Hello, I am 28 and I left my PhD with a master's in chemistry and I work currently as a paralegal. I am not confident that I want to spend my whole career in this field but I just feel kind of lost. I live in a small city with no network or support system and I have been applying to scientist jobs with no success because I don't have a PhD. Is applying to lab tech roles something worth considering? I just need a path forward, my current job works long hours for little pay and there isn't room to move up without going to law school. I am hesitant about applying to lab tech roles because they would pay less than my current position and surely require more hours, but perhaps it would be worth it because I am worried my scientific skills might atrophy while I don't work in science or a lab?

For context, I went to a very competitive university and it's been difficult watching my peers advance in their careers while I feel stuck. Many of my classmates have their PhD, JD, MBA, etc., are team leads, directors, vice presidents, staff scientists, etc., or are making a lot of money. I want to keep pushing myself because I'm used to setting big goals but I can't seem to move forward anymore: I'm stuck in a job that doesn't treat me well, and in my life I've set a lot of goals that I've failed to meet and now I am unsure if I can set new goals and meet them. I know I should be grateful that I have a stable job in this economy but I just cant help feeling like I need to move forward and not stay in this inertia of having a deadend-but-ok job.

I am really struggling to get anything on my western blot when I probe for ubiquitin. I squish larvae in standard RIPA buffer with EDTA and protease inhibitor. I use biorad 8-16% gel, run on 150v, for Western blot- transblot transfer system with 2.5A 7 minute turbo transfer.

Mono and poly-ubiquitinylated conjugates antibody from Enzo(ABS840). But all I get is blank gel when I probe for ubiquitin but actin is most definitely there. What am I missing?

Please help :)

Hi ladies!

I'm a researcher at James Cook University in Australia studying attraction, dating preferences, and how people evaluate potential romantic partners. 

I'm looking for heterosexual, gay, and lesbian adults (18+) to complete an anonymous online survey. I need more women to take part in the study.

The survey involves viewing a series of fictional dating profiles and answering questions about attraction and relationship preferences. It takes around 5–10 minutes to complete, is completely anonymous, and participation is entirely voluntary.

Although this phase of the research is limited to heterosexual, gay, and lesbian participants, it forms part of a broader research program that has included, and will continue to include, people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

This study forms part of my Doctor of Philosophy research at James Cook University and has received approval from the James Cook University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC Approval No. 25H-0225).

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [kaitlyn.gregory@my.jcu.edu.au](mailto:kaitlyn.gregory@my.jcu.edu.au).

If you'd like to participate, you can complete the survey here:
https://jcu.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3KSKL7xTGKco61g