrounding this topic in our two respective worlds. Here is the session description:

Lets face it--according to stereotypes, scientists aren't known for their dress sense, sleek presentation style, or jargon-free articulation. Yet planning and executing small touches of design can make people take notice. In this session we'll discuss how incorporating art, music, and design can have transformative effects for research, outreach, and career prospects. From dress sense to website design, fostering a personal style can help you build a professional brand. Having a visible public profile (and making a unique impression) as a researcher or journalist can lead to myriad opportunities.This session will NOT discuss specific art/visualization methods as a tools for effective scientific outreach (e.g. comics, visual metaphors, etc), although it will touch on how failing to think about such concepts can impact career opportunities and your personal brand.

Part of our job as moderators was to come up with a couple succinct discussion questions, to facilitate pre-/post- session discussion and help guide the session. We've already had some initial responses on Twitter:

1.) How important is personal branding, and in what ways can it impact career advancement?

2.) How do you tailor scientific presentations to different audiences (balancing style vs. substance)?

3.) What are some easy tips for incorporating touches of design into research/academic pursuits?

4.) How does a scientist's personal style affect the public's perception of their research?

We're curious to hear everyone's viewpoints (and thanks to those who have contributed so far) - please help us keep the discussion going under the hashtag #scioStyle. For those who can't make it to #scio13, keep an eye out for the presentation materials and audio recording that we'll post after the session.

Looking forward to a vivacious discussion next week in North Carolina!

Portraits of Street Fashion - the Sartorialist

I've recently become obsessed with the Sartorialist. This fabulous blog is run by photographer Scott Schuman, who aims to create "a two-way dialogue about the world of fashion and its relationship to daily life." The result? Striking, candid street portraits of men and women both young and old. I've posted a teaser below (I love this shot), but I encourage you to check out the blog for yourself.  And of course, you'll get much inspiration for revamping your wardrobe.

Has the Big Bang Theory corrupted Men's fashion?

I'm all about clothing diversity and taking fashion risks, but there's one A/W 2012 trend that just has me dumbstruck. Colored jeans...for MEN!? I got an Express flyer in the mail with the following picture:

Bright purple jeans - really?? I could not stop laughing. I'd like to see their sales figures to know who actually buys these (prove me wrong, men). My dismay is akin to that I feel whenever I see romper suits come back into fashion for women. And what about these eyesores I found on eBay:

Whenever I see these ads all I can think of is the Big Bang Theory. I fear that Howard Wolowitz has invaded the global psyche with his too-tight, awfully colourful jeans. And we are futile to resist! I can't help but wonder if these bottom brights will be the Hammerpants (read: fashion mistake) of the twenty-tens...

Diana Vreeland, fashion legend: "The eye has to travel"

SO EXCITED about the new Diana Vreeland documentary being released this fall. Here's a teaser for you:
 

Vreeland was a fashion visionary, completing reigns at Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art during her career. Her outlook resonates closely with my views on fashion and science:

"You can see the approaching revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes."

"You're not supposed to give people what they want. You're supposed to give them what they don't know they want yet."