Blog

The significance of p

By Charles ChungJun 28, 2022
After 20 years or so in research, I think that I am finally 95% sure that I understand the significance of p.  It is often said (as I have done) in many a Methods Section that a “p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant”.  I now think this is sloppy writing.  First an aside about the dangers of a threshold.   When p>0.05 there’s often several (bad) things we might do:  Such as really bad- I.e. p-hacking https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25768323/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27510514/  Or sometimes useful and sometimes hilarious- I.e. playing fast and loose with our words (like these many examples: https://mchankins.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/still-not-significant-2/  https://twitter.com/mc_hankins)   But this all…
semantics, stats
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Am I a fool for waiting?

By Charles ChungApr 01, 2022
On π day, I shared some science about the last paper I published as a part of my PhD.  Well, getting it published is a long story that gives some context into science writing.  The first paper that I ever co-authored was the only one that was submitted by paper.  It was FedEx’d (I think) to the Journal.  We didn’t hear back for 6 months, then finally, we got a letter of acceptance!  That was in 2003/2004.  (I’m curious, does anyone reading this remember contacting editors only by mail?)  The fastest original research manuscripts I've had accepted as corresponding author…
Blog, Lab History, Research
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Why I like π.

By Charles ChungMar 14, 2022
...or why I dislike τ. ...or I should have called it πEk. This is a site for a physiology lab, and there is physiology later in this post! But, my undergraduate degree was a dual major in physics and mathematics.  So, as an established nerd, I have a long history of using π.  ...or should I say 2π cause its #^@&’n everywhere in physics.  Now, there’s a trend in physics and math(s) that is trying to use τ as a short hand in lieu of 2π.  Here’s my short and sweet reason why I don't plan to use τ instead…
Blog, Research, semantics
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Blog-5 years!

By Charles ChungJul 01, 2020
I can't believe it.  Not that I'm great on this blogging thing, but its been 5 years since the Integrative Muscle Physiology Lab (Chung Muscle Lab) was established in the Department of Physiology at Wayne State University. Its been a wild ride with more than 10 papers published, so many great conferences, and recently an international webinar. At the same time, i feel like we're always re-building and re-generating.  Henk Granzier once told me that labs cycle people every 4 years or so.  I feel that is coming true with several phases of people coming in and out of the…
Blog, Lab History
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Blog-Three Years…

By Charles ChungJul 01, 2018
I started my faculty position on July 1, 2015.  Three years...  That's both a long and short time! I've been thinking about how this has gone, both for my sake and because I was reminded that I had told some of my postdoc cohort that I'd try to list some of the crazy things to pay attention to when getting a job. Things I've learned/wish I knew before: The grass is always greener.  Seriously, there's plenty of good things wherever you go. Pick your projects.  Productivity is key, so pick a few projects that you can publish quickly.  I'm struggling…
Lab History
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