Shooting at Univ. Alabama Huntsville (merged thread folds in Parents Cafe comments)

<p>I totally agree with you drb. Terms like “brilliant” and “genius” are used far too loosely these days. Her resume so far is not impressive. Merely having a Harvard PHD does not make one a “brilliant scientist.” Her narcissism is unbelievable though.</p>

<p>I did a similar search and I reached the same conclusion. I don’t know a truly brilliant person who constantly touting his/her IQ scores. In fact, anyone who keeps mentioning IQ score in hope to impress people usually achieves the opposite effect.</p>

<p>My other thought is regarding their invention. I wonder if there are any beta testers out there who actually evaluated this product.</p>

<p>“I did a similar search and I reached the same conclusion. I don’t know a truly brilliant person who constantly touting his/her IQ scores. In fact, anyone who keeps mentioning IQ score in hope to impress people usually achieves the opposite effect.”</p>

<p>I agree. I don’t know anyone who talks about their IQ score. In fact, I’d raise my eyebrows if anyone were acting like Amy Bishop and saying they themselves had a genius IQ. </p>

<p>Also, her lawyer and husband act like it’s a proven fact that her IQ is 180. She could be flat out lying just as she lied about her resume.</p>

<p>There have been a few online analyses of her publications and the merit of her invention. For examples, see online postings by Dr. Doug Fields (NIH). In general, her scientific publications were far below average for a junior (assist. prof) investigator. Her advances were somewhat incremental and her “break-through” culture device does not appear to meet a real scientific or industry need. </p>

<p>Therefore, I must also concur that it is not accurate to characterize her as a brilliant innovative thinker.</p>

<p>I think she was her own biggest fan.</p>

<p>Yes, UAH’s tenure decision on Bishop seems reasonable. On the other hand, their hiring decision really puzzles me. I can understand them not picking up on her encounters with the police. But there were several labs that were unhappy with her. Did her resume have inaccuracies in it? If so UAH should have picked up on that. These tenure track positions are so competitive, UAH probably had 50 or more applicants for the job. And her bouncing around from lab to lab for 9(?) years should have been a red flag! I just really wonder why they hired her in the first place, given that they probably had dozens of great applicants.</p>

<p>According to earlier press reports, it sounds like they were very interested in the invention she and her husband had created, and perhaps it was in the works when she applied. Apparently the president of the college mentioned it in one of his talks. The school did stand to gain financially from the invention if it could be marketed successfully.
It also sounds like she may come off pretty well when she wants to. And women in the field are possibly given a slight edge, because there really is a gender imbalance in PhD faculty that I believe universities are trying to correct.</p>

<p>more likely since this is not a first tier school, they may have thought they were getting a bargain with a person with a PhD from a first tier school. Her LORs were likely lukewarm because even at the time she applied her CV was not competitive to get a tenure track position at most universities. She had few publications and no grants. </p>

<p>The statement of the UAH president’s interest in her invention is most likely the usual hype given when trying to suggest the school is doing well (to donors, alumni etc). The premise of the invention is a straw man about the inability to culture neurons for more than a couple of days with standard techniques (false).</p>

<p>Hindsight is always 20/20. </p>

<p>I think female employees get a harsher reputation (and harsher consequences when they’re difficult to work with than when male employees are difficult. I saw that repeatedly when I was working. Men could be complete *@&%$# to their colleagues, and management would just respond, “Oh, that’s the way he is” (or some other such nonsense.) </p>

<p>However, complaints “here and there” are not enough to get people immediately fired. If that were the case, no prof would ever last.</p>

<p>more likely since this is not a first tier school, they may have thought they were getting a bargain with a person with a PhD from a first tier school.</p>

<p>Actually, it’s not unusual for lower ranked schools to have faculty with PhDs from tier one schools.</p>

<p>I took a glance at Bishop’s publications. I saw some from Journal of Neuroscience or something like that. I’m not in the neuroscience field, but it seemed like a good journal. Also, the description of her research seemed quite cutting edge, although I am not sure how much progress she made toward these goals. I remember reading about something like making a computer out of living neurons. </p>

<p>Also, I thought I read somewhere that the department chair, ironically one of the people she killed, supported her tenure. However, I haven’t seen this repeated, so I don’t know if that’s true.</p>

<p>Finally, I am not sure how many publications are expected of assistant professors. It’s hard for experienced professors to churn out more than 1 good paper a year unless they have a large team working for them. More typically, they start out with 3-5 people, if that, and some of them are inexperienced grad students who have other responsibilities like classes. Also, usually the first publication takes awhile because you are starting from scratch.</p>

<p>I, of course, defer to anyone who is actually in this field and can better speak to the quality of work in neuroscience.</p>

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<p>Whoever does that might have a mental problem, one form or another, or lacks social skills. On the other hand, I think most people here on CC have an IQ of 120+.</p>

<p>^^ Collegealum, this blog from an Alabama news says the department head supported her tenure bid:</p>

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<p>[Tenure</a> seems key in UAH shooting, but slain professor backed Amy Bishop | Breaking News from The Huntsville Times - al.com](<a href=“http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/02/tenure_seems_key_in_uah_shooti.html]Tenure”>Tenure seems key in UAH shooting, but slain professor backed Amy Bishop - al.com)</p>

<p>There are a variety of analyses of Dr. Bishop’s scientific publications. For example, see those by Dr. Fields from NIH. The previous posted comments about starting a research program are true and apply to all junior investigators (assist profs) including Dr. Bishop. Comparing her to just this cohort of junior investigators, her progress was sub-par. Her ideas were not the most novel in the field and she did little to develop her ideas into actual research progress.</p>

<p>As cited in newspaper reports, Her high estimation of herself does appear consistent with her outbursts to the mother at IHOP she hit in the head when justifying to that mother why she deserved the last booster seat-“I am Dr. Bishop”</p>

<p>OK-local cover-up fans, — here is something concrete (maybe, er could possibly be)</p>

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<p>Anyone in state law enforcement? Wouldn’t the State Trooper demand to see the local officers’ event reports as part of his or her investigation before interviewing the witnesses or reporting to the DA? Has anyone heard what the State Trooper’s reason for declining to come to the crime scene in response to the local’s call and notification at the time of the shooting? Recall the local’s had secured the crime scene and had contacted the State Police after whind the State Trooper caled and said he wouldn’t be coming by!</p>

<p>Also, the State Trooper and the DA had to be aware that there had been an 11 day lapse between the shooting and the interviews since the event was reported to the State on Dec. 6 and the State Trooper participated in the interviews on Dec. 17th.</p>

<p>Here is an article about Bishop’s defense of teh police captain:</p>

<p>[Amy</a> Bishop?s mother went to bat for Braintree police captain at ?86 town meeting - Waltham, MA - The Daily News Tribune](<a href=“Wicked Local | Waltham News Tribune”>Wicked Local | Waltham News Tribune)</p>

<p>She defended someone named Charles Solimini. One of the patolmen who arrested Amy was Ron Solimini. I remember reading that some police captain called to stop the booking. </p>

<p>Delahunt has stated that he was never told about Amy’s actions after leaving her house.</p>

<p>[Delahunt</a> defends actions in 1986 Bishop killing - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/delhaunt_and_ki.html]Delahunt”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/delhaunt_and_ki.html)</p>

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<p>The Captain’s name was Charles Solomini and the officer’s name was Ron. The article says they do not currently know the relationship (if any) between Charles and Ron. Ron is the one who gave a statement early in the process after the UAH shooting. He “recalled” a third gunshot into the kitchen ceiling although he was not part of the team that investigated and photographed the house/crime scene location.</p>

<p>Amy’s mother apparently could not deliver the votes for Capt. Solomini. Since Ron’s report was one of those that detailed the shotgun incident at the auto place (and he seemed critical of delaying the investigation), perhaps Ron was mad at Judy Bishop for not getting the retirement delay/waiver for Charles. </p>

<p>The old Police Chief (not Capt. or Officer Solomini) is the one who supposedly short-circuited the local investigation.</p>

<p>Has any official (local or state) come out and said that the assessment of an “accidental” shooting was incorrect? Seems they are trying to throw Polio under the bus, but the focus seems to now be that if Amy had been charged for what happened after she left the house with the shotgun, there would have been a mental examination/police record.</p>

<p>*Delahunt has stated that he was never told about Amy’s actions after leaving her house. *</p>

<p>Any worthwhile prosecutor would have asked since the behavior after an incident is often very telling.</p>

<p>Also…do we know what happened to the shotgun? Was it returned to the parents? Did they keep it in the home afterwards? (Did I miss this somewhere?)</p>

<p>"In fact, scientists who have looked at Dr. Bishop’s r</p>

<p>The shotgun? One local policeman’s report talks about it being impounded (at that time). I have no idea about after the decision was made at a local and state level to shut down the investigation.</p>

<p>Since it was not a murder weapon nor was it evidence in a criminal investigation, I imagine the police whould have no right to keep it. Amy’s dad’s statement details that he purshased it so I assume he got it back.</p>