Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research by Prof Darren Lipomi
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYGPWWPF
Every year, the United States spends roughly $60 billion—about 1 percent of the federal budget—on university research. Though this research has far-reaching effects and benefits the public at large, most people are unaware of the inner workings of academic research. Who bears the risk for new discoveries? What role do graduate students play in innovation? What are the shortcomings of academic research, and can the system be fixed?
In Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research, Darren J. Lipomi, PhD, a scientist and educator, offers readers an insider’s perspective of scientific discovery in academia. Drawing on two decades of experience in elite labs and universities, he reveals a system few outsiders ever see. By examining his own career trajectory—from humble beginnings to prestigious universities like Harvard and Stanford to academic leadership—Lipomi illustrates the impact that incentives, power, and politics have on knowledge production.
Science Nonfiction captures both the ingenuity and absurdities of life in the lab. With this book, Lipomi hopes to shed light on the often-overlooked human side of scientific research, purporting that while the system is certainly imperfect, there is hope for a better future. Indeed, even with its immense flaws, academic research represents a significant societal investment in the future. As this investment faces greater scrutiny, limitations, and political interference, understanding the utility of academic research becomes more important than ever before.
About the author
Darren J. Lipomi, PhD, is chair and professor of chemical and sustainability engineering at University of Rochester. Lipomi earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in physics as a Beckman Scholar at Boston University in 2005, and in 2010, he attained his PhD in chemistry at Harvard University, working alongside Professor George M. Whitesides. His research interests include molecular engineering of electronic and electroactive polymers, particularly the mechanical properties of semiconducting polymers for flexible solar cells, biomechanical sensors, and phenomena that occur at the intersection of materials chemistry with human perception and cognition. He is the recipient of the AFOSR Young Investigator award, the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and the NSF BRITE-Pivot award. He hosts a podcast, Molecular Podcasting with Darren Lipomi, which has an associated YouTube channel, Darren_Lipomi. These platforms serve as valuable resources to students, postdocs, and other early-career researchers.