"The primary aim of research must not be more facts and more facts, but more facts of strategic value." - Paul Alfred Weiss

Below are three principles that guide how I choose, design, and execute scientific projects.

Prioritize the Problem

Problem selection is arguably the most important and most neglected phase of any project (see Michael Fischbach's article on the Useful Literature page). What constitutes a good problem is partly a matter of taste but all share two key features: broad significance and tractability.

Experiment with Purpose

Early and incisive evaluation of the core hypothesis is essential. Unanticipated findings reveal flawed assumptions and help create more accurate models of the biological system under investigation.

Seek Causes not Correlations

The only way to understand a biological system is to uncover the causal structure of its interacting components. This concept is particularly crucial when searching for new drug targets. Therapeutic interventions based on causal human biology are more predictable and effective.