#113 — Learning how to respond to criticism is an unavoidable aspect of grant applications. Follow all instructions from funding agencies to avoid immediate rejection.

This episode of Mentors At Your Benchside gives you some simple strategies to ensure you respond to criticism in a constructive and proportionate way.

For example, identifying reviewers can help you tailor your responses, but don't mention them by name! Plus, using a two-column document to systematize the criticisms and responses is a great way to organize feedback and distance yourself emotionally from it.

Hit play for more tips, check out the original article for links to helpful resources [1], and check out our complete guide to funding series for advice on getting your research funded—directly from a former NIH grant reviewer [2].

Resources:
1. Personal Advice on How to Respond to Criticism of Your Grant Proposal Reviews. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/80095/respond-to-criticism/
2. The Complete Guide to Funding I: How to Become an Expert at Getting Funded. Available at: https://events.bitesizebio.com/the-complete-guide-to-funding-i-how/join

#112 — Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is a powerful technique distinct from the more familiar SDS-PAGE, [1,2] tailored for separating proteins or peptides based on their isoelectric points (pI). [3]

This method capitalizes on the migration of charged molecules through a stable pH gradient until they reach a zone where their net charge is zero, halting their movement.

Essential to setting up an IEF experiment are the IPG strips, equipped with a pH-responsive gel, and the sample, often mixed with carrier ampholytes for efficient migration.

IEF's utility spans various applications, from enhancing 2D-PAGE protein separations to analyzing post-translational modifications and preparing samples for mass spectrometry. [4]

Discover more about how this technique can advance your research and streamline your experimental workflows.

Resources:
1. How SDS-PAGE Works. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/580/how-sds-page-works/
2. Isoelectric Focusing: A Simple Way to Enhance Your Protein Separation. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/26811/isoelectric-focusing-separation-proteins-peptides/
3. The Definitive Guide to pH, pKa, and pI. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/9425/what-is-ph-pka-pi/
4. Detecting Post-Translational Modifications. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/49322/detecting-post-translational-modifications/

#111 — In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of microbes and their revolutionary applications in biotechnology. From environmental solutions to breakthroughs in health and medicine, microbes hold the key to some of the most advanced scientific developments.

Discover how these microscopic organisms are transforming industries and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in science and technology. We’ll explore the latest research and applications that are shaping the future.

For an in-depth look at this topic, make sure to read the corresponding article on our website. [1] Dive into an application you almost certainly know about, yeast two-hybrid assays, [2] and check this article out to learn how to increase protein expression in plants. [3]

Resources:
1. Top 10 Uses of Microbes in Biotechnology. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/48446/microbes-biotechnology/
2. Split Ubiquitin Yeast Two-Hybrid. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/25286/split-ubiquitin-yeast-two-hybrid/
3. P19 to the Rescue: How to Increase Protein Expression in Agroinfiltration. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/29964/p19-increase-expression-agroinfiltration/