Improbable Research

Bob Fitzmorris has joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS). Staci Adams, who nominated him, says:

It is with great excitement that I and the other members of the Zhang Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz nominate our fellow lab mate Bob to the prestigious Luxuriant and Flowing Hair Club for Scientists. Bob’s girlfriend Sarah has also been pivotal in assisting with the nomination process. Bob started to grow his hair out just before he started graduate school during the summer of 2008, proclaiming he wouldn’t cut it off until he received his Ph.D. His luxuriant and flowing locks represent nearly five years of growth and are evidence of his dedication to their cultivation and beauty. Bob often comments on the quality time he spends caring for his hair, particularly brushing it. Although it cannot be measured scientifically, Bob’s luxuriant and flowing hair has inspired him greatly in his quest to successfully synthesize quantum dots for solid state applications.

Robert “Bob” Carl Fitzmorris, LFHCfS
Ph.D. Candidate, Physical Chemistry
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California USA

Markus Janczyk has joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS). Roland Pfister, LFHcFs, who nominated him, says:

Markus has specialized in causing interference in various settings which he creates in the psychological laboratory. If not in the lab, he tries to cause an equal amount of trouble by his ragged, mountaineerish appearance that culminates in his (formerly luxuriant) hairstyle.

Markus Janczyk, Ph.D, LFHCfS
Research Associate
Cognitive Psychology
Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg
Würzburg, Germany

David Jones has joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS). He says:

I grew my hair before becoming a Scientist but know I can’t cut it as it is the perfect length for tying back out of my face in the Lab… and having short hair just isn’t going to work!  I am writing the final chapter of my PhD (on the characterisation of compounds in super-complex mixtures in crude oils) so I’ll soon be showing off my luxuriant locks in other science based establishments, whilst doing my PhD I have been compared to Jesus and Aragorn (I prefer the latter…) The picture shows me applying science to the destruction of sandcastles on Teignmouth beach in South Devon, UK. I hope you accept my application as membership of your club is just the thing that’ll get me the perfect job… (I was once asked if I would cut my hair for a position, I enquired if they would ask a female the same question, they said no and I didn’t get the job!)

David Jones, LFHCfS
PhD Research Student
Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group
Biogeochemistry Centre
University Of Plymouth
Plymouth, UK

Hong Kong

Kurt Verkest has joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS). He says:

I grew my hair to my mother’s annoyance 20 years ago, but it grew on me, so I keep it growing even though it no longer annoys her.

Kurt Verkest, BVSc, BVBiol, MANZCVS, PhD, LFHCfS
Director of Veterinary Education and Consultant in Oncology
Pets Central
Hong Kong

Anneleen Kool has joined the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS). Allison Perrigo, who nominated her, says:

Anneleen Kool is a systematist, ethnobotanist and future high-throughput next generation cryptozoologist of the highest rank. She has just successfully defended her dissertation at Uppsala University. It has been hypothesized that her long, luxuriant hair is a form of ornamental compensation, trying to make up for the small, scruffy and generally unimpressive group of plants she studies (see Kool et al 2007, Kool et al 2012).  However, as she moves on to work with bigger and more beautiful plants the hair remains.  Some day we hope to discover its true meaning.  Until then we can only gaze in wonder, as (in this photo) we watch the lab coat clad Dr. Kool ride off into the sunset on a camel, luxuriant hair trailing behind her. It doesn’t get cooler than that.

Anneleen Kool, PhD, LFHCfS
Lecturer
Botanical Garden
Natural History Museum
University of Oslo
Oslo, Norway