So I'm working on a manuscript from my postdoc at SmallUniversity in SmallTown. And to do the analysis I used a specific kind of sequence analysis software, which is not free and comes with a very expensive license that can only be used on the computer it was installed on. Dr.Add'EmUp told me to take the laptop he had bought for me and return it when I was done. Great! And I submitted a draft version of the manuscript to him a week ago. Great again.
Once he gives me feedback (which I'm waiting for) I should be able to get revisions done and resubmit the paper to him, right?
Well, that would be the sane universe. The logical and rational one.
But SmallUniversity in SmallTown isn't a rational or sane place, instead, it's a place run by shortsighted bully goats. And that's being generous.
It turns out that the administrative morons (read TheGodfather or TheBully) via his lapdog have decided that I need to return the computer ASAP, like Monday.
I get that it is university property but isn't it bought with the intention to produce manuscripts. And my plan was to send the computer back, once the manuscript is in press.
Inevitably, there will be revisions (both from Dr.Add'EmUp and reviewers) and some of it might entail redoing or doing alternative analyses using this software. You tell me, how does one do revisions on a manuscript without the appropriate software?
I understand that it is university property and under normal circumstances, it would probably be fine if there was someone else in his lab who could use the software. But there isn't. He has an undergrad who has never performed a PCR and a lab technician, who is just learning. Neither have a biology degree. (Let's not go to that happy place of mine.)
Although Dr.Add'EmUp clearly said in his email he thought it was entirely counterproductive, he also said he didn't think we'd get any sympathy. So clearly he's not going to argue the case.
Right now I'm fuming mad. It's simply stupid to have to learn and completely redo all of the analyses on a different set of software when we're this close to having a manuscript submitted. Fuck it. If Dr.Add'EmUp or a reviewer asks about additional analyses, Dr.Add'EmUp is going to get a nasty hand drawn sequence alignment, with a cartoon bubble, saying, "You have the tools, good luck."
Frankly, I thank my lucky stars, for my current supervisor and lab. It's so nice to be in a place where intelligence, competency, and sanity reign supreme.
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13 comments:
Can you offer to buy the laptop from them? When I changed jobs, I was allowed to buy my old laptop for some ridiculous price (100 EUR or something, because they considered it an old piece of equipment) and take it with me, software and all.
Can you access that computer or one like it remotely?
I suspect that:
a) the request to get the laptop has to do with something else, like The Godfather is in trouble, or they're being audited, etc. You *may* be able to stall them for a while with excuses and/or pleas (bribes?) for an extension.
b) you should be able to get access to The Software in some other lab wherever you are now. Ask around. Edward's suggestion is a good one, you might be able to log in remotely if no physical solution is available.
c) if you think you'll ever need to use similar software again, it's probably worth switching now to the cheap/free alternative. It will be a PITA until you get everything converted & set up, but in the long run you'll save yourself having this kind of problem again.
I had a LOT of software issues for a long time, until I switched to the open-source versions. Now it's entirely up to me, and it turns out to be *much* easier that way.
@Anon
No. They want the hardware back and buying it from them is not an option.
@Edward
Huh, what an interesting idea. I'll look into it. Thanks.
@MsPhD
I think you're right that the request to get the laptop back has to do with something else.
The reason I used the software in the first place, was at the suggestion of Dr.Add'EmUp. And yes, next time I do any form of sequence analysis - I'm only ever using open source.
sorry if this is a dumb idea, but can you uninstall the software on the laptop and put it on your computer? Then when you're done with your analyses, you delete it and give it back? Usually, licences are not attached to a computer, right? Unless there's a dongle attached to it? Not sure if this would be considered hardware.
Annoying indeed when things just have to be made more ccomplicated then they need to..
AGreenMonster
@AGreen Monster
I don't think it's a dumb idea because I already tried it. Unfortunately it didn't work.
sounds very annoying. It's never about effectivity or "actually doing work", is it? It's mainly "I'm in chare and therefore I can demand this and that".
I would try the remote access, although you might need someone to hook it up from that other end for it to work. The only thing that might be a problem is that you might need to have some kind of version of the program with license on your machine? (The expensive program I used like that only allowed 4 ppl to have the program open at the same time....)
Best of luck and hope you can get the paper out!
my head hurts for you.
Ugh. This sounds very frustrating and it makes no sense. I hope you can find a solution that doesn't involve repeating all of you analysis.
stupid GodFather... isn't it time for your medication to be re-balanced?
with love,
Hippie Husband
I know many clever software hobbyists that have successfully ripped data processing programs from desktops so they could work at home instead of in the lab until 4am every day. Perhaps you need to put out feelers for the nearest tech geek to take a crack at it?
@MicrobiologistXX
Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
@HH
PDA
@Hermitage
Hmmm...not a bad plan. If it becomes necessary, I will try and do that, especially since I copied the program files onto a hard drive just in case.
Another way you might resolve this problem is for you or Dr.Add'EmUp to contact the software company and see if they can provide you with a temporary copy of the program.
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