Dent: Yes. I like to keep a tally of the tips left in the box I'm using. Furthermore, I like to remove pipet tips in an ordered, rather than random, sequence.

Q: Would you rather have a paper in Cell or a million dollars?

Dent: A million dollars.

Q: Why?

Dent: If I had a million dollars, I could do science as a hobby. I could become a gentleman-scientist like Charles Darwin so I would be able to work on whatever I like, without worrying about research grants. However, I might choose the Cell paper if the money offer was for an amount significantly less than a million, such as $100,000.

Q: Would you rather be the president of the United States, Bill Gates, or a Nobel Prize laureate?

Dent: I guess I would choose the president of the United States.

Q: How would you rate your lab coffee on a scale of one to 10?

Dent: Zero. It's so bad that I don't drink it.

Q: Do you have a secret parking space at NIH?

Dent: Yes. In desperate situations, I park in an unmarked space in the corners of the MLPs (multilevel-parking buildings). Of course, I'm only telling you this because lately I've been walking to work.

Q: Since it's possible you may be leaving NIH within the next year for a job, would you continue to provide cartoons to The Catalyst, or do you have an heir apparent at NIH?

Dent: No, I'm not aware of any potential replacement. I have been asked by The Catalyst if I would consider continuing the comic strip, but I haven't decided yet.

Alex Dent with three treasured lab tools

Today the Quality of Life Award (for lifting NIH spirits), tomorrow the Nobel: Alex Dent displays the award he received in May; also standing is Michael Gottesman, deputy director for intramural research, who nominated him; and in front are Celia Hooper, NIH Catalyst scientific editor, who received her own award; and Sam Hooper (definitely a relation).