Night Science 66 | Michael Fischbach and the scientific decision tree
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Nov 25, 2024 Michael Fischbach, a Stanford professor specializing in chemistry, microbiology, and genetics, shares invaluable insights on selecting impactful research problems. He emphasizes the importance of investing time in problem selection and the concept of 'dating' ideas before committing. Fischbach discusses the balance between fixed and floating project parameters and the need to embrace risks strategically. He also introduces the idea of 'killer experiments' to determine project viability early on and encourages turning crises into opportunities for deeper understanding.
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Value Your Time
- Confront the finite nature of time to prioritize impactful work.
- Remind yourself that every week is precious and should be used effectively.
Question Quality over Execution
- Executing well on a mediocre question yields mediocre impact.
- Prioritize selecting a great question over perfect execution for higher impact.
Broad Research Area
- Choose an initial research area broadly, like picking a mountain range.
- Adjust specific projects within that area as research progresses.