Feature

2023 holiday gift guide

Allison Frick
Nov. 8, 2023

The holidays are just around the corner, so it's time for ASBMB Today's annual gift guide! We hope these suggestions will help you check some of your favorite scientists off this year’s gift list. And if you need even more ideas, see our guides from 2022 and 2021.

APPAREL

Methods Madness and Postdocs Rock shirts

ASBMB T-Shirts: Methods Madness and Postdocs Rock

Do you have anyone who works on mass spectrometry on your list, or a postdoc you’d like to thank? Check out ASBMB’s T-shirts. Our Methods Madness championship tee honors #TeamMassSpec, the three-time winner of the Journal of Biological Chemistry’s annual contest, and our Postdocs Rock shirt was designed to celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Not only will your purchase put a smile on someone’s face this holiday season, but proceeds from your order will support the ASBMB’s Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates and our Discover BMB Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Researcher Travel Award, respectively.

iPhone case

Microbiology iPhone case

OK, so we don’t technically wear our phones. But they certainly can make a fashion statement. PhD In The House is an Etsy shop dedicated to unique gifts for science enthusiasts. This iPhone case, featuring a variety of microorganisms, is just one of many great options for researchers. Check out the shop for T-shirts, stickers, mugs and more.

Enamel pipette pins

Pipette pin from Twisted Protein

The description of this pin from Twisted Protein on Etsy brilliantly sums up this great gift idea: “The pipette: Arguably one of the most used tools in the lab, except this one won't need to be calibrated!” Love it!

Pocket protector

Pocket protector

Some of us are OK embracing our inner nerd. Plus, a member of ASBMB’s staff suggested this would make a great gift card holder, and we couldn’t agree more!

TOYS AND ACTIVITIES (FOR KIDS AND ADULTS)

Barbie set

Barbie set

The “Barbie” movie was a blockbuster this year! This scientist-themed playset includes goggles, beakers, a microscope and more. It’s a great way to introduce the future scientist (and Barbie fan) on your list to the lab.

Stuffies

GiantMicrobes gift box

This gift box from Giant Microbes includes DNA, a nucleus, mitochondria, RNA and a chromosome. These are good for playing and displaying. And if you want one from the collection for yourself, we’ll have some at the ASBMB marketplace at Discover BMB in March in San Antonio.

Children’s coloring book

Neil Garg coloring book

Neil Garg, a professor at UCLA, won the 2019 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education. We’re thrilled to include this coloring book on this year’s gift guide, which Garg created with his daughters. Sucrose, aspirin, caffeine and cellulose are just a few of the book’s featured molecules.

Adult coloring book

Cellfies Adult coloring book

This coloring book will take #sciart fans “on an artistic voyage into the microscopic world of cells” with illustrations of cells from the brain, intestine, eye, lung, and more.

Biosafety Lego set

Biosafety Lego set

These LEGO® lab sets from ScienceGrit are advertised as a way to “indulge your nerdy heart and let your inner child run wild.” They’re sure to bring joy to the scientists on your list! (We’ll be giving away some at Discover BMB in March in San Antonio, so be sure to throw your name in the hat for that contest.)

Periodic table Blocks

Periodic table Blocks

Literally the building blocks of, well, everything, these will make a great study guide accompaniment to “The Element Song” by Tom Lehrer for the student on your list.

DECOR

Coasters

Coasters from The Calculated Chemist

The Calculated Chemist offers a variety of lovely gifts for scientists. This year, we’re highlighting their natural wood and resin chemistry coaster set. Be sure to shop their drinkware collection too, for a mug or tumbler to compliment the coasters!

Custom digital portrait

CartoonPortrait custom digital portrait

Give the biochemist or molecular biologist on your list a gift that’s as one-of-a-kind as they are! CartoonPortrait, a shop on Etsy, will create a custom portrait from the photo you provide of your colleague, friend or loved one.

DNA pencil holder

DNA pencil holder

Sure, mugs make great pencil holders, but they can’t turn your pencils into symbols of base pairs the way this double helix design from 3D Print New York can!

A LAB MUST-HAVE

Rocket Notebook

Rocket Notebook

Rocket Notebooks are digital notebooks — simply write, scan your pages, erase and reuse! It’s a great item for students or anyone on your list who needs to jot down ideas and would be excited about the opportunity to reduce waste and save some space.

BOOKS

Can a Bee Sting a Bee?: And Other Big Questions from Little People

Can a Bee Sting a Bee?: And Other Big Questions from Little People

This collection of questions from grade schoolers, answered by experts, in Gemma Elwin Harris’ book promises to be endearing — and informative! (Seriously, can a bee sting a bee?)

Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking

Culinary Reactions: The Everyday Chemistry of Cooking

Shopping for a scientist who’s also a chef or for someone whose New Year’s resolution might be to learn more about cooking? We think Simon Quellen Field’s cookbook will be a great addition (or start) to their collection.

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2023

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2023

Carl Zimmer and Jaime Green highlight 20 science and nature essays that “probe at the ordinary and urge us to think more deeply about our place in the world around us.” Striving to answer why and how is a passion of ASBMB members, and we thought this collection sounded like an interesting read for fellow curious scientists.

 

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition weekly.

Learn more
Allison Frick

Allison Frick is the ASBMB’s multimedia and social media content manager.

Related articles

The visa voyage
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
Embracing serendipity
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
Cities under the sea
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
A career challenge
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus
A road to survival
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Opinions

Opinions highlights or most popular articles

I am not a fake. I am authentically me
Essay

I am not a fake. I am authentically me

Dec. 5, 2024

Camellia Moses Okpodu explains why she believes the term “imposter syndrome” is inaccurate and should be replaced.

Where do we search for the fundamental stuff of life?
Essay

Where do we search for the fundamental stuff of life?

Dec. 1, 2024

Recent books by Thomas Cech and Sara Imari Walker offer two perspectives on where to look for the basic properties that define living things.

Scientists around the world report millions of new discoveries every year
Essay

Scientists around the world report millions of new discoveries every year

Nov. 24, 2024

Science is a collaborative endeavor, and international teams have contributed to a huge rise in scientific output.

Who decides when a grad student graduates?
Training

Who decides when a grad student graduates?

Nov. 15, 2024

Ph.D. programs often don’t have a set timeline. Students continue with their research until their thesis is done, which is where variability comes into play.

Redefining ‘what’s possible’ at the annual meeting
President's Message

Redefining ‘what’s possible’ at the annual meeting

Nov. 1, 2024

The ASBMB Annual Meeting is “a high-impact event — a worthwhile investment for all who are dedicated to advancing the field of biochemistry and molecular biology and their careers.”

Molecular impressions of water as cuneiform cascade*
Essay

Molecular impressions of water as cuneiform cascade*

Oct. 31, 2024

Inspired by "the most elegant depiction of H2O’s colligative features," Thomas Gorrell created a seven-tiered visual cascade of Sumerian characters beginning with the ancient sign for water.