Erika’s Newsletter

Erika’s Newsletter focuses on exploring the depths of biotech and synthetic biology through essays that iterate on the evolution of research, lab automation challenges, the significance of reproducibility, and the pursuit of longevity. It emphasizes the importance of understanding scientific processes, project initiation, and the management of research non-profits.

Biotechnology Synthetic Biology Lab Automation Scientific Research Processes Longevity Research Non-profit Research Organizations DNA Management Scientific Publication

The hottest Substack posts of Erika’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Erika's quick-start guide to research nonprofits

491 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23

You can start a nonprofit research organization without needing permission from a university.
Research nonprofits can be designed to fit scientific goals rather than fitting into academia or industry.
To start a nonprofit, write a 'two-pager', get connected with potential funders, fundraise, manage money, hire people, get lab space, and manage intellectual property.

Erika Updates #0: A Publishing Experiment

550 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23

🔬 Science Experimentation

The author conducted an experiment on releasing updates publicly to provide insight into her research process.
The experiment showcased how traditional scientific publishing differs from immediate updates in terms of production, readability, and narrative.
The project involved expanding the genetic code to include more chemically diverse amino acids, holding potential for engineering better proteins.

Language is not enough

412 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23

🕹 Technology Automation Programming AI

Writing code is a major barrier in lab automation, often leading to less sophisticated protocols created through GUI interfaces.
Natural language is insufficient to accurately represent complex biological protocols, resulting in trial and error to get experiments working.
Programming robots in English may improve user interfaces, but additional challenges remain in making lab automation more effective than human scientists.

If you want to live forever, start by curing menopause

275 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23

🏥 Health & Wellness Longevity Aging Menopause Research

Menopause could be a key biomarker for aging research
Curing menopause is a significant opportunity in longevity research
Men's health is often neglected in scientific and medical studies

Erika Update #11: Finally a breakthrough! If you can’t beat it, measure it

157 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23

🔬 Science Research Measurement Analysis Innovation Publication

Invest time in fully understanding obstacles to find breakthroughs.
Developing reliable measurement techniques can be a turning point in a project.
Sharing detailed scientific information can be challenging due to various reasons.

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Erika Update #7: Evolution is a tightrope walk

196 implied HN points • 16 May 23

🔬 Science Evolution Engineering Experimentation Research Biology

Evolution is uncertain and error-prone, unlike CAD software.
Main failure modes of using evolution for engineering: extinction and complacency.
To use evolution for engineering, the environment needs to be just right - not too hard, not too easy.

Erika Update #10: Honestly, it’s often faster to do it by hand

157 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23

🔬 Science Biology Technology Data Analysis Research Programming

Sometimes doing tasks by hand can be faster than trying to automate them with scripts.
Automating tasks may not always be worth the effort if the tools or processes are not complete or efficient.
Overcomplicating things with automation can lead to wasted time and effort if the benefits are not substantial.

Erika Update #12: Traction is the key to curiosity-driven research

98 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23

🔬 Science Research Management Tools Experimentation Data Management

Having traction in research involves a question or problem you're interested in and tools providing new information.
Traction is about balancing where you want to go with how fast you're progressing.
When you have traction in a project, each new experiment sparks multiple next steps to move forward.

Erika Update #2: Three-out-of-four is pretty good reproducibility in life science

176 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23

🔬 Science Biology Research Engineering Genetics Academic

Three-out-of-four reproducibility in biology is considered pretty good.
Approach scientific literature with skepticism as even the best papers may have unexpected variations.
Irreproducibility in science can indicate more to learn on a basic science level.

Erika Update #5: DNA detective

137 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23

🔬 Science Biology Genetics Research Engineering Biotechnology

It's important to keep good track of custom DNA programs in biology for engineering purposes.
Current DNA management lacks clear nomenclature and annotation, making it challenging to work with DNA sequences.
Challenges in DNA management highlight the complexity of biological functions and the importance of handling sequences carefully and thoughtfully.

Automation is coming to life science

432 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22

In-person research is essential alongside automation in life science.
Owning robots may not be the most effective way to automate life science research.
Hybrid workflows that combine in-person and remote automation are already prevalent in life science research.

Erika Update #8 & #9: A first solid result, this definitely doesn’t work!

98 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23

🔬 Science Research Pivoting Data Analysis

Effectively navigating a research project includes knowing when to pivot.
Identifying and addressing failure modes in measurement techniques is crucial.
Being open to switching to more sophisticated data gathering methods can lead to clearer results.

Erika Update #6: A taxonomy of emotions in science

98 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23

🔬 Science Emotions Research Publications Updates

Science is an exercise in acquired taste.
In science, you can feel the thrill of discovering something new.
Having agency in science allows for incredible opportunities.

Erika Update #1: Getting projects started is hard

98 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23

🔬 Science Research Biology Experiments Publishing Genetics

Starting projects can be challenging, but perseverance and a supportive environment are key to making progress.
Mistakes are common in research, but being able to identify and correct them is crucial for success.
Regular updates and reflections on the progress of a project can provide valuable insights and contribute to overall success.

Erika Update #3: Cultivating Scientific Taste

58 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23

🔬 Science Research Evolution Biology Genetics Virology

Picking good problems is crucial in science, choose ones that you can uniquely contribute to
Having a unique angle or advantage can make a project easier for you but harder for others
Selecting project ideas that align with your strengths can lead to successful scientific endeavors

Erika Update #4: How much "proof" is needed for a proof-of-concept?

1 HN point • 21 Mar 23

🔬 Science Research Genetic Engineering Biotechnology Validation

Sometimes published research results are hard to replicate due to various factors.
Projects may not always go as planned, and unexpected challenges may arise.
It's important to be cautious with early versions of new techniques and technologies, as they may not work reliably.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 22

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