Tight junctions

part of my lab in that direction with work on human embryonic stem cells which, as we have come to learn, show aberrant epigenetic regulation. There is a lot to learn from this much needed human model. What do you enjoy most about science? The challenge, the discovery, and the people. In this profession, one meets some of the brightest (and most eccentric) minds on Earth. Although I dislike airports and flying, I do enjoy the chance to see different cultures, experience science as it is done in other countries, and taste great food (I always enjoy myself once I am there). Through science, one has the chance to make a lasting positive contribution to our society and planet. Are there any disappointments in science? For me, one of the biggest attractions to science is that it is inherently value-free. There is one truth that cannot be changed by culture, history, and politics. But I no longer think that science is devoid of politics. Science itself is objective, but the practice of it is about people, personalities, and perceptions of what is important. We see this in the way grants are awarded, papers published, and policies established by the government. I see great ideas that are not given a chance at being tested because of diminishing resources; or great ideas not finding an appropriate place in the literature because of a general unwillingness to take risks on very imaginative thinking. Perhaps there is no way around this, especially with the current crisis in grant funding. Both junior and seasoned investigators spend a lot of time writing grants to keep their laboratories alive when their time would be more productively spent on experiments. Any career advice for someone just starting their own lab? Stay at the bench for as long as possible, because it is more rewarding to do experiments than to exercise your administrative skills in the office. Nowadays, I am more coach, cheerleader, and psychologist than experimentalist — sadly. The people you hire are your greatest assets — choose and treat them well. Hire people with complementary skills and always try to keep a balance of talent and personalities in the lab. Over the years, I have come to value talent, work ethic, honesty, and collaborative spirit equally. Are there gender differences in science? As someone who makes a living out of studying male and female differences, you might …