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B | POST: Condescension in science, how do you deal with it? As a young trainee I struggle interacting with condescending PI’s and other trainees. It’s surprising how many people I interact with have this character trait. As a young trainee I struggle not letting it affect me. I know their behaviour (and my response) probably stems from imposter syndrome and insecurity, but that doesn’t stop it from making me feel shitty. What are some strategies that work to respond to this kind of behaviour in a professional but respectful way?
RESPONSE A: Pay attention to how they treat other colleagues of yours that you respect. If they treat them the same way, you know they are being harsh. If they treat them better, try to emulate the best qualities you see and then fake it until you make it. But usually honest work ethic and sincerity will go a long way towards gaining the respect of your superiors (or at least those whose respect is worth having).
RESPONSE B: Learn to distinguish between their condescension and your ego. Looking back to the days when i was a trainee, many of the times I thought someone was being condescending, they weren’t actually being condescending. It was my ego getting in the way. If you read the above and instantly thought, “Yeah, but that’s not the case for *me*”, it’s almost certainly the case for you.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: Condescension in science, how do you deal with it? As a young trainee I struggle interacting with condescending PI’s and other trainees. It’s surprising how many people I interact with have this character trait. As a young trainee I struggle not letting it affect me. I know their behaviour (and my response) probably stems from imposter syndrome and insecurity, but that doesn’t stop it from making me feel shitty. What are some strategies that work to respond to this kind of behaviour in a professional but respectful way?
RESPONSE A: Work to outperform their expectations. Although you could professionally confront them about it, I think doing well is the best revenge, and will hopefully earn you their respect. Of course, if their behavior crosses the line there are other measures you should take, but if it's about your own confidence then it's important to build and believe in your own skillset. Best of luck!
RESPONSE B: You need to cultivate your ego. If you're working hard and you know you're being productive, this should be a "sticks and stones" situation.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: for this job, and that there are people struggling because of the pandemic. Right now I feel heartbroken about this, and also guilty for feeling heartbroken. I have zero major impediments in my life, but I'm at a loss how to process these feelings. ​ tl/dr: I can't complain but sometimes I still do
RESPONSE A: I would very likely get tenure next year at my R1 as one of the best funded PIs on campus. However, I am leaving. What helped me decide was to imagine how it would feel if I received tenure - the faculty meetings, teaching load assignments, politics etc I have not been treated well by my department and it felt awful. It's not how I want to spend the rest of my life, even though I love my research and feel responsible for my students. The trickier question then became... So what's next? What really excites me? Where is my passion in life? It took me a while to figure it out. I am currently being considered for two great positions, one in academia, one in industry. I applied to neither, they just... manifested? My reading of your story is that it wasn't actually the money that stopped you from going for the admin job. If you were truly excited about it, you would have gone for it. Write a vision board. Where do you truly want to be in five years from now? Oh... And the story you are telling yourself about being ungrateful? What's up with that? When you leave, someone else will have the chance to work there. Good luck!
RESPONSE B: I'm pretty far away from your situation, friend. I will say a TT position is a dream for most and perhaps you're not unhappy by your job but with your depression. If you're not already seeking therapy, I strongly recommend it. But besides that, ice found that what has truly made me feel good about my life was never my job but the things I do as hobbies. I like to code games, write fiction, play video games. The point is to find something that fulfills you because you can finish something with it. Finishing is a strong motivator for fighting depression. I hope you find happiness.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: when did you buy a house and was/is it difficult to pay for it? It feels like paying rent for 5-6 years for phd then like 4 years for post doc is a lot. I know there isn't a lot of money in academia, and I have already weighed my pros and cons and decided to pursue it for the time being, but I just want to make sure I can afford a house. ​ Thank you!
RESPONSE A: Given that you expressed concern over paying almost another decade of rent while you complete your PhD and postdoc, is it safe to say you've bought into the thinking that renting is throwing money away while a mortgage is basically a savings plan? While owning can be a good option for a lot of people in the long term, renting can have its own set of advantages that shouldn't be overlooked. Keep in mind that in the early stages of a mortgage, the majority of your payment goes toward interest, meaning you're only "saving" a small fraction. This equation changes the farther into the mortgage you go but it's unlikely your PhD, postdoc, and eventual job will be in the same city so you'll likely need to move, maybe even twice. If, while moving, you decide to upsize, then you're back where you started, paying a larger proportion in interest. That's to say nothing of realtor fees and the hassle of having your money tied up during the selling process. What if your house needs an unexpected repair? $30k+ for a new roof would be a huge burden for a PhD student but if you were renting it would be your landlord's problem. Yes, renting may be more expensive in the long term but in the short term it has its advantages and for those advantages you pay a premium. Whether or not it's a premium worth paying depends on your personal and financial circumstances as well as your risk tolerances. I'm not arguing for one over the other, just that you shouldn't feel bad about renting if it better suits your needs and lifestyle at the time. It isn't wasting money, it's paying for convenience.
RESPONSE B: 3 years into my second faculty position when we were relatively settled in one location.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: When did you buy a house and how did you afford it? I hope I am not positing on the wrong sub, please let me know if I am. I currently set on pursuing a PhD, followed by post docs and hopefully a more permeant position. For those of you who did pursue that track, when did you buy a house and was/is it difficult to pay for it? It feels like paying rent for 5-6 years for phd then like 4 years for post doc is a lot. I know there isn't a lot of money in academia, and I have already weighed my pros and cons and decided to pursue it for the time being, but I just want to make sure I can afford a house. ​ Thank you!
RESPONSE A: I bought a house at the beginning of the second year of my PhD. We sold that house about 6 months into my postdoc and upgraded into our “forever home.” This was only possible because I have a spouse with a nice government job - the kind you work for 25 years and get a pension. Because of his job and the stability associated with it, we agreed all along that I would not be making any big moves as part of my career, and I’m fortunate to live in an area with a lot of higher ed/biotech jobs, so it’s working out fine. For most people, it probably doesn’t make sense to buy a house, unless you can manage it early on during your PhD. I wouldn’t buy if I didn’t plan to stay there for 5 years or so; it’s just not worth the expense or hassle. Owning a home can be A LOT of work, and it can be expensive.
RESPONSE B: We bought a condo for PHD, best decision! Mortgage payment was cheaper than rent and made it all back at the end.. I think a condo is much safer route than a house especially looking at some of these comments. The condo association took care of small structural problems and you only have to worry about your unit
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: When applying for a teaching position, should you send them your full course outlines? So I’m finishing my PhD (humanities - Lang and Lit) and the perfect assistant professor job has opened up and I have been encouraged to apply. I have two courses that are pretty unique and I think the dept will like them both. My question is, when you apply to academic jobs, do you send them your module outlines or are you protective of your intellectual property? To be more specific, my outlines feature everything - week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc... I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I appreciate that may sound ridiculous, but I’m just curious what is common practice? I haven’t copyrighted anything... I don’t even know if you can copyright module outlines..? Any advice would be really appreciated!
RESPONSE A: No, too much info that they haven't asked about. That you have those modules ready to go is and indication of why they would like these is probably good cover letter material. They're already reading plenty of resumes they don't want to read syllabi too lol.
RESPONSE B: If the job call asks for it you should send it. If it doesn't you should not. We usually ask for stuff like that if you make the second round of the process.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: When applying for a teaching position, should you send them your full course outlines? So I’m finishing my PhD (humanities - Lang and Lit) and the perfect assistant professor job has opened up and I have been encouraged to apply. I have two courses that are pretty unique and I think the dept will like them both. My question is, when you apply to academic jobs, do you send them your module outlines or are you protective of your intellectual property? To be more specific, my outlines feature everything - week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc... I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I appreciate that may sound ridiculous, but I’m just curious what is common practice? I haven’t copyrighted anything... I don’t even know if you can copyright module outlines..? Any advice would be really appreciated!
RESPONSE A: If the job call asks for it you should send it. If it doesn't you should not. We usually ask for stuff like that if you make the second round of the process.
RESPONSE B: Send your best no one is gonna steal anything.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: When applying for a teaching position, should you send them your full course outlines? So I’m finishing my PhD (humanities - Lang and Lit) and the perfect assistant professor job has opened up and I have been encouraged to apply. I have two courses that are pretty unique and I think the dept will like them both. My question is, when you apply to academic jobs, do you send them your module outlines or are you protective of your intellectual property? To be more specific, my outlines feature everything - week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc... I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I appreciate that may sound ridiculous, but I’m just curious what is common practice? I haven’t copyrighted anything... I don’t even know if you can copyright module outlines..? Any advice would be really appreciated!
RESPONSE A: > I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I want to be kind here, and not just roll my eyes, so let me just say: this is never, ever, ever going to happen. Don't spend a moment worrying about it. Nothing you have in your syllabus is going to be so mind-blowingly unobvious and amazing that they would steal it and force another candidate to teach it. It's a very silly thing to worry about. And even if they did... who cares? Like, it would literally not hurt you if this happened. The only thing that would hurt you is if you don't get the job, and withholding materials because you are paranoid about them getting stolen is one way to accomplish that end.
RESPONSE B: Send your best no one is gonna steal anything.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: and I think the dept will like them both. My question is, when you apply to academic jobs, do you send them your module outlines or are you protective of your intellectual property? To be more specific, my outlines feature everything - week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc... I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I appreciate that may sound ridiculous, but I’m just curious what is common practice? I haven’t copyrighted anything... I don’t even know if you can copyright module outlines..? Any advice would be really appreciated!
RESPONSE A: > I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I want to be kind here, and not just roll my eyes, so let me just say: this is never, ever, ever going to happen. Don't spend a moment worrying about it. Nothing you have in your syllabus is going to be so mind-blowingly unobvious and amazing that they would steal it and force another candidate to teach it. It's a very silly thing to worry about. And even if they did... who cares? Like, it would literally not hurt you if this happened. The only thing that would hurt you is if you don't get the job, and withholding materials because you are paranoid about them getting stolen is one way to accomplish that end.
RESPONSE B: > week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc… That sounds like a lot more than an outline. I don’t think there’s any reason to be concerned about them stealing your ideas and giving them to another candidate (why would they even hire the other candidate if they didn’t trust them enough to let them develop their own courses?) but if you remain concerned maybe trim back to an actual outline, and not everything about the entire course.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: When applying for a teaching position, should you send them your full course outlines? So I’m finishing my PhD (humanities - Lang and Lit) and the perfect assistant professor job has opened up and I have been encouraged to apply. I have two courses that are pretty unique and I think the dept will like them both. My question is, when you apply to academic jobs, do you send them your module outlines or are you protective of your intellectual property? To be more specific, my outlines feature everything - week by week primary readings, secondary readings for seminars, methods of assessment, recommended reading lists etc etc... I was concerned “what if I send all these documents to demonstrate how prepared I am, they like my courses but prefer a different candidate so just reject me and ask the other candidate if they can teach my content?” I appreciate that may sound ridiculous, but I’m just curious what is common practice? I haven’t copyrighted anything... I don’t even know if you can copyright module outlines..? Any advice would be really appreciated!
RESPONSE A: Yes, actually, it is incredibly ridiculous to think that a hiring committee will like your course material so much yet will still not hire you and instead give that material to someone else. I hope once you get a job you'll be fine with sharing your course material and plans with other interested academics. You might find that sharing and collaborating can make them even better.
RESPONSE B: Send your best no one is gonna steal anything.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: How did you decide on getting a PhD? Hi everyone! I’m wrapping up my masters degree soon, and I find myself considering between a PhD and transferring to industry. Currently, I don’t have a research question that I’m dying to study for my PhD, and I’m worried that if I pursue a PhD without this purpose, I might not be able to handle another 5 years of hard work and low pay. I am still curious about getting a PhD, however. I was wondering how you, personally, chose your path into academia? Did you hope to stay in academia after or did you think a PhD sets you apart for industry? Did you go into it knowing what you want to study? Are you happy with your project now? For those of you who finished grad school and is looking for an industry job, is a PhD helpful? Would love to hear your stories and any advice you might have!
RESPONSE A: I worked in industry - as a professional - and realised that when I got promoted I would be a manager more than a scientist. So That's what made me decide to go back, do my PhD and follow an academic career
RESPONSE B: Was bored during the pandemic last 2020. I'm now about to write my dissertation.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: How did you decide on getting a PhD? Hi everyone! I’m wrapping up my masters degree soon, and I find myself considering between a PhD and transferring to industry. Currently, I don’t have a research question that I’m dying to study for my PhD, and I’m worried that if I pursue a PhD without this purpose, I might not be able to handle another 5 years of hard work and low pay. I am still curious about getting a PhD, however. I was wondering how you, personally, chose your path into academia? Did you hope to stay in academia after or did you think a PhD sets you apart for industry? Did you go into it knowing what you want to study? Are you happy with your project now? For those of you who finished grad school and is looking for an industry job, is a PhD helpful? Would love to hear your stories and any advice you might have!
RESPONSE A: The only reason to get a PhD is if you want a job that requires a PhD.
RESPONSE B: I worked in industry - as a professional - and realised that when I got promoted I would be a manager more than a scientist. So That's what made me decide to go back, do my PhD and follow an academic career
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: When did you start writing your PhD thesis? Social Sciences PhD Candidate here. I'm about to defend my project proposal. But I have a lot of literature in my Zotero library, I am thinking of starting to write the literature review chapter. Is it too early to do that since I have not yet begun recruitement and data collection?
RESPONSE A: I wrote one during 3rd year that I submitted for pub and the peer review process has been crazy helpful in a lot of ways useful to my later experiments.
RESPONSE B: I’m in the social sciences too. I don’t think you can ever be too early really. As long as you have your framework and key questions mapped out you can start writing it up. Just be prepared to have to edit it as you find more supporting information.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: When did you start writing your PhD thesis? Social Sciences PhD Candidate here. I'm about to defend my project proposal. But I have a lot of literature in my Zotero library, I am thinking of starting to write the literature review chapter. Is it too early to do that since I have not yet begun recruitement and data collection?
RESPONSE A: I’m in the social sciences too. I don’t think you can ever be too early really. As long as you have your framework and key questions mapped out you can start writing it up. Just be prepared to have to edit it as you find more supporting information.
RESPONSE B: TBD
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: When did you start writing your PhD thesis? Social Sciences PhD Candidate here. I'm about to defend my project proposal. But I have a lot of literature in my Zotero library, I am thinking of starting to write the literature review chapter. Is it too early to do that since I have not yet begun recruitement and data collection?
RESPONSE A: I'm from engineering background but it is mostly the same for everyone. It is never too early to start writing literature review. It is usually better to start writing in third year when there is not too much pressure to write papers. You can always add to the chapter in the future of you wish
RESPONSE B: Straight away. Your lit review is part of your thesis. I’d imagine you began the PhD process by reviewing the literature. Write all of that stuff down as you read it.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: When did you start writing your PhD thesis? Social Sciences PhD Candidate here. I'm about to defend my project proposal. But I have a lot of literature in my Zotero library, I am thinking of starting to write the literature review chapter. Is it too early to do that since I have not yet begun recruitement and data collection?
RESPONSE A: I mainly wrote my thesis in my last year. I cannot imagine any disadvantage to starting as early as you possibly can.
RESPONSE B: Straight away. Your lit review is part of your thesis. I’d imagine you began the PhD process by reviewing the literature. Write all of that stuff down as you read it.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: When did you start writing your PhD thesis? Social Sciences PhD Candidate here. I'm about to defend my project proposal. But I have a lot of literature in my Zotero library, I am thinking of starting to write the literature review chapter. Is it too early to do that since I have not yet begun recruitement and data collection?
RESPONSE A: Straight away. Your lit review is part of your thesis. I’d imagine you began the PhD process by reviewing the literature. Write all of that stuff down as you read it.
RESPONSE B: I wrote one during 3rd year that I submitted for pub and the peer review process has been crazy helpful in a lot of ways useful to my later experiments.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: school/early college level material (think pre-calc through linear algebra and differential equations, with the occasional upper division physics course) I find myself feeling like my real analysis muscle would be handy... or that I should have taken that topology course that semester... or that I could use a bit more number theory (as in any...). These kids eat up everything I offer and the perspective my few upper division math course gave me has been so useful. Now I find myself learning random math things to throw to them like red meat to starving lions. A chapter and a half of a book here, a few lectures from a youtube lecture there. I hate not having answers for the kids so I have to keep learning. It's a good problem to have. I know, I know, I have a PhD, why cant I self study? What can I say? I like the environment of the classroom and I like interacting with an instructor. I think I'd get a much more complete picture of the topics with the structure of homeworks exams and grades etc. I respond well to that kind of stimuli. So what I'm wondering is Am I crazy? Is something like this ever done? Have I forgotten what a huge amount of work this is? Is maintaining a busy job even remotely possible while trying to do a masters in math? Also I dont want the teaching masters. I just want the math courses, not the pedagogy courses.
RESPONSE A: I think that if it's something you'd truly want to do for the fulfillment of just *doing* it, it should be viewed almost the same as an older person auditing classes cheaply/freely after they retire. Except, y'know, you'd be paying for it. At this point, you shouldn't really be caring about grades or the degree since you have a more advanced one, so I'd question actually wanting to take it for credit or the MS. Instead, if you want to take a course, you should probably just audit it, no? It's up to you how badly you wanna do it. If taking some classes would make you happy and you can realistically afford to do it, go for it!
RESPONSE B: Yes
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: that I should have taken that topology course that semester... or that I could use a bit more number theory (as in any...). These kids eat up everything I offer and the perspective my few upper division math course gave me has been so useful. Now I find myself learning random math things to throw to them like red meat to starving lions. A chapter and a half of a book here, a few lectures from a youtube lecture there. I hate not having answers for the kids so I have to keep learning. It's a good problem to have. I know, I know, I have a PhD, why cant I self study? What can I say? I like the environment of the classroom and I like interacting with an instructor. I think I'd get a much more complete picture of the topics with the structure of homeworks exams and grades etc. I respond well to that kind of stimuli. So what I'm wondering is Am I crazy? Is something like this ever done? Have I forgotten what a huge amount of work this is? Is maintaining a busy job even remotely possible while trying to do a masters in math? Also I dont want the teaching masters. I just want the math courses, not the pedagogy courses.
RESPONSE A: If you have the money and the time, why not? But if you're going to find it difficult to balance you time and if it's going to be expensive then yes it is terrible idea.
RESPONSE B: I think that if it's something you'd truly want to do for the fulfillment of just *doing* it, it should be viewed almost the same as an older person auditing classes cheaply/freely after they retire. Except, y'know, you'd be paying for it. At this point, you shouldn't really be caring about grades or the degree since you have a more advanced one, so I'd question actually wanting to take it for credit or the MS. Instead, if you want to take a course, you should probably just audit it, no? It's up to you how badly you wanna do it. If taking some classes would make you happy and you can realistically afford to do it, go for it!
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: variety of fields. I'm a learning technologist, sitting next to an algorithms guy, who is opposite someone doing dynamic compiler techniques. We've nothing in common in terms of research. We don't participate in taught courses like the US students do. We're soley research. Our community includes a lot of non-native English speakers, some from cultures that are far more retiring and less outgoing than your typical Brit or American. This makes them less confident to engage with clever word games or political discussions that might serve to bring the rest of us together. How can we foster some community here? I'm particularly looking for long running ideas, rather than team-building away days etc. My ideas so far: * Bay Maps - each bay produces a map of who sits where, and these are stuck prominently on the opposite wall or somewhere. That way, people can match a name to a face to a desk. * Food - We had a mini claw machine for grabbing sweets. People would wander into our bay to play for a sweet. It broke after heavy use. We're also wondering about periodically ordering a fruit or dessert platter in to one of the bays for everyone to share. * Caption Competition - Each week a picture is put up, and people invent funny captions for it. Last weeks winner picks next weeks picture. I did this in a lab with lots of English students and it was great. I don't think this will work for our lab, where language will get in the way. Any variations you can think of? Weekly opinion polls stuck to the wall perhaps, or open questions: "What is your favourite diagramming tool?" Do you have any other ideas your could share? Thanks!
RESPONSE A: I'm in a group of ~10 right now and we like to have lunch at the same time (bring or buy, everyone who's available that day just goes and sits in the cafeteria), just talking about whatever. Maybe you could start with a small group and once you get a nucleus rolling then more people will join.
RESPONSE B: Some ideas I implemented at Maryland to try to build community: * Weekly happy hours * Movie nights * Paper clinics near deadlines * Lab t-shirts
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: of fields. I'm a learning technologist, sitting next to an algorithms guy, who is opposite someone doing dynamic compiler techniques. We've nothing in common in terms of research. We don't participate in taught courses like the US students do. We're soley research. Our community includes a lot of non-native English speakers, some from cultures that are far more retiring and less outgoing than your typical Brit or American. This makes them less confident to engage with clever word games or political discussions that might serve to bring the rest of us together. How can we foster some community here? I'm particularly looking for long running ideas, rather than team-building away days etc. My ideas so far: * Bay Maps - each bay produces a map of who sits where, and these are stuck prominently on the opposite wall or somewhere. That way, people can match a name to a face to a desk. * Food - We had a mini claw machine for grabbing sweets. People would wander into our bay to play for a sweet. It broke after heavy use. We're also wondering about periodically ordering a fruit or dessert platter in to one of the bays for everyone to share. * Caption Competition - Each week a picture is put up, and people invent funny captions for it. Last weeks winner picks next weeks picture. I did this in a lab with lots of English students and it was great. I don't think this will work for our lab, where language will get in the way. Any variations you can think of? Weekly opinion polls stuck to the wall perhaps, or open questions: "What is your favourite diagramming tool?" Do you have any other ideas your could share? Thanks!
RESPONSE A: Some ideas I implemented at Maryland to try to build community: * Weekly happy hours * Movie nights * Paper clinics near deadlines * Lab t-shirts
RESPONSE B: In the labs I've been in (all US) food, alcohol, and a work sanctioned afternoon off are often a way to get people out. My fiance's department does weekly happy hour where a different lab 'hosts' each week. Some of them definitely get into competing to see who can bring the best food without being extravagant.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: 'm particularly looking for long running ideas, rather than team-building away days etc. My ideas so far: * Bay Maps - each bay produces a map of who sits where, and these are stuck prominently on the opposite wall or somewhere. That way, people can match a name to a face to a desk. * Food - We had a mini claw machine for grabbing sweets. People would wander into our bay to play for a sweet. It broke after heavy use. We're also wondering about periodically ordering a fruit or dessert platter in to one of the bays for everyone to share. * Caption Competition - Each week a picture is put up, and people invent funny captions for it. Last weeks winner picks next weeks picture. I did this in a lab with lots of English students and it was great. I don't think this will work for our lab, where language will get in the way. Any variations you can think of? Weekly opinion polls stuck to the wall perhaps, or open questions: "What is your favourite diagramming tool?" Do you have any other ideas your could share? Thanks!
RESPONSE A: Some ideas I implemented at Maryland to try to build community: * Weekly happy hours * Movie nights * Paper clinics near deadlines * Lab t-shirts
RESPONSE B: Your layout sounds very similar to the office I'm currently in. Most groups have a "Who's who" print out with names and pictures at the end of their bay (it's roughly one group to a bay here), so like your bay maps. I think they're really useful. Food/drink is a great way to get people to socialise. We have a small kitchen area which helps as people chat while making tea/coffee / heating up food - don't know if that's an option for you. We also have semi-regular pub nights for birthdays, viva celebrations, Christmas, etc - for birthdays people often extend an open invitation to the whole office even people they don't know. It might be possible to organise a weekly (?) communal tea/coffee break where drinks and biscuits are provided and the idea is to socialise within the office?
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: Birthday gift idea for communication professor starting her first full-time job this fall Hello everyone. After years of adjuncting and working toward finishing her PhD, my wife managed to snag her first full-time teaching gig, starting this coming fall semester. We couldn't be more thrilled. We packed up the family and moved into a new house in a new state, and now that the dust is finally settling I'm remembering I need to get her a birthday gift. So with that in mind, I'd like to get her something for her office or in some way related to her new job, as this is such a huge deal for our family and I'm so proud of her. So is there anything you'd recommend for a new communication professor starting her first full-time job? Thank you!
RESPONSE A: Ergonomic mouse pad and keyboard. Save her wrists as she writes out those long grants and pubs.
RESPONSE B: A Herman Miller Aeron. Will absolutely make her day to day work life that much better.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: Birthday gift idea for communication professor starting her first full-time job this fall Hello everyone. After years of adjuncting and working toward finishing her PhD, my wife managed to snag her first full-time teaching gig, starting this coming fall semester. We couldn't be more thrilled. We packed up the family and moved into a new house in a new state, and now that the dust is finally settling I'm remembering I need to get her a birthday gift. So with that in mind, I'd like to get her something for her office or in some way related to her new job, as this is such a huge deal for our family and I'm so proud of her. So is there anything you'd recommend for a new communication professor starting her first full-time job? Thank you!
RESPONSE A: A nice bag or briefcase, name plate, framed pic of the family for the office, nice pens
RESPONSE B: A Herman Miller Aeron. Will absolutely make her day to day work life that much better.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: Professors of reddit, when you tell a student to draft their own letter of recommendation and make "small edits", what do you actually change?
RESPONSE A: I'd redraft the letter in my own voice - this would take 15-30 minutes.
RESPONSE B: I don't generally ask anyone who isn't a PhD student to draft a LoR, as they don't really understand how to do it. It's good practice for PhD students, as they'll be writing them soon enough if they go into academia. For undergrads and Master's students I ask for a CV, copies of any relevant papers and I look up their student record. That said, I usually shine them up considerably, if they are worthy. Students usually undersell themselves or don't put enough emphasis on the right bits of their achievements. They don't have the perspective of why what they did was so interesting and important. After I submit them I often share them with the student, so they'll see what needs to go in them the next time.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: Professors of reddit, when you tell a student to draft their own letter of recommendation and make "small edits", what do you actually change?
RESPONSE A: I don't generally ask anyone who isn't a PhD student to draft a LoR, as they don't really understand how to do it. It's good practice for PhD students, as they'll be writing them soon enough if they go into academia. For undergrads and Master's students I ask for a CV, copies of any relevant papers and I look up their student record. That said, I usually shine them up considerably, if they are worthy. Students usually undersell themselves or don't put enough emphasis on the right bits of their achievements. They don't have the perspective of why what they did was so interesting and important. After I submit them I often share them with the student, so they'll see what needs to go in them the next time.
RESPONSE B: When I did this for my old PI, he said he agreed with everything but changed one sentence so that it read “the lab experience was valuable to backwardinduction1”, where before I had written, “the lab experience was valuable to me (the PI)”. Basically it’s because he didn’t want to perpetuate the mentor-slave stereotype of academic relationships.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: Professors of reddit, when you tell a student to draft their own letter of recommendation and make "small edits", what do you actually change?
RESPONSE A: When I did this for my old PI, he said he agreed with everything but changed one sentence so that it read “the lab experience was valuable to backwardinduction1”, where before I had written, “the lab experience was valuable to me (the PI)”. Basically it’s because he didn’t want to perpetuate the mentor-slave stereotype of academic relationships.
RESPONSE B: If you have a professor ask you to draft your own letter, I recommend finding another person to write a letter for you. There are too many red flag implications - the professor might not know you as well as you think they do, the professor is lazy and won't give you the well-crafted letter you deserve, etc. What a professor *should* ask is what you want them to highlight in the letter. You are trying to sell yourself to a school or company, and you should do so by touting your experience. Letter writers should back-up that experience in the letters, and explain relevant details. tl;dr - If a prof wants you to write the whole thing OR won't take any feedback from you about what to put in it, find someone else.
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A | POST: If competition for faculty positions is so intense, why are there so many complaints about the quality of research? I hear the following two claims quite often - 1. Getting a faculty position is tough, and even the top graduates from the top grad schools have trouble finding faculty positions at the most prestigious schools. 2. Most papers that are being published are not of high quality, while innovative and meaningful research is only done at the top schools and research institutes. If the first claim is true, then shouldn't those top students and postdocs that end up at less prestigious schools and research institutes still be producing high quality research?
RESPONSE A: To succeed in academia, you need lots of publications. You can spend 2 years crafting a great paper that will get into a top journal, or you can pump out 5 mediocre papers to mediocre journals. Generally speaking, the latter is much better for your career, so that's what happens.
RESPONSE B: There is also a problem of what is valued depending on what tier of University you work at. A higher tier University may have tenure standards of 7 high profile journal publications in 6 years, while a lower tier school says you need 12 papers, profile doesn't matter, in the same time period. Even well-trained new faculty (who presumably want tenure) are going to end up publishing research that is not up to the standards they were trained by, because that is what their boss wants.
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B | POST: If competition for faculty positions is so intense, why are there so many complaints about the quality of research? I hear the following two claims quite often - 1. Getting a faculty position is tough, and even the top graduates from the top grad schools have trouble finding faculty positions at the most prestigious schools. 2. Most papers that are being published are not of high quality, while innovative and meaningful research is only done at the top schools and research institutes. If the first claim is true, then shouldn't those top students and postdocs that end up at less prestigious schools and research institutes still be producing high quality research?
RESPONSE A: There is also a problem of what is valued depending on what tier of University you work at. A higher tier University may have tenure standards of 7 high profile journal publications in 6 years, while a lower tier school says you need 12 papers, profile doesn't matter, in the same time period. Even well-trained new faculty (who presumably want tenure) are going to end up publishing research that is not up to the standards they were trained by, because that is what their boss wants.
RESPONSE B: Maybe I'm just naive but I don't think 2 is true. Most of the papers I read are darn good papers. There is 1 group I can think of that is so blindingly incompetent I don't know how they're still around. Other than them, I rarely come across papers and think, "What is this crap!"
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B | POST: If competition for faculty positions is so intense, why are there so many complaints about the quality of research? I hear the following two claims quite often - 1. Getting a faculty position is tough, and even the top graduates from the top grad schools have trouble finding faculty positions at the most prestigious schools. 2. Most papers that are being published are not of high quality, while innovative and meaningful research is only done at the top schools and research institutes. If the first claim is true, then shouldn't those top students and postdocs that end up at less prestigious schools and research institutes still be producing high quality research?
RESPONSE A: There is also a problem of what is valued depending on what tier of University you work at. A higher tier University may have tenure standards of 7 high profile journal publications in 6 years, while a lower tier school says you need 12 papers, profile doesn't matter, in the same time period. Even well-trained new faculty (who presumably want tenure) are going to end up publishing research that is not up to the standards they were trained by, because that is what their boss wants.
RESPONSE B: Don't forget that people at less than the top schools have other demands on their time. More committee work, more administrative work, and more time spent with students because all of these are valued more at some institutions. This means the actual time you have to do research (and the expectations for your position) are quite different at different institutions.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: If competition for faculty positions is so intense, why are there so many complaints about the quality of research? I hear the following two claims quite often - 1. Getting a faculty position is tough, and even the top graduates from the top grad schools have trouble finding faculty positions at the most prestigious schools. 2. Most papers that are being published are not of high quality, while innovative and meaningful research is only done at the top schools and research institutes. If the first claim is true, then shouldn't those top students and postdocs that end up at less prestigious schools and research institutes still be producing high quality research?
RESPONSE A: There is also a problem of what is valued depending on what tier of University you work at. A higher tier University may have tenure standards of 7 high profile journal publications in 6 years, while a lower tier school says you need 12 papers, profile doesn't matter, in the same time period. Even well-trained new faculty (who presumably want tenure) are going to end up publishing research that is not up to the standards they were trained by, because that is what their boss wants.
RESPONSE B: Maybe the top institutes can produce more / better papers due to more funding? > innovative and meaningful research is only done at the top schools and research institutes This is not true. It's not "only" done there.
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B | POST: Are there any famous engineers or people who worked in the stem field that also excelled in other fields like English literature, philosophy, and so on? The title says it all. I think Wittgenstein studied something within the stem field, but he became also a philosopher. The reason I'm asking this question is because, today I was asked if I would study stem if it didn't have such a high demand in the job market? As in, you would not get a high pay for your job, and I said no because I am studying something so I can get a high-paying job later and don't have to worry about financial instability (assuming that I play my cards right). This is of course the sad reality that many of us have to face today, I much rather had studied sociology and philosophy if it would lead to a high-paying job, because I enjoy it and like to read about it on my spare-time. It's something that many people are interested in subconsciously, because philosophy helps with critical thinking skills, and who doesn't want that? If you are interested in English literature, you are going to have a good vocabulary probably, and also being well read. with the sociology, you will be able to analyze human social interaction from a macro and micro perspective, and seeing patterns that are not usually seen by people. I have to know the limitations of being someone who work within the stem field, and being able to do things outside of work that you enjoy. I know some will probably say that if you enjoy something and you do it well, you will become successful and make good money, but I don't think it's possible to stand out that much in e.g. philosophy and sociology, there are already plenty of people that are very successful.
RESPONSE A: Sir Isaac Newton was also a fairly radical theologian. Most of his theological works were not published in his lifetime because they were too heterodox for the Church of England.
RESPONSE B: How about Isaac Asimov? He had a PhD in Biochemistry and taught as a professor for a few years before his writing became his primary focus.
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B | POST: if I would study stem if it didn't have such a high demand in the job market? As in, you would not get a high pay for your job, and I said no because I am studying something so I can get a high-paying job later and don't have to worry about financial instability (assuming that I play my cards right). This is of course the sad reality that many of us have to face today, I much rather had studied sociology and philosophy if it would lead to a high-paying job, because I enjoy it and like to read about it on my spare-time. It's something that many people are interested in subconsciously, because philosophy helps with critical thinking skills, and who doesn't want that? If you are interested in English literature, you are going to have a good vocabulary probably, and also being well read. with the sociology, you will be able to analyze human social interaction from a macro and micro perspective, and seeing patterns that are not usually seen by people. I have to know the limitations of being someone who work within the stem field, and being able to do things outside of work that you enjoy. I know some will probably say that if you enjoy something and you do it well, you will become successful and make good money, but I don't think it's possible to stand out that much in e.g. philosophy and sociology, there are already plenty of people that are very successful.
RESPONSE A: OMG ok I am on the same boat as you kinda. I love writing. I won't say I am good at it but I like it and I think I have a unique perspective that could shed light on things in a whole new way (a cliche i know). But I also want to contribute something meaningful in STEM and have started my PhD in Neuroscience this year and I want to do it in Molecular Neuroscience (Not Behavioral), but I do still love writing, so that's my backup (yes you can laugh despite it being true). I know it is farfetched but... what cool thing was not?
RESPONSE B: How about Isaac Asimov? He had a PhD in Biochemistry and taught as a professor for a few years before his writing became his primary focus.
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B | POST: study stem if it didn't have such a high demand in the job market? As in, you would not get a high pay for your job, and I said no because I am studying something so I can get a high-paying job later and don't have to worry about financial instability (assuming that I play my cards right). This is of course the sad reality that many of us have to face today, I much rather had studied sociology and philosophy if it would lead to a high-paying job, because I enjoy it and like to read about it on my spare-time. It's something that many people are interested in subconsciously, because philosophy helps with critical thinking skills, and who doesn't want that? If you are interested in English literature, you are going to have a good vocabulary probably, and also being well read. with the sociology, you will be able to analyze human social interaction from a macro and micro perspective, and seeing patterns that are not usually seen by people. I have to know the limitations of being someone who work within the stem field, and being able to do things outside of work that you enjoy. I know some will probably say that if you enjoy something and you do it well, you will become successful and make good money, but I don't think it's possible to stand out that much in e.g. philosophy and sociology, there are already plenty of people that are very successful.
RESPONSE A: OMG ok I am on the same boat as you kinda. I love writing. I won't say I am good at it but I like it and I think I have a unique perspective that could shed light on things in a whole new way (a cliche i know). But I also want to contribute something meaningful in STEM and have started my PhD in Neuroscience this year and I want to do it in Molecular Neuroscience (Not Behavioral), but I do still love writing, so that's my backup (yes you can laugh despite it being true). I know it is farfetched but... what cool thing was not?
RESPONSE B: Sir Isaac Newton was also a fairly radical theologian. Most of his theological works were not published in his lifetime because they were too heterodox for the Church of England.
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A | POST: if I would study stem if it didn't have such a high demand in the job market? As in, you would not get a high pay for your job, and I said no because I am studying something so I can get a high-paying job later and don't have to worry about financial instability (assuming that I play my cards right). This is of course the sad reality that many of us have to face today, I much rather had studied sociology and philosophy if it would lead to a high-paying job, because I enjoy it and like to read about it on my spare-time. It's something that many people are interested in subconsciously, because philosophy helps with critical thinking skills, and who doesn't want that? If you are interested in English literature, you are going to have a good vocabulary probably, and also being well read. with the sociology, you will be able to analyze human social interaction from a macro and micro perspective, and seeing patterns that are not usually seen by people. I have to know the limitations of being someone who work within the stem field, and being able to do things outside of work that you enjoy. I know some will probably say that if you enjoy something and you do it well, you will become successful and make good money, but I don't think it's possible to stand out that much in e.g. philosophy and sociology, there are already plenty of people that are very successful.
RESPONSE A: There's an overlap between math and philosophy (logic and formal epistemology), so you'll find philosophers with mathematical accomplishments and vice versa.
RESPONSE B: OMG ok I am on the same boat as you kinda. I love writing. I won't say I am good at it but I like it and I think I have a unique perspective that could shed light on things in a whole new way (a cliche i know). But I also want to contribute something meaningful in STEM and have started my PhD in Neuroscience this year and I want to do it in Molecular Neuroscience (Not Behavioral), but I do still love writing, so that's my backup (yes you can laugh despite it being true). I know it is farfetched but... what cool thing was not?
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: is because, today I was asked if I would study stem if it didn't have such a high demand in the job market? As in, you would not get a high pay for your job, and I said no because I am studying something so I can get a high-paying job later and don't have to worry about financial instability (assuming that I play my cards right). This is of course the sad reality that many of us have to face today, I much rather had studied sociology and philosophy if it would lead to a high-paying job, because I enjoy it and like to read about it on my spare-time. It's something that many people are interested in subconsciously, because philosophy helps with critical thinking skills, and who doesn't want that? If you are interested in English literature, you are going to have a good vocabulary probably, and also being well read. with the sociology, you will be able to analyze human social interaction from a macro and micro perspective, and seeing patterns that are not usually seen by people. I have to know the limitations of being someone who work within the stem field, and being able to do things outside of work that you enjoy. I know some will probably say that if you enjoy something and you do it well, you will become successful and make good money, but I don't think it's possible to stand out that much in e.g. philosophy and sociology, there are already plenty of people that are very successful.
RESPONSE A: Blaise Pascal, inventor of the first calculating machine, developed probability theory, and wrote *Pensées*.
RESPONSE B: OMG ok I am on the same boat as you kinda. I love writing. I won't say I am good at it but I like it and I think I have a unique perspective that could shed light on things in a whole new way (a cliche i know). But I also want to contribute something meaningful in STEM and have started my PhD in Neuroscience this year and I want to do it in Molecular Neuroscience (Not Behavioral), but I do still love writing, so that's my backup (yes you can laugh despite it being true). I know it is farfetched but... what cool thing was not?
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: What are some free/inexpensive online certifications that would meaningfully improve a CV for those of us on the job market or in adjunct limbo?
RESPONSE A: In my STEM field there are lots of online workshops for implementing real data into undergrad classes, new techniques, diversity workshops... all online. If you are geology-related field, Integrate is a good starting point for this kind of thing. Disclaimer: I am not a tenured prof. But it seems like it’d be good. Hopefully someone more seasoned than myself can weigh in here.
RESPONSE B: I'm in a non-STEM field and I would say that, instead of getting online certifications, the better use of time would be to figure out what the teaching and service buzzwords/hot topics are in your field and develop meaningful talking points around them. In my field, for instance, formative assessment is the super hot topic, and everyone is grappling with how to do more of it. I can't tell you the number of candidates I've come across in the last five years, however, who look like a deer in the headlights when asked about it. Candidates coming out of top 5 programs seem particularly at risk for being caught off guard by those kinds of questions for some reason. If a candidate could come into an interview and talk meaningfully about formative assessment, flipped classrooms, online course development, etc., that would go so much further than having a line on their CV about Blackboard or Coursera certification.
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A | POST: What are some free/inexpensive online certifications that would meaningfully improve a CV for those of us on the job market or in adjunct limbo?
RESPONSE A: I'm in a non-STEM field and I would say that, instead of getting online certifications, the better use of time would be to figure out what the teaching and service buzzwords/hot topics are in your field and develop meaningful talking points around them. In my field, for instance, formative assessment is the super hot topic, and everyone is grappling with how to do more of it. I can't tell you the number of candidates I've come across in the last five years, however, who look like a deer in the headlights when asked about it. Candidates coming out of top 5 programs seem particularly at risk for being caught off guard by those kinds of questions for some reason. If a candidate could come into an interview and talk meaningfully about formative assessment, flipped classrooms, online course development, etc., that would go so much further than having a line on their CV about Blackboard or Coursera certification.
RESPONSE B: Depends on what job you're applying for.
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B | POST: What are some free/inexpensive online certifications that would meaningfully improve a CV for those of us on the job market or in adjunct limbo?
RESPONSE A: CompTIA A+ the IT field is always short handed and looking for people with an A+ you are guaranteed to find a job within 3 months. When I got my certs and posted my application on Indeed I got calls non-stop.
RESPONSE B: Publications. Time should be spent on publications, not certifications. Even if you are going for a teaching position, publications are still important, even more so if you are looking to stay at a university. One way to merge the two is publish on pedagogy. This establishes you as an expert on teaching and shows you are a productive scholar.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: What are some free/inexpensive online certifications that would meaningfully improve a CV for those of us on the job market or in adjunct limbo?
RESPONSE A: Publications. Time should be spent on publications, not certifications. Even if you are going for a teaching position, publications are still important, even more so if you are looking to stay at a university. One way to merge the two is publish on pedagogy. This establishes you as an expert on teaching and shows you are a productive scholar.
RESPONSE B: you can email some editors and ask if they have anything on their desk that needs review--book, journal article, etc...
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: What are some free/inexpensive online certifications that would meaningfully improve a CV for those of us on the job market or in adjunct limbo?
RESPONSE A: There was an askreddit for this and it had A LOT of suggestions. Try to look at top of all time and u may see it
RESPONSE B: Publications. Time should be spent on publications, not certifications. Even if you are going for a teaching position, publications are still important, even more so if you are looking to stay at a university. One way to merge the two is publish on pedagogy. This establishes you as an expert on teaching and shows you are a productive scholar.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: I'm assuming there a lot of crossover between this sub and the sub for your subdiscipline. Do all the "disciplinary" subs get obvious undergrads looking for homework/quiz answers, or just social sicence? The number of questions that are obvious homework/quiz questions from undergrads always seems to go up this time of year (and the end of April). Is it a social science problem (cause we write in text; I can't imagine what trying to type a complex formula (double integrations anyone?) is like here) or do all subs for academic disciplines have this problem?
RESPONSE A: All the time! The best part, though, is that the people who answer don't usually know what they're doing.
RESPONSE B: Allll the time, and they are just so deeply transparent. Plus when anyone tries to give advice on where to find the answer vs. just doing their homework for them, they don't bother ever responding.
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A | POST: s always seems to go up this time of year (and the end of April). Is it a social science problem (cause we write in text; I can't imagine what trying to type a complex formula (double integrations anyone?) is like here) or do all subs for academic disciplines have this problem?
RESPONSE A: r/chemistry has historically been mostly freshman chemistry memes/pictures from teaching labs/questions about how to do a problem or about a concept, which I have no problem with so long as it isn't "give me the answer to this question". However the second most common genre is probably "look what happened when I mixed some shit together at home", with it mostly being pretty harmless and sometimes being dangerous. Then with third place being "how does this common home/workshop chemistry thing work" or "it isn't working please tell me what I'm doing wrong", with 80% of the answers being wrong and sometimes hilariously so. I don't spend much time there and I don't think that many PhDs do. The last time I tried someone tried to (very incorrectly) tell me that I was wrong about a fairly basic matter in electrochemistry (I'm an electrochemist). They had no evidence and could verify what I was saying with a simple google search, but repeatedly refused even when I very patiently tried to walk them through it/suggest they might be misremembering. EDIT: For whatever reason the sub looks like it has more interesting professional discussion going on right now, but I'm not going to buy that it's changed bunch unless it stays that way for a while.
RESPONSE B: Fluid mechanics is commonly viewed as one of the tougher undergrad engineering/physics courses, so we get a ton of thinly veiled (and some not veiled at all) homework questions, especially at the end of the semester. The sub just has a policy that homework questions are allowed as long as you include some attempt at what you've done to try to solve the problem so far and an explanation of where you're stuck. Fortunately the people there are good about not just giving the answer and instead tend to give hints/nudging in the right direction instead.
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A | POST: PhD students/PhDs that have undergrad major in different area than their PhD: Why did you focus on something else? How difficult was the transition? What would you advise someone who wants to do the same? [X-Post r/AskReddit]
RESPONSE A: My undergrad was in computer science, PhD in computational physics. Not a complete change by any means, but a modest transition; had to do a fair amount of reading, and brushing up on the necessary maths in particular. What I would say is that you have to have legitimate interest in the topic you're going into. You're effectively on your own trying to bridge the gap, and don't underestimate how wide that gap can be. I read voraciously in the first year or two in particular (even in comparison to the average PhD student) trying to catch up. Worked out well, though - if anything, I think not knowing as much about the field going in, combined with a drive to learn, forced a certain systematic thoroughness in approach.
RESPONSE B: I got my undergrad in sociology because it was easy and I spent most of my time having fun in college. I'm getting my PhD in history (10 years later) because I love it. The transition was difficult the first year but I feel mostly caught up now. I had to learn a lot of concepts regarding historiography and research methods on my own time that most of the other students already know. I had to learn a language from scratch. It was hard but not impossible. Having spent 10 years in the professional world my work practices are strong. I tell people that grad school isn't particularly hard it's just a lot of work. My advice is do it if it is what you love. Expect to have to play catch up for a year, but also know your different background will give you advantages and ideas other students don't have. Use them to your advantage and stand out!
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B | POST: PhD students/PhDs that have undergrad major in different area than their PhD: Why did you focus on something else? How difficult was the transition? What would you advise someone who wants to do the same? [X-Post r/AskReddit]
RESPONSE A: I have undergrad degrees in both sociology and biology. I was at a school with a lot of pre-med classes and a lot of weeders so I feel totally burned out with biology and a lot less motivated to study it. My PhD program is in sociology, but I study health (and possibly genetics when I feel better about it) so I still use my bio degree.
RESPONSE B: Undergrad, MA, and PhD in three different humanities disciplines. The key IMO was that my work moved organically across the disciplines, tracking closely-related material. I didn't choose to shift focus as much as my reading simply led in those directions. The transition was not particularly difficult as I was able to make a strong case at each step. Advice? Be able to make your case in a compelling way. And apply to departments/programs that welcome unconventional ("interdisciplinary") perspectives. Everybody loves to talk about it but fewer welcome it in practice.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: PhD students/PhDs that have undergrad major in different area than their PhD: Why did you focus on something else? How difficult was the transition? What would you advise someone who wants to do the same? [X-Post r/AskReddit]
RESPONSE A: Undergrad, MA, and PhD in three different humanities disciplines. The key IMO was that my work moved organically across the disciplines, tracking closely-related material. I didn't choose to shift focus as much as my reading simply led in those directions. The transition was not particularly difficult as I was able to make a strong case at each step. Advice? Be able to make your case in a compelling way. And apply to departments/programs that welcome unconventional ("interdisciplinary") perspectives. Everybody loves to talk about it but fewer welcome it in practice.
RESPONSE B: Undergrad in pre-law & history, grad in philosophy. Did an MA in philosophy in between, which was super helpful, but basically only caught me up to a lot of the people who had been philosophy majors.
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B | POST: PhD students/PhDs that have undergrad major in different area than their PhD: Why did you focus on something else? How difficult was the transition? What would you advise someone who wants to do the same? [X-Post r/AskReddit]
RESPONSE A: Undergrad in French and now PhD in Educational Psychology. I did French because it came easy to me. When I realized how useless a degree in French was, I did a masters in foreign/second language education. Realized I didn't want to be a K-12 teacher, and now I'm here. The masters helped me transition. In my experience, social science and education fields aren't hard to transition to, so it hasn't been a problem.
RESPONSE B: Undergrad, MA, and PhD in three different humanities disciplines. The key IMO was that my work moved organically across the disciplines, tracking closely-related material. I didn't choose to shift focus as much as my reading simply led in those directions. The transition was not particularly difficult as I was able to make a strong case at each step. Advice? Be able to make your case in a compelling way. And apply to departments/programs that welcome unconventional ("interdisciplinary") perspectives. Everybody loves to talk about it but fewer welcome it in practice.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: PhD students/PhDs that have undergrad major in different area than their PhD: Why did you focus on something else? How difficult was the transition? What would you advise someone who wants to do the same? [X-Post r/AskReddit]
RESPONSE A: Undergrad, MA, and PhD in three different humanities disciplines. The key IMO was that my work moved organically across the disciplines, tracking closely-related material. I didn't choose to shift focus as much as my reading simply led in those directions. The transition was not particularly difficult as I was able to make a strong case at each step. Advice? Be able to make your case in a compelling way. And apply to departments/programs that welcome unconventional ("interdisciplinary") perspectives. Everybody loves to talk about it but fewer welcome it in practice.
RESPONSE B: I did my undergrad in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and am doing my PhD in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology. Pretty much a 180 degrees transition to a field where I have zero knowledge about. I have to learn everything about electrophysiology, circuitry, physics, and cardiac physiology. The main reason for my transition is because I worked with the PI in the past as an intern, so I know his philosophy in running the lab and I enjoyed working under him. Because I knew I will be going for a PhD, choosing the right PI is the most important. The transition was difficult in that I had to do a lot of readings of the basics, audit a lot of physiology courses and make sure that I am constantly keeping up with the literature of the field (it's massive but just take it little by little). To be honest, transitioning to a completely different field for PhD is not scary because you do have a lot of time to catch up, so if you want to do it, just be prepare to study and read on a lot of new things.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: a few months ago. I worked hard for it and it is what my heart desired. However when I got to the actual program, enrolled, started getting situated, etc. I realized the program (possibly the school) was not for me. I did not see myself being happy there for four years. It was very disappointing and saddening to come to this realization. All in all I came to the logical decision that it was not worth pursuing and decide to resign. I have not given up on my desire to pursue further education. Yes, this is a set back but I am working my way up once again. Anyways.. after all this mess, the thing that is stressing me out the most is contacting my undergraduate advisors/mentors and telling them the disappointing news. I had a great professional relationship with both my advisors. Therefore, I know for a fact that they will be disappointed to hear this news. They were extremely excited and happy when I got accepted. But most importantly they helped me in so many ways that I will never forget. They obviously had a huge impact on my professional development and I just can't find it in me to disappoint them. I don't want them to feel as if they wasted their time, because they did not. Any words of wisdom? Advice? Anything will be appreciated.
RESPONSE A: If you still need letters from your undergrad advisors to get into another school at a later time, then I’d suggest letting them know with a phone call if possible, but have something more concrete than “it wasn’t for me”. I’m sure there are real reasons you had to leave, but the way it’s written in this post is very vague and could be interpreted as “it was too hard” which is the one message you do not want to send. They’ll be fine with it if you have a good, concrete, reason for dropping out and will continue to write letters for you. But if there is the slightest chance they could interpret it as “you aren’t cut out for a PhD” then they wont continue to write letters for you in the future.
RESPONSE B: Telling them ASAP so they can give your funding slot to someone else will be somewhat appreciated, believe it or not.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: How can I go about revealing bad news... Hello all, I will try and make this short. I got accepted to a Ph.D program a few months ago. I worked hard for it and it is what my heart desired. However when I got to the actual program, enrolled, started getting situated, etc. I realized the program (possibly the school) was not for me. I did not see myself being happy there for four years. It was very disappointing and saddening to come to this realization. All in all I came to the logical decision that it was not worth pursuing and decide to resign. I have not given up on my desire to pursue further education. Yes, this is a set back but I am working my way up once again. Anyways.. after all this mess, the thing that is stressing me out the most is contacting my undergraduate advisors/mentors and telling them the disappointing news. I had a great professional relationship with both my advisors. Therefore, I know for a fact that they will be disappointed to hear this news. They were extremely excited and happy when I got accepted. But most importantly they helped me in so many ways that I will never forget. They obviously had a huge impact on my professional development and I just can't find it in me to disappoint them. I don't want them to feel as if they wasted their time, because they did not. Any words of wisdom? Advice? Anything will be appreciated.
RESPONSE A: Just before I went off to grad school, my undergraduate advisor pulled me aside and said, “You are good at this, and I think you’ll do well. But a lot of people decide grad school isn’t for them. I want you to know that that is ok too, and that it’s not failing to decide you don’t want to do it anymore at any point.” I’ll forever be grateful for that. And any professor worth their salt will feel the same way. You have to make the best choice for you, and because they care about you they should support that choice.
RESPONSE B: Anyone who has been through grad school will understand why you've decided it might not be the thing for you.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: First PI grant accepted! I just found out today that a huge project I'm PI on got picked up - I officially have a grant history! It's a gigantic "win" for my institute, with a 5-year funding opportunity that covers half of my salary the entire time. We're all soft-money here, so having 50% of my salary locked-in for the next 5 years is more security than I've had since I started the money-game. It comes with all of the "oh my God now I have to do all of this stuff I promised" feelings, but I'm incredibly excited to do this work. It's more modeling/theoretical work than the operational work I'm usually doing here, which makes me happy. Score! But it comes right on the heels of some pretty bad news in my family - my brother just lost his job in an ugly way, not six months after he and his wife bought a house. They're terrified that they won't be able to keep the place. So I can't exactly parade my success around them at the moment, other than to let them know that they can rely on my for financial support through the down-time. So I came here to celebrate instead! Who has two thumbs and a 5-year grant: this guy! Booya!
RESPONSE A: Congrats! From one (former) PI to another, make sure to look at the grant reporting requirements and deadlines now, so you can work them into your increasingly busy schedule. Tracking your activities, collaborations, and presentations now will make report time SO much easier! :)
RESPONSE B: Congrats!!
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: First PI grant accepted! I just found out today that a huge project I'm PI on got picked up - I officially have a grant history! It's a gigantic "win" for my institute, with a 5-year funding opportunity that covers half of my salary the entire time. We're all soft-money here, so having 50% of my salary locked-in for the next 5 years is more security than I've had since I started the money-game. It comes with all of the "oh my God now I have to do all of this stuff I promised" feelings, but I'm incredibly excited to do this work. It's more modeling/theoretical work than the operational work I'm usually doing here, which makes me happy. Score! But it comes right on the heels of some pretty bad news in my family - my brother just lost his job in an ugly way, not six months after he and his wife bought a house. They're terrified that they won't be able to keep the place. So I can't exactly parade my success around them at the moment, other than to let them know that they can rely on my for financial support through the down-time. So I came here to celebrate instead! Who has two thumbs and a 5-year grant: this guy! Booya!
RESPONSE A: Congrats! Now start churning out that data!
RESPONSE B: Congrats! From one (former) PI to another, make sure to look at the grant reporting requirements and deadlines now, so you can work them into your increasingly busy schedule. Tracking your activities, collaborations, and presentations now will make report time SO much easier! :)
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: First PI grant accepted! I just found out today that a huge project I'm PI on got picked up - I officially have a grant history! It's a gigantic "win" for my institute, with a 5-year funding opportunity that covers half of my salary the entire time. We're all soft-money here, so having 50% of my salary locked-in for the next 5 years is more security than I've had since I started the money-game. It comes with all of the "oh my God now I have to do all of this stuff I promised" feelings, but I'm incredibly excited to do this work. It's more modeling/theoretical work than the operational work I'm usually doing here, which makes me happy. Score! But it comes right on the heels of some pretty bad news in my family - my brother just lost his job in an ugly way, not six months after he and his wife bought a house. They're terrified that they won't be able to keep the place. So I can't exactly parade my success around them at the moment, other than to let them know that they can rely on my for financial support through the down-time. So I came here to celebrate instead! Who has two thumbs and a 5-year grant: this guy! Booya!
RESPONSE A: Congratulations! I hope that this will happen to me soon too!
RESPONSE B: Congrats! From one (former) PI to another, make sure to look at the grant reporting requirements and deadlines now, so you can work them into your increasingly busy schedule. Tracking your activities, collaborations, and presentations now will make report time SO much easier! :)
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: that it looked at only two data points instead of an average over a 5 minute period. This essentially invalidated all the data collected for the past few years. The PI, when told, either did not understand the ramifications of this or did not care, only telling the lab to perform further analysis the new way. To exacerbate things, this PI is trying to gain tenure and is running low on funding so the atmosphere in the lab is becoming increasing tyrannical. The former postdoc never presented bad news and always gave him significant, publishable data so he is completely spoiled by a flow of good news. When experiments fail, he can offer absolutely no advice as he has no expertise in any of our techniques and simply tells us to run the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result while growing increasingly unhinged. For example, a Western Blot done by two separate students was shown with equally perfect control GAPDH bands in each lane, but the protein of interest was not upregulated and downregulated in the fashion he expected. The PI basically berated them, telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted. I am currently only a year invested into this lab so leaving or switching labs would not be a huge loss. I just don't really know how to go about this without a good reason. I don't really want to report the lab to the ethics committee because I believe it would give me a bad reputation in my university (although I have backups of all the data produced by our lab). My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. It will run out of funding soon, the grants are incredibly pathetic because the PI has no idea what he is talking about and actually hates mechanistic studies because they are "too complicated". I feel that most people in the lab are mistreated and unhappy, and I am personally miserable because I am making no progress, receiving no training, and being berated on top of that. Any advice is appreciated.
RESPONSE A: Switch labs ASAP.
RESPONSE B: Coming from someone who left a PhD, you have a good reason. Get yourself extricated first, then figure out the rest.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: in the fashion he expected. The PI basically berated them, telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted. I am currently only a year invested into this lab so leaving or switching labs would not be a huge loss. I just don't really know how to go about this without a good reason. I don't really want to report the lab to the ethics committee because I believe it would give me a bad reputation in my university (although I have backups of all the data produced by our lab). My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. It will run out of funding soon, the grants are incredibly pathetic because the PI has no idea what he is talking about and actually hates mechanistic studies because they are "too complicated". I feel that most people in the lab are mistreated and unhappy, and I am personally miserable because I am making no progress, receiving no training, and being berated on top of that. Any advice is appreciated.
RESPONSE A: >quickly growing publication record, but found out too late that all of the pubs were from a ambitious postdoc that left. strike one. >PI, however, was more than happy to take the lion's share of the credit strike two. >he does not understand how the data was gathered, analyzed, nor can he perform, train, or judge quality for any student in the techniques used by the previous postdoc. Strike three >I could not replicate any of my former post doc's data. Strike four? >{lots of academic dishonesty) strike..um..five? >running low on funding so You should be leaving by now. >telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted Scratch that, *running* by now. Like wolves are chasing you. >My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. Your feelings are pretty much spot on. Get out of that lab. Stay in science, just get out of that lab.
RESPONSE B: I don't think you should quit just because of this, but sounds like switching labs would be a good idea.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: he expected. The PI basically berated them, telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted. I am currently only a year invested into this lab so leaving or switching labs would not be a huge loss. I just don't really know how to go about this without a good reason. I don't really want to report the lab to the ethics committee because I believe it would give me a bad reputation in my university (although I have backups of all the data produced by our lab). My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. It will run out of funding soon, the grants are incredibly pathetic because the PI has no idea what he is talking about and actually hates mechanistic studies because they are "too complicated". I feel that most people in the lab are mistreated and unhappy, and I am personally miserable because I am making no progress, receiving no training, and being berated on top of that. Any advice is appreciated.
RESPONSE A: Coming from someone who left a PhD, you have a good reason. Get yourself extricated first, then figure out the rest.
RESPONSE B: >quickly growing publication record, but found out too late that all of the pubs were from a ambitious postdoc that left. strike one. >PI, however, was more than happy to take the lion's share of the credit strike two. >he does not understand how the data was gathered, analyzed, nor can he perform, train, or judge quality for any student in the techniques used by the previous postdoc. Strike three >I could not replicate any of my former post doc's data. Strike four? >{lots of academic dishonesty) strike..um..five? >running low on funding so You should be leaving by now. >telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted Scratch that, *running* by now. Like wolves are chasing you. >My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. Your feelings are pretty much spot on. Get out of that lab. Stay in science, just get out of that lab.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: to go about this without a good reason. I don't really want to report the lab to the ethics committee because I believe it would give me a bad reputation in my university (although I have backups of all the data produced by our lab). My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. It will run out of funding soon, the grants are incredibly pathetic because the PI has no idea what he is talking about and actually hates mechanistic studies because they are "too complicated". I feel that most people in the lab are mistreated and unhappy, and I am personally miserable because I am making no progress, receiving no training, and being berated on top of that. Any advice is appreciated.
RESPONSE A: I don't have more specific advice than the little that has already been said, but you may enjoy the blog Retraction Watch. Even if you don't report them, the incompetence may come to light anyway. If you were at least learning you could just keep your name off anything you think is flawed, but if the lab is going to be disgraced later, the appearance of having receiving training may not hold much weight on its own.
RESPONSE B: >quickly growing publication record, but found out too late that all of the pubs were from a ambitious postdoc that left. strike one. >PI, however, was more than happy to take the lion's share of the credit strike two. >he does not understand how the data was gathered, analyzed, nor can he perform, train, or judge quality for any student in the techniques used by the previous postdoc. Strike three >I could not replicate any of my former post doc's data. Strike four? >{lots of academic dishonesty) strike..um..five? >running low on funding so You should be leaving by now. >telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted Scratch that, *running* by now. Like wolves are chasing you. >My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. Your feelings are pretty much spot on. Get out of that lab. Stay in science, just get out of that lab.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: result while growing increasingly unhinged. For example, a Western Blot done by two separate students was shown with equally perfect control GAPDH bands in each lane, but the protein of interest was not upregulated and downregulated in the fashion he expected. The PI basically berated them, telling them to run it again with (no change in procedure) until it showed what he wanted. I am currently only a year invested into this lab so leaving or switching labs would not be a huge loss. I just don't really know how to go about this without a good reason. I don't really want to report the lab to the ethics committee because I believe it would give me a bad reputation in my university (although I have backups of all the data produced by our lab). My main issue is that I feel this lab is a dead-end. It will run out of funding soon, the grants are incredibly pathetic because the PI has no idea what he is talking about and actually hates mechanistic studies because they are "too complicated". I feel that most people in the lab are mistreated and unhappy, and I am personally miserable because I am making no progress, receiving no training, and being berated on top of that. Any advice is appreciated.
RESPONSE A: This a rough situation, but I cannot emphasize enough that you need to leave that lab. It sounds like this lab going down in flames is a matter of when rather than if. Before you leave, be sure to gather as much evidence of his wrongdoing so it doesn't look like you just up and left because you felt like it. The other students will most likely help you with this. Take this evidence and take it to the department of research ethics (or equivalent). They should be able to help you extricate yourself from this situation. If you don't have such a department, maybe try your department chair. Someone in a position of authority will (hopefully) help you through this. I encourage you to stick with your degree. This situation is bad, but I hope it doesn't ruin your schooling. Good luck!
RESPONSE B: Coming from someone who left a PhD, you have a good reason. Get yourself extricated first, then figure out the rest.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: Dealing with media requests as an introvert. Advice!! I'm a (casual) early career researcher and writer in the humanities in Australia, with a PhD, and every so often I get media requests for interviews primarily on the radio (occasionally TV). I've also recently been asked to talk live on an American news show, which I've accepted. However, I absolutely DREAD interviews, especially live, and especially TV. I'm fine with lectures, and I love writing, researching and publishing, but it often leads to these interviews, and they completely terrify me, even though I've been told I'm a good interviewee. I find it emotionally exhausting in the lead up and at the time of the interview, having to think of responses so I don't look like an idiot, and having to play the role of sociable, knowledgeable expert when I'm really quite introverted and shy in reality. I have no problem responding to written questions, because obviously I'm given the chance to think about my answers rather than come up with them on the spot. I know it's good for my career, especially as I'm looking for a full time position, and I do want my work to have an audience, but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to deal with media requests for writers who hate publicity, and how bad it would be to turn down the occasional interview. It makes me wonder how famously reclusive people like Thomas Pynchon have built their careers without having to submit to publicity.
RESPONSE A: I would suggest plan as much as possible! If you can get a scope of what topics the interview will cover that would be great. Then you need to think of what you know on the subject, and make a list of things you think could be asked about. With that you can highlight the main ‘messages’ you want this interview to put out. Is it publicity for your institution? Trying to get more funding? Getting people to read whatever you’ve published? Pick the main thing you want to come out of it, and try to think of ways to gear your responses back to that as well
RESPONSE B: ask for the questions in advance
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: every so often I get media requests for interviews primarily on the radio (occasionally TV). I've also recently been asked to talk live on an American news show, which I've accepted. However, I absolutely DREAD interviews, especially live, and especially TV. I'm fine with lectures, and I love writing, researching and publishing, but it often leads to these interviews, and they completely terrify me, even though I've been told I'm a good interviewee. I find it emotionally exhausting in the lead up and at the time of the interview, having to think of responses so I don't look like an idiot, and having to play the role of sociable, knowledgeable expert when I'm really quite introverted and shy in reality. I have no problem responding to written questions, because obviously I'm given the chance to think about my answers rather than come up with them on the spot. I know it's good for my career, especially as I'm looking for a full time position, and I do want my work to have an audience, but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to deal with media requests for writers who hate publicity, and how bad it would be to turn down the occasional interview. It makes me wonder how famously reclusive people like Thomas Pynchon have built their careers without having to submit to publicity.
RESPONSE A: The producers and presenters work with experts like you every day, they’ll make sure you are comfortable. You’ll look and sound terrific. It’s so important that you share your knowledge and they know that, it’s why you were invited. I would treat it like an adventure.
RESPONSE B: I would suggest plan as much as possible! If you can get a scope of what topics the interview will cover that would be great. Then you need to think of what you know on the subject, and make a list of things you think could be asked about. With that you can highlight the main ‘messages’ you want this interview to put out. Is it publicity for your institution? Trying to get more funding? Getting people to read whatever you’ve published? Pick the main thing you want to come out of it, and try to think of ways to gear your responses back to that as well
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: What is the most obscure benefit you've received as a result of having a PhD? My friends keep trying to convince me to do the phd and keep referencing "benefits", but don't have any examples!
RESPONSE A: Having one in a science field lowered my car insurance. That was pretty sweet. As a more serious answer, having a PhD will in all likelihood ( somewhat depending on your field/topic of study) give you the most intense analytical training available. It's kind of like the Marines for your brain. You don't become a Marine for the VA loans and airport lounges, you do it (ideally speaking) to be an elite warrior and protect values and people you care about. Get a PhD because you want to be an elite problem solver who supports and protects the power of critical thinking, not because you want that awesome feeling of having to explain to family that you can't tell them what's causing their rash because you're not actually *that* kind of doctor.
RESPONSE B: Like phawny said, no one gives you special benefits for having a Ph.D. Depends on the job you get after.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: What is the most obscure benefit you've received as a result of having a PhD? My friends keep trying to convince me to do the phd and keep referencing "benefits", but don't have any examples!
RESPONSE A: I can select "Dr" on online forms instead of having to specify my marital status.
RESPONSE B: Believe it or not, my insurance rates fell. Not a lot, and not for all policies, but for a few there was a strange discount. It has never been explained to me beyond "education level."
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: What is the most obscure benefit you've received as a result of having a PhD? My friends keep trying to convince me to do the phd and keep referencing "benefits", but don't have any examples!
RESPONSE A: Like phawny said, no one gives you special benefits for having a Ph.D. Depends on the job you get after.
RESPONSE B: I can select "Dr" on online forms instead of having to specify my marital status.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: What is the most obscure benefit you've received as a result of having a PhD? My friends keep trying to convince me to do the phd and keep referencing "benefits", but don't have any examples!
RESPONSE A: Like phawny said, no one gives you special benefits for having a Ph.D. Depends on the job you get after.
RESPONSE B: I get free public transit in my city, but that's cause I use my phd for being a professor. But free public transit! Also the entire phd process + being a prof involves a lot of free food. At least once a week I eat something I didn't pay for as a result of my job and it was more common as a grad student.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: What professional advice do you wish someone had given you as a new grad student? I just started a 2-year M.Sc. program in Biology (Ecology track) in Canada (I am from the U.S.) and am hoping to be a professor one day. As we all know, the job market is extremely competitive... what can I do over the course of my program to give myself a better chance? What do you wish you had known when you started?
RESPONSE A: Get out while you can.(?)
RESPONSE B: You're not done with your project when you're done collecting data, defending your thesis/dissertation, presenting it a conference, or when you've gotten a grade. You're done when it's published.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: What professional advice do you wish someone had given you as a new grad student? I just started a 2-year M.Sc. program in Biology (Ecology track) in Canada (I am from the U.S.) and am hoping to be a professor one day. As we all know, the job market is extremely competitive... what can I do over the course of my program to give myself a better chance? What do you wish you had known when you started?
RESPONSE A: If you are going to be a professor, I'm assuming you are going to get a Ph.D. at some point. This may be different in Canada but be aware that many fellowships (e.g. NSF) are not available after your first or second year of graduate studies and are not given to MS students. If you take two years to get your MS Degree, you may find yourself ineligible for some fellowships that would otherwise make your life as a Ph.D. student far more comfortable. TL;DR If you are going to get into a Ph.D. program eventually, do so as soon as possible. You get paid better money, and don't lose out on it later.
RESPONSE B: Grad school is your first serious job. Do not treat it like undergrad.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: What professional advice do you wish someone had given you as a new grad student? I just started a 2-year M.Sc. program in Biology (Ecology track) in Canada (I am from the U.S.) and am hoping to be a professor one day. As we all know, the job market is extremely competitive... what can I do over the course of my program to give myself a better chance? What do you wish you had known when you started?
RESPONSE A: Undergrad: "Find the guy on your floor who owns a car, and make friends with him on the first day." Gradschool: "Find the professor in your department who has strong ties to your major funding agency, and start a professional relationship with him/her in the first year."
RESPONSE B: If you are going to be a professor, I'm assuming you are going to get a Ph.D. at some point. This may be different in Canada but be aware that many fellowships (e.g. NSF) are not available after your first or second year of graduate studies and are not given to MS students. If you take two years to get your MS Degree, you may find yourself ineligible for some fellowships that would otherwise make your life as a Ph.D. student far more comfortable. TL;DR If you are going to get into a Ph.D. program eventually, do so as soon as possible. You get paid better money, and don't lose out on it later.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
B | POST: If you had a kid in grad school, what was it like? I am a female entering my second year of a life sciences PhD and I want to have a biological child. Anybody who has gone through this, can you share what it was like? How you feel it affected your PhD/relationships/career? What you wish you would have known or done, or what you're glad you knew or did? How the timing of kid(s) corresponded with and affected your PhD? Anything else that I'm not even thinking to ask? Thank you in advance!!
RESPONSE A: I had my child right after defending, so I can't necessarily answer about during grad school. But if you intend to move for a postdoc, make sure you get on childcare waiting lists as soon as you get interview invites. University towns often have major childcare shortages. If you end up not going to one location, no big deal, just decline the spot when offered. I got a call for a childcare I had applied for for my postdoc as I was walking in to my office my first week as faculty.
RESPONSE B: Small (about 7 lbs), really short, disproportionately large head. Couldn't really do much for years.
Which response is better? RESPONSE |
A | POST: had a kid in grad school, what was it like? I am a female entering my second year of a life sciences PhD and I want to have a biological child. Anybody who has gone through this, can you share what it was like? How you feel it affected your PhD/relationships/career? What you wish you would have known or done, or what you're glad you knew or did? How the timing of kid(s) corresponded with and affected your PhD? Anything else that I'm not even thinking to ask? Thank you in advance!!
RESPONSE A: I had twins. It was insane. We had a two year old already. We got him into a university daycare that was really nice. Then we got pregnant. Then we found out we were having twins. We lived in family grad so I was constantly going between the lab and home. It was incredibly distracting. Once they were about 1 things settled down and family grad housing proved to be a wonderfully supportive environment.
RESPONSE B: I had a 9 month old and 21 month old when I defended. The older child was planned. The younger was a whoops pregnancy when the older was 4 months old. Apart from the physical difficulty on your body of having kids so close, I don't think the timing could have worked out better, which is kind of funny because we tried for 3.5 years for the first kid. Looking back, grad school would have been a lot harder with a kid for most of it. I am very happy I was ABD for both my kids. I had some teaching I still did, but most of my research was done and I was mostly writing once they were born. Kids are more mobile after 1 year old and require a lot more attentive interaction to keep them happy and out of things. And I couldn't have handled the daycare costs while in grad school for many years. Another thing to consider- my grad school insurance was AMAZING. $100 OOP max per year per person. My first had major complications, emergency c-section, 2 week stay for bacterial meningitis. Half million dollar hospital bill. I owed $200- for me and for him. I had no "maternity leave" to speak of, but I managed fine.
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A | POST: What are the three best books you read as a grad student? The more details as to why the better.
RESPONSE A: A Ph.D. is not Enough! - Depressing title, but valuable information. Make Your Mark in Science - Very solid how-to manual for being a scientist. Chaos: Making a New Science - Valuable for my personal work.
RESPONSE B: The Red Wing - Jonathan Hickman The best time travel story I've seen with the possible exception of Primer. Yes, it's that good. Vision: A Computational Investigation Into the Human Representation and Processing of Visual Information - David Marr The first chapter did more for me than any academic text I can name. The way that he frames thinking about information processing and the explication of levels is incredibly helpful for anyone who thinks about analyzing systems. The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss Incredibly melodic writing. Pulls me out of academia and into the Four Corners.
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A | POST: I'm about to see a therapist for the first time due to grad school stress/anxiety. Have you seen a therapist for academia-induced issues? What was your experience like?
RESPONSE A: Grad school tuition should include mandatory therapist fees! I had insomnia, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety all through my phd program, but especially once I was out of coursework. I found a mixture of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy to be helpful. Also, diet modification helped. No caffeine or alcohol! Both of these upset your brains equilibrium. Good luck! It gets better!
RESPONSE B: Please keep us posted with the outcome. I've been under a lot of stress myself. Friends and loved ones have started to notice a Thousand-yard stare of sorts. So now I'm looking for a therapist myself.
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B | POST: I'm about to see a therapist for the first time due to grad school stress/anxiety. Have you seen a therapist for academia-induced issues? What was your experience like?
RESPONSE A: Please keep us posted with the outcome. I've been under a lot of stress myself. Friends and loved ones have started to notice a Thousand-yard stare of sorts. So now I'm looking for a therapist myself.
RESPONSE B: I've had a lot of luck so far. I needed therapy for other issues above and beyond grad school stress, but I have also spent a lot of time talking about grad school things. Accomplishments, avoidance of tasks and procrastination, interpersonal stuff, the intimidation I feel with some projects, etc. It's made me much more self aware. While I'm still sometimes behind on things and let things slip, I also am not so hard on myself about it. I now recognize that there's a limit to how much I can do, and that it's ok to be proud of the work I have managed to do. Even if I expect more out of myself. Basically, my depression/anxiety comes in the form of guilt and she's helped me manage my guilt.
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B | POST: Is a grad student doomed to pick up his or her advisor's quirks? Let's face it, most advisors are awkward, quirky, and goofy. Do you think you will pick up their habits and quirks? Feel free to share your stories.
RESPONSE A: I think that there's undeniably a certain amount of advisor quirk that is bound to rub off on a student. When working closely with someone for several months during an undergrad project or several years as a grad student, it’s pretty much inevitable. I’ve tended to pick up a lot of expressions and mannerisms from my supervisors over the years, and to a certain extent their, I don’t know, approach to seeing the world? “Life is life” and “stupid fingers, do what I tell you” will often lead my lips. I’ve met a professor that knew my boss at conferences, and she remarked that it sure was obvious that I’ve worked with him. It’s just one of those things that comes with the job, I guess.
RESPONSE B: I sure as fuck hope not. However, when my cohort was in our first year, we did a correlation plot between PIs and students. We found an odd correlation that calm/quiet PIs tended to attract calm/quiet students. And the more quirky PIs tend to attract the more quirky students.
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A | POST: STEM Research Professors: What do you wish you had known before the end of your Post-doc? What wisdom would you share with Post-docs who are looking for tenure track positions that you wish you had known just before you looked for a position. Also, what are bits of wisdom that really helped you on your own journey?
RESPONSE A: Those blocks of open time to do research are filled up by teaching and service but research productivity expectations only go up.
RESPONSE B: Are you asking about research professors (who are often not tenured but on soft money) or TT professors who do both research and teaching?
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A | POST: STEM Research Professors: What do you wish you had known before the end of your Post-doc? What wisdom would you share with Post-docs who are looking for tenure track positions that you wish you had known just before you looked for a position. Also, what are bits of wisdom that really helped you on your own journey?
RESPONSE A: 1. It's mostly a dice roll and there are infinite things that are completely out of your control. 2. If you don't have a good pedigree you better have an impressive track record and compelling research agenda. It takes a lot to compensate for pedigree.
RESPONSE B: Are you asking about research professors (who are often not tenured but on soft money) or TT professors who do both research and teaching?
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B | POST: STEM Research Professors: What do you wish you had known before the end of your Post-doc? What wisdom would you share with Post-docs who are looking for tenure track positions that you wish you had known just before you looked for a position. Also, what are bits of wisdom that really helped you on your own journey?
RESPONSE A: How to become better at saying no.
RESPONSE B: 1. It's mostly a dice roll and there are infinite things that are completely out of your control. 2. If you don't have a good pedigree you better have an impressive track record and compelling research agenda. It takes a lot to compensate for pedigree.
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B | POST: STEM Research Professors: What do you wish you had known before the end of your Post-doc? What wisdom would you share with Post-docs who are looking for tenure track positions that you wish you had known just before you looked for a position. Also, what are bits of wisdom that really helped you on your own journey?
RESPONSE A: How to become better at saying no.
RESPONSE B: If the team that you’re going to join is made of toxic people, do not believe “it’s ok, I’ll just avoid them and focus on my work. I cannot miss this opportunity”. You won’t, and things are only going to get worse. You will be stuck in a power play, have to take sides, and it will have consequences on your research. Better find a healthy workplace 100%.
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B | POST: Trying to reproduce published results should be one of the cornerstones of modern science, however few researchers find time or funding to do so. How could the system be improved? The current system does not fund sufficiently people who want to reproduce a published result. It is basically impossible to spend time checking the results of your colleagues if you want to keep your research career moving forward. Competition for funding features modern science and few people will read or cite papers that merely confirm another group's result. However this is very necessary for the prestige of the scientific community and it would dramatically improve the way funds are used and therefore the long term outcomes. Could we have a way to fund this kind of activity? Make it career worthwhile? Maybe establish new journals and funding bodies with this strategy? Any ideas?
RESPONSE A: That costs a lot of money for 0 return; you can't publish what has been published. A lot of researchers might attempt to do what another lab did, but generally within the context of their own work. Right now I am looking to reproduce a few assays that a lab did a few years ago, but that is just to see if it'll work so that I can apply my own spin to it.
RESPONSE B: You may be interested in eLife's cancer biology reproducibility project, which seeks to improve the system. Reproducibility is a huge issue in the biological sciences, in the sense that it often fails. I don't know how the funding works for this project, so you could look into that for solutions to your question, but I think it's an amazing initiative. Furthermore, to counter some of the comments below talking about reproducibility etc., I'm pretty sure that eLife would publish your results if you did something like this on your own volition. Where the funding for that would come from, I don't know... I've always dreamed of independent, government-funded laboratories that focus solely on reproducing key data. I think we would save so much time, money and effort in the long run by catching bad data sooner. Otherwise we all form hypotheses on poor (or worse, false) data and have to waste our time trying to reproduce their results independently in pilot studies before embarking on our own extensions of the original work.
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A | POST: Trying to reproduce published results should be one of the cornerstones of modern science, however few researchers find time or funding to do so. How could the system be improved? The current system does not fund sufficiently people who want to reproduce a published result. It is basically impossible to spend time checking the results of your colleagues if you want to keep your research career moving forward. Competition for funding features modern science and few people will read or cite papers that merely confirm another group's result. However this is very necessary for the prestige of the scientific community and it would dramatically improve the way funds are used and therefore the long term outcomes. Could we have a way to fund this kind of activity? Make it career worthwhile? Maybe establish new journals and funding bodies with this strategy? Any ideas?
RESPONSE A: You may be interested in eLife's cancer biology reproducibility project, which seeks to improve the system. Reproducibility is a huge issue in the biological sciences, in the sense that it often fails. I don't know how the funding works for this project, so you could look into that for solutions to your question, but I think it's an amazing initiative. Furthermore, to counter some of the comments below talking about reproducibility etc., I'm pretty sure that eLife would publish your results if you did something like this on your own volition. Where the funding for that would come from, I don't know... I've always dreamed of independent, government-funded laboratories that focus solely on reproducing key data. I think we would save so much time, money and effort in the long run by catching bad data sooner. Otherwise we all form hypotheses on poor (or worse, false) data and have to waste our time trying to reproduce their results independently in pilot studies before embarking on our own extensions of the original work.
RESPONSE B: Just spitballing here: editorial best-practice should be to always request multiple references backing up any mention of *specific results* (ie not necessary for broader theoretical statements). This should create a real need for replication studies, if only to be able to submit new work to such best-practice journals. That gap could be filled by new journals that have replication explicitly stated in their mission.
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A | POST: Would it be bad for a young PI if their student goes to industry rather than academia? My confusion stems from more of a general question: what's important for a young PI? my own PI is quite young and I'd like to have a good relationship with him, the prerequisite to which is to know what the other side would like to gain. And more specifically, I wonder about the question I posed at the title.
RESPONSE A: Not bad, no. If a PI has students who go into academia and succeed there, it reflects well on the PI. In the end it shouldn't matter for your decision. Personally I don't push my students one way or the other, and support them in whatever they choose. Even though it will be slightly to my advantage if they choose to go into academia, I disregard that completely. Their happiness is way, way more important than my cv.
RESPONSE B: No.
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A | POST: a bachelors degree and a masters degree already and part of me feels like that’s enough. I just finished my first semester of a PhD program in applied behavior analysis, and it’s taken a bigger financial toll on me than I expected. I’m on a fellowship, but it’s just enough to cover tuition with about $500 leftover which is not enough to live on. Right now I don’t have a TA or RA position, and getting one depends on me getting a certification that I need fieldwork hours for, but I am not getting a lot of fieldwork hours because I have to work part time. My partner and I could use more income and I feel guilty for not being able to help more. If I were to drop out, I would be able to complete my fieldwork hours much faster, get my certification, and make exponentially more money than I make now. Right now it feels like it’s not worth the financial burden, the burden on my family (they are supplementing my income), and the burden on my relationship. I am also about to lose insurance coverage (I don’t get insurance under my fellowship). It just feels like the pros of dropping out out weigh the cons. I’m passionate about what I’m doing and have made great connections so far, but it feels like it’s not worth it. If anyone else has faced a similar dilemma, I’d really appreciate some advice. Thanks in advance.
RESPONSE A: I would consider what you want to get out of having a doctoral degree. I'm not familiar with ABA, but from my understanding in similar fields (i.e., psychology and therapy) and MS will allow you to practice and a PhD opens up the ability to practice, teach, and research. So are you happy with the work that you can do with your MS? Or, do you need a PhD to do what you want? These are tough questions but luckily winter break is coming up and you can take time to think about it.
RESPONSE B: have you tried looking for ta or GA appointments outsidr your department? Your program's GA and taships might require you do fieldwork but other departments and offices are usually more than happy for you to just be a grad student
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A | POST: The death & rebirth of a phd (documentary) has anyone seen it? Has anyone seen this documentary? I saw the trailer and it paints a pretty stark and negative view of academia and doctoral degrees.... I'm not sure if this can be applied to all fields, all countries, all departments. My experiences in academia are very positive so far (I'm a PhD Candidate and my job prospects in academia are pretty optimistic in my field)
RESPONSE A: Just remember you are an outlier. There are definitely some fields that are better off than others. But some fields are definitive dead ends if academia is the end goal for people in graduate school.
RESPONSE B: Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Sounds interesting.
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A | POST: The death & rebirth of a phd (documentary) has anyone seen it? Has anyone seen this documentary? I saw the trailer and it paints a pretty stark and negative view of academia and doctoral degrees.... I'm not sure if this can be applied to all fields, all countries, all departments. My experiences in academia are very positive so far (I'm a PhD Candidate and my job prospects in academia are pretty optimistic in my field)
RESPONSE A: I have a two wonderful advisers. I had a wonderful advisor before that too who I’d been placed with when my first advisor resigned after he was found to have harassed and abused dozens of former and current students. My story is only unique in that I got to experience wonderful advisors after being abused by one for three years. The trailer was definitely right about too many PhDs being abused my their mentors. This story is far too common in academia. A lot of the trailer though was focused on not being able to find a job out of the PhD, the low pay or total unemployment in academia. I go on the job market next year so I don’t know from firsthand experience it’s it’s true. But my friends on the job market now are terrified. It’s a huge issue that Academic Twitter discusses on a regular basis. I believe that many aspects academia are broken. I don’t think it’s hopeless though. But for the most part, I agree with the sentiment of the trailer, albeit based on my anecdotal evidence and the experiences of my peers and colleagues.
RESPONSE B: Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Sounds interesting.
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A | POST: Scholars of Reddit, have you ever recieved a bad grade or have ever failed a subject before? I know this might sound dumb, but it's been at the back of my mind for about 3 weeks and I wanted to ask some people.
RESPONSE A: lol. FUCK YES.
RESPONSE B: During my BSc I had to retake my statistics final exam 3 times before passing. It was the only subject during my studies that I couldn't pass with just studying for the exam the day before. I ended up working in the biomedical field and using machine learning where I use statistics quite regularly. Just goes to show that some subjects can be taught in a bad way, in this case the course was just very abstract, but it doesn't mean much for your future, you can always pick up the important parts again when you need them.
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B | POST: Scholars of Reddit, have you ever recieved a bad grade or have ever failed a subject before? I know this might sound dumb, but it's been at the back of my mind for about 3 weeks and I wanted to ask some people.
RESPONSE A: Got a D in music appreciation my sophomore year of undergrad Eat shit Dr. Phipps
RESPONSE B: Assistant Professor at R1, computational focus- Classes failed- First go around at undergraduate- Many. Failed out of school. Got my head on straight and gave school another shot. Ended up going all the way to PhD.
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A | POST: Scholars of Reddit, have you ever recieved a bad grade or have ever failed a subject before? I know this might sound dumb, but it's been at the back of my mind for about 3 weeks and I wanted to ask some people.
RESPONSE A: Assistant Professor at R1, computational focus- Classes failed- First go around at undergraduate- Many. Failed out of school. Got my head on straight and gave school another shot. Ended up going all the way to PhD.
RESPONSE B: For sure. I had at least one B- and I think a C+ on my undergrad report card. In grad school most folks take classes pass fail because grades don’t matter so drop the stress, but I expect I would’ve gotten some Bs or Cs (genuinely not sure). My grad school advisor had at least one term of terrible grades as an undergrad (C average if I remember right). I’m 10 years out of PhD now and tenured. It depends a lot on the subject (math major and failing a bio class? Probably fine), way you are evaluated later (med schools look at GPA too much IMO), and whether there is a story (death of a parent can easily lead to a bad term). If you are consistently getting bad grades in your major subject, then try to take a long look at why - are you not able to put in the hours? Not matching your learning style? Didn’t get the foundations solid enough and now hurting down the road? There are some things that can be fixed easily and others that are harder to fix. At the end, think about what you’re trying to get out. If you have a degree, nobody after your first job out of school will care about your GPA. If you are enjoying what you are doing, that is really important.
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A | POST: Scholars of Reddit, have you ever recieved a bad grade or have ever failed a subject before? I know this might sound dumb, but it's been at the back of my mind for about 3 weeks and I wanted to ask some people.
RESPONSE A: Assistant Professor at R1, computational focus- Classes failed- First go around at undergraduate- Many. Failed out of school. Got my head on straight and gave school another shot. Ended up going all the way to PhD.
RESPONSE B: I got a 36 on my real analysis final in college— that one hurt. Have plenty of other memories of the occasional 40-60 something exam score. Dropped a class once on the last day to do so (3 weeks before the end of term at my college) because I knew I was floating in the low-C range. And now I am a computer science PhD candidate in a very math-based research area.
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A | POST: Scholars of Reddit, have you ever recieved a bad grade or have ever failed a subject before? I know this might sound dumb, but it's been at the back of my mind for about 3 weeks and I wanted to ask some people.
RESPONSE A: Assistant Professor at R1, computational focus- Classes failed- First go around at undergraduate- Many. Failed out of school. Got my head on straight and gave school another shot. Ended up going all the way to PhD.
RESPONSE B: So, so many.
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B | POST: It's my money paying for the course and my education so I am totally ok with making that decision for myself but I would want to email my professor to tell him my intention to make sure he knows I don't mean to disrespect his time/efforts. In your experience, is choosing to blow off this type of assignment just too rude/un-cool? Am I likely to offend the professor to the tune of him grading my remaining assignments much much tougher? Or is it likely that they will understand my situation and be ok with it? Thanks for any advice!
RESPONSE A: If you are willing to accept the 0 and the consequences , knock yourself out. There is really nothing for which Matlab isn’t useful and if you have to go do this on your own without feedback and any guidance later, it is harder. And, there are undoubtedly good reasons that your dept thinks this is an important class for your degree. the number of times students tell me “I am going to do this, so I will never need to do that “ is only marginally larger than the number of students that regret that if left to their own devices. You have no need to email the professor, and it would actually kind of piss me off more than you not handing in the thing. I don’t grade anyone’s work in a different way because of a missed assignment. If you bank on the other assignments not getting harder and not somehow being related to this one, that is a fairly risky move, and also one that many student live to regret.
RESPONSE B: Double-check the syllabus to make sure that missing an assignment outright isn't an auto-fail, and that grades will be assigned in a way that's safe for you if you get a 0 on this project. Make sure that there's a clear "Final grade 80-89 = B" so you don't have to worry about grading curves or anything like that. Not gonna lie, this sounds like a bad idea, but I can't really explain why. There's also a risk that just not doing a project will piss off your PI/advisor/department head, so keep that in mind.
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B | POST: Would it be inappropriate to ask for a letter of recommendation for a grad program via email given the current circumstances? Hi there everyone, I'm a graduating senior and will be taking a gap year before applying to the graduate school of my choice. Things were going great this semester, I had wonderful relationships with my professors--until COVID-19 came along and ended all in-person classes. I didn't have the opportunity to "pop the question" and ask for a letter of recommendation in person. Would it be too impersonal to ask my professors now if they could write me a letter of recommendation in the future when I am ready to apply for my program? Thanks all.
RESPONSE A: It is perfectly fine to ask for it via email.
RESPONSE B: Asking right to their face seems very presumptuous. no time to think about it and craft a response, you're forcing an answer right now. I'd hate that. Nothing wrong with email.
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A | POST: To anyone who is teaching/working with students: is there something that students sometimes say in email that you absolutely don't like? Often when mailing a professor or other staff member, I doubt for a long time what to say, because I don't want to sound rude or anything. Are there any types of emails that you absolutely hate? And are there things that students are often afraid to ask/say in an email, that you actually don't mind at all?
RESPONSE A: Don't say: * Hey Prof, * You haven't answered my email from 4 am this morning. * Please respond as soon as possible/by the end of the day. * "Chop chop, princess" * 'You are killing my dreams." Do say: * I have looked in the syllabus, LMS, text book, and asked classmates about this but was unable to find the answer. \[Question\] * I took two classes from you in \[X and Y semesters\]. I enjoyed learning about \[topic\]. You may remember me from my \[project/paper/presentation\]. I am now seeking \[job/grad school/whatever\], and wondered if you would be willing to write me a positive recommendation letter. Attached is my current resume and application letter to \[job/grad school/whatever\]. I would be happy to talk more with you about my goals/plans, if that would help you make a decision or write a positive letter. * Could I meet with you to discuss my poor performance on the last assessment? I take full responsibility for my performance, of course, and I am not asking for this meeting to discuss the grade. I would like to learn the material better and learn how to do better on the next assessment.
RESPONSE B: “Please let me know how you’re going to fix [some problem that I caused].” Edit: grammar
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A | POST: To anyone who is teaching/working with students: is there something that students sometimes say in email that you absolutely don't like? Often when mailing a professor or other staff member, I doubt for a long time what to say, because I don't want to sound rude or anything. Are there any types of emails that you absolutely hate? And are there things that students are often afraid to ask/say in an email, that you actually don't mind at all?
RESPONSE A: Don't say: * Hey Prof, * You haven't answered my email from 4 am this morning. * Please respond as soon as possible/by the end of the day. * "Chop chop, princess" * 'You are killing my dreams." Do say: * I have looked in the syllabus, LMS, text book, and asked classmates about this but was unable to find the answer. \[Question\] * I took two classes from you in \[X and Y semesters\]. I enjoyed learning about \[topic\]. You may remember me from my \[project/paper/presentation\]. I am now seeking \[job/grad school/whatever\], and wondered if you would be willing to write me a positive recommendation letter. Attached is my current resume and application letter to \[job/grad school/whatever\]. I would be happy to talk more with you about my goals/plans, if that would help you make a decision or write a positive letter. * Could I meet with you to discuss my poor performance on the last assessment? I take full responsibility for my performance, of course, and I am not asking for this meeting to discuss the grade. I would like to learn the material better and learn how to do better on the next assessment.
RESPONSE B: Their sob story of why......
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A | POST: To anyone who is teaching/working with students: is there something that students sometimes say in email that you absolutely don't like? Often when mailing a professor or other staff member, I doubt for a long time what to say, because I don't want to sound rude or anything. Are there any types of emails that you absolutely hate? And are there things that students are often afraid to ask/say in an email, that you actually don't mind at all?
RESPONSE A: “Did I miss anything when I was absent [day]?”NO WE SAT AROUND AND PLAYED CARDS. 😡
RESPONSE B: Their sob story of why......
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A | POST: To anyone who is teaching/working with students: is there something that students sometimes say in email that you absolutely don't like? Often when mailing a professor or other staff member, I doubt for a long time what to say, because I don't want to sound rude or anything. Are there any types of emails that you absolutely hate? And are there things that students are often afraid to ask/say in an email, that you actually don't mind at all?
RESPONSE A: “Did I miss anything when I was absent [day]?”NO WE SAT AROUND AND PLAYED CARDS. 😡
RESPONSE B: Never start with Hey... very annoying!
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B | POST: To anyone who is teaching/working with students: is there something that students sometimes say in email that you absolutely don't like? Often when mailing a professor or other staff member, I doubt for a long time what to say, because I don't want to sound rude or anything. Are there any types of emails that you absolutely hate? And are there things that students are often afraid to ask/say in an email, that you actually don't mind at all?
RESPONSE A: Their sob story of why......
RESPONSE B: “Please let me know how you’re going to fix [some problem that I caused].” Edit: grammar
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A | POST: Is it okay to email the author of a paper for additional data? I’m a first year Ph.D. student and I’m working on a final project for a class. A paper I’m referencing mentions additional data layers (GIS) in the supplement that would be useful to me. Would it be okay to email the lead author and ask if these data are available to the public? Or would that be perceived as rude? The paper is coming out of a federal agency
RESPONSE A: its fine to email. Just dont expect an automatic yes. I've been turned down before. I assume because the person wanted to protect their data
RESPONSE B: Yes they would-be very happy for your interest. Maybe you will even open new opportunities and insights by connecting with him. All the best
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B | POST: Is it okay to email the author of a paper for additional data? I’m a first year Ph.D. student and I’m working on a final project for a class. A paper I’m referencing mentions additional data layers (GIS) in the supplement that would be useful to me. Would it be okay to email the lead author and ask if these data are available to the public? Or would that be perceived as rude? The paper is coming out of a federal agency
RESPONSE A: Yes they would-be very happy for your interest. Maybe you will even open new opportunities and insights by connecting with him. All the best
RESPONSE B: YES! You are perfectly entitled to ask for data! Do it! When I published work I was always delighted to receive emails for clarifications or even additional data. For many of my publications I would include a line in the text to say that "the underlying data and/or model are available on request" (if I had permission to do so, of course) and someone following-up on that was always a lovely surprise. If they're a taxpayer-funded organisation then you should have _some_ rights to access the data. That depends on federal and local data laws, but essentially you should be able to access the data in some form.
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B | POST: Is it true that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate? Someone told me that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate because of high pressure for tenure and frequently moving to new cities Is that true?
RESPONSE A: I could definitely see it. My partner and I are both in graduate programs in different states. A few of my professors are lucky enough to have gotten jobs at the same college as their spouses but one of them always takes a huge pay cut to live in the same state let alone house
RESPONSE B: Not really. Most of the research on divorce rates indicates that it’s inversely proportional to education. The more educated you are, the less likely you are to divorce. Obviously, there’s a host of stuff with that: marrying later, having money, etc. Education, higher ed, industry research, all tend to fall out on the low end of the divorce rate spectrum if you look across jobs. That being said, nearly half of my cohort divorced. I think the main factor was, though, that many married in the summer between the end of college and the start of grad school. Marrying young is a big predictor of divorce. The ones who had taken a few years, worked or did a Master’s and had gotten married still are. When it comes to the moving and stuff, I would guess that’s more of a roadblock to the marriage than a spur for divorce.
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A | POST: Is it true that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate? Someone told me that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate because of high pressure for tenure and frequently moving to new cities Is that true?
RESPONSE A: Not really. Most of the research on divorce rates indicates that it’s inversely proportional to education. The more educated you are, the less likely you are to divorce. Obviously, there’s a host of stuff with that: marrying later, having money, etc. Education, higher ed, industry research, all tend to fall out on the low end of the divorce rate spectrum if you look across jobs. That being said, nearly half of my cohort divorced. I think the main factor was, though, that many married in the summer between the end of college and the start of grad school. Marrying young is a big predictor of divorce. The ones who had taken a few years, worked or did a Master’s and had gotten married still are. When it comes to the moving and stuff, I would guess that’s more of a roadblock to the marriage than a spur for divorce.
RESPONSE B: It seems reasonable, but I would guess it is an anecdotal statistic.
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A | POST: Is it true that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate? Someone told me that assistant professors in the US have a high divorce rate because of high pressure for tenure and frequently moving to new cities Is that true?
RESPONSE A: There is a running joke among older colleagues about second wives being "tenure" wives due to the first ones leaving during the process. Ignoring the implied sexism of the above statement. My take is this. Being an assistant professor is stressful. it's also the time when most couples are at the stage in life when they are starting families, which is also stressful. Add in low pay and long hours, while living in a new city where you probably don't have a robust social or family network. Plus there is the drinking culture in some programs or departments. That is enough to tax any relationship. Maybe there is a higher divorce rate during the tenure process, maybe the stress is just advertising a process that would have happened a few years down the road, or maybe it is just confirmation bias. It all adds up, personally I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support from my spouse. She had been my rock through moves and new cities. She has sacrificed a lot for me to be where I am. I think about that every time one of my students gets a job in a cool city making an insane salary.
RESPONSE B: I could definitely see it. My partner and I are both in graduate programs in different states. A few of my professors are lucky enough to have gotten jobs at the same college as their spouses but one of them always takes a huge pay cut to live in the same state let alone house
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