Lawrence A. Tabak, DDS, PhD, gave the 2019 Marchase Endowed Lecture at UAB, the CCTS Hub, and shared words of wisdom he learned in his career. Dr. Tabak is the Principal Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Deputy Ethics Counselor of the Agency.
- Use experiments of nature to guide your research questions
- Do not reinvent the wheel – always go to experts for advice
- Over-report failure; under-report success
- Know what good is and aim for it
- Do not be afraid to fail
- Do not fall in love with your idea; let your data be your compass
- Humor can be an effective tool, as long as the “joke is on you”
- Hard work makes up for lack of brilliance
- You do not have to be the smartest person in the room to succeed; just make sure you are always in a room with smart people
- Be a mensch – offer help without any expectation of “return”