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POST: achievement, and I thought that it would help me land leadership jobs in industry. Am I completely out of my mind? I fully expect to be censured for this. Having spent so much time around MD/PhDs as an undergrad/grad researcher and with a father who is an MD, it is hard to shake the feelings of inferiority that motivate me to complete a PhD, to become an expert in a topic, and to have that credibility. I've felt like it has been a calling to me to be known as an expert in something and so I am unsure ias to what decision to make. I'm turning 26 soon, so I want to take the responsible step of correcting or committing my path and am hopeful for the future.
RESPONSE A: If you're not interested in research as a career and see a PhD as a badge of achievement you're in the wrong gig.
RESPONSE B: I hear clearly the ambiguity you're feeling. I have a couple thoughts. One, if you've spent all your time, or a large part of it in academia, it might be good to spend some time in life, bumming around, travelling in different places with a backpack, old school no particular goal. But I suggest that after the PhD, which relates to my second thought. Sometimes, when we're in the midst of a huge project it gets boring, it gets tedious and it's a slog. Sometimes, in the continuing, we eventually discover passion, especially as you didn't say you had a real passion for any other thing in particular. Smart people often have multi-interests and second guess whether they've made the right choice. My recommendation is you get the PhD and you know, things can often lead to places you don't expect. I often suggest to students that a path that seems too narrow often opens up to options never seen at the start of the path. Hey, at the end, if you really made the wrong choice, you will have a PhD, which ain't too bad. Then if it still feels wrong, take some time off, work some odd jobs, see some world, and reassess. Just my two cents.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: weeks, but I'm quite unsure if I am making a rational or best commitment. I pursued a biochemistry degree because I thought I wanted to go to medical school, I discovered that I am interested in medical science but not clinical practice and did not want to invest the time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in earning a medical degree if I were to not practice as a physician. I worked as a TA and in research labs, I did my time building the perfect med school application. Many professors have told me that I am sharp, which bolstered my confidence to pursue academia as a natural step towards medical science. However, I am discovering that even though I highly value science research, I am not interested in research as a career. In fact, I'm not very good doing bench work, I get bored. I am interested in business, engineering, law, computer science, many other things, in fact I have no singular driving interest. I have been thinking that I should complete a PhD because I am capable, I want to prove to myself that I can, I want the badge of achievement, and I thought that it would help me land leadership jobs in industry. Am I completely out of my mind? I fully expect to be censured for this. Having spent so much time around MD/PhDs as an undergrad/grad researcher and with a father who is an MD, it is hard to shake the feelings of inferiority that motivate me to complete a PhD, to become an expert in a topic, and to have that credibility. I've felt like it has been a calling to me to be known as an expert in something and so I am unsure ias to what decision to make. I'm turning 26 soon, so I want to take the responsible step of correcting or committing my path and am hopeful for the future.
RESPONSE A: Honestly to me it sounds like you should at least delay getting a PhD. You have to really want to do the research to get through it, a life science PhD is a grind and its a ton of work.
RESPONSE B: If you're not interested in research as a career and see a PhD as a badge of achievement you're in the wrong gig.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: to take the responsible step of correcting or committing my path and am hopeful for the future.
RESPONSE A: If the only reason you want the PhD is as a badge of achievement, you should not do it. It's not quite the worst reason I can think of for getting one, but it's pretty close. It will not bolster you through the grueling parts of the process, and getting a PhD with no real intent to use it is a huge waste of time, opportunity cost, and your energy. Getting a PhD won't prove to your father (or anyone else) that you're an expert in a topic. It just shows that you went through a PhD program. Additionally, getting a degree to prove something to family and friends is a really bad reason for getting the degree. Choose a path that's *actually* what you want to do. Do it. Be successful and happy.
RESPONSE B: I hear clearly the ambiguity you're feeling. I have a couple thoughts. One, if you've spent all your time, or a large part of it in academia, it might be good to spend some time in life, bumming around, travelling in different places with a backpack, old school no particular goal. But I suggest that after the PhD, which relates to my second thought. Sometimes, when we're in the midst of a huge project it gets boring, it gets tedious and it's a slog. Sometimes, in the continuing, we eventually discover passion, especially as you didn't say you had a real passion for any other thing in particular. Smart people often have multi-interests and second guess whether they've made the right choice. My recommendation is you get the PhD and you know, things can often lead to places you don't expect. I often suggest to students that a path that seems too narrow often opens up to options never seen at the start of the path. Hey, at the end, if you really made the wrong choice, you will have a PhD, which ain't too bad. Then if it still feels wrong, take some time off, work some odd jobs, see some world, and reassess. Just my two cents.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: though I highly value science research, I am not interested in research as a career. In fact, I'm not very good doing bench work, I get bored. I am interested in business, engineering, law, computer science, many other things, in fact I have no singular driving interest. I have been thinking that I should complete a PhD because I am capable, I want to prove to myself that I can, I want the badge of achievement, and I thought that it would help me land leadership jobs in industry. Am I completely out of my mind? I fully expect to be censured for this. Having spent so much time around MD/PhDs as an undergrad/grad researcher and with a father who is an MD, it is hard to shake the feelings of inferiority that motivate me to complete a PhD, to become an expert in a topic, and to have that credibility. I've felt like it has been a calling to me to be known as an expert in something and so I am unsure ias to what decision to make. I'm turning 26 soon, so I want to take the responsible step of correcting or committing my path and am hopeful for the future.
RESPONSE A: If the only reason you want the PhD is as a badge of achievement, you should not do it. It's not quite the worst reason I can think of for getting one, but it's pretty close. It will not bolster you through the grueling parts of the process, and getting a PhD with no real intent to use it is a huge waste of time, opportunity cost, and your energy. Getting a PhD won't prove to your father (or anyone else) that you're an expert in a topic. It just shows that you went through a PhD program. Additionally, getting a degree to prove something to family and friends is a really bad reason for getting the degree. Choose a path that's *actually* what you want to do. Do it. Be successful and happy.
RESPONSE B: Honestly to me it sounds like you should at least delay getting a PhD. You have to really want to do the research to get through it, a life science PhD is a grind and its a ton of work.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: complete a PhD, to become an expert in a topic, and to have that credibility. I've felt like it has been a calling to me to be known as an expert in something and so I am unsure ias to what decision to make. I'm turning 26 soon, so I want to take the responsible step of correcting or committing my path and am hopeful for the future.
RESPONSE A: I hear clearly the ambiguity you're feeling. I have a couple thoughts. One, if you've spent all your time, or a large part of it in academia, it might be good to spend some time in life, bumming around, travelling in different places with a backpack, old school no particular goal. But I suggest that after the PhD, which relates to my second thought. Sometimes, when we're in the midst of a huge project it gets boring, it gets tedious and it's a slog. Sometimes, in the continuing, we eventually discover passion, especially as you didn't say you had a real passion for any other thing in particular. Smart people often have multi-interests and second guess whether they've made the right choice. My recommendation is you get the PhD and you know, things can often lead to places you don't expect. I often suggest to students that a path that seems too narrow often opens up to options never seen at the start of the path. Hey, at the end, if you really made the wrong choice, you will have a PhD, which ain't too bad. Then if it still feels wrong, take some time off, work some odd jobs, see some world, and reassess. Just my two cents.
RESPONSE B: > I should complete a PhD because I am capable, I want to prove to myself that I can, I want the badge of achievement, and I thought that it would help me land leadership jobs in industry. There is only one reason to get a PhD. You want to get a PhD. That being said, you will spend several years working on something that if you don't absolutely want it that you won't achieve. A PhD is putting your life on pause in order to make yourself into a researcher.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: , research, everything. I am only doing collaborative work because people are depending on me and I don't want to let anyone down, especially my advisor (again, he wants to give me 8 months to work on other research for me, while I figure myself out). I know I have a good opportunity, yet I see no color anywhere.
RESPONSE A: I would stop trying. I know that sounds bad but you're basically asking yourself for the moon on a stick. First, you need to take care of yourself. Can you take a few days off and have some R&R? It won't be enough but it's a start. Second, just focus on finishing your PhD. Don't try and make yourself love it. Just figure out what you need to do and then do that - with plenty of breaks - avoid too many late nights and take your weekends. Third, don't stay on after your PhD, unless you actually want to. Your post screams you don't want to. I know you don't want to disappoint your PI but a) 8mo isn't really very much time and won't really impact them and b) you cannot live your life for other people. Fourth, try and take some time off after your PhD. I got a minimum wage job working as a receptionist for 6mo. It was just what I needed. Something to occupy my time but not too mentally taxing. Fifth and last, stop beating yourself up. It's ok not to be happy, it's not failure and the more you try and convince yourself you must be happy doing your PhD the worse you're going to feel. You can't force happiness if what you're doing doesn't make you happy. You're under huge amount of pressure, a PhD is tough. Focus on getting through it and think about what would make you happy longer term (and you don't have to get it right first time, or right forever. You can always switch jobs/careers again). Good luck.
RESPONSE B: The PhD is a grind. I only got really excited after finishing, a vacation, and time to think. For now, I’d say just keep moving forward. You’re going to get there
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: How do you yet back to "caring" about your research? As the titles says, I am struggling. I'm on the last year of my PhD and, even though I was provided and extension to my grant (3 months), I don't care about it or anything else. I would like to, really, because my advisor wants to use the lab funds to pay me for an extra 8 months or so, and do some other work after I finish my PhD. But again, I don't care about anything anymore. I am just tired, exhausted, all the time. I wake up and feel exhausted just getting ready to go to my laboratory. We have a supportive advisor, a good work environment, funds, and yet all I want is to find a job, anything really, that'll allow to pay for my place and other expenses. I really would like to "care" again about my project, research, everything. I am only doing collaborative work because people are depending on me and I don't want to let anyone down, especially my advisor (again, he wants to give me 8 months to work on other research for me, while I figure myself out). I know I have a good opportunity, yet I see no color anywhere.
RESPONSE A: You sound quite burnt out. I agree with the others, just focus on finishing the PhD for now. Then maybe do something else after that? Nothing wrong with taking time to figure out what you really want. You’re by no means obligated to take up your advisor’s offer
RESPONSE B: The PhD is a grind. I only got really excited after finishing, a vacation, and time to think. For now, I’d say just keep moving forward. You’re going to get there
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: turn it down. However, I've never been 100% all about science. When I look at my PI (and other PIs I've worked closely with) they are clearly devoted to science at the expense of other aspects of their life. While I love what I do, I also value family and the outdoors, etc and know that while I'm capable of working 24/7, I am much happier and healthier when I allow myself to take breaks -- something I'm not sure is possible in academia. Moreover, the school is in a medium size city, and my partner would have to compromise his aspirations to follow me, or we would have to take a year or two apart to jump start both our careers and hope he finds something in our city. Again, all the PIs I've worked with have been single-career families, so I'm struggling to find validation that it's possible to have two successful careers and a happy family life. Right now I have 2 options... (1) accept the position, defer a year to do a postdoc and help my partner jump start his career or (2) decline the position, do a postdoc, and think harder about my options. I would appreciate any insight into life as a professor and a human. TL;DR I got a good tenure-track offer, but am scared of signing my life away... help!
RESPONSE A: IA with everyone saying to at least give it a shot. You don't really know whether you'll like it before you try it, and it's much easier to jump from the tenure track to industry than the other way around. If it helps, I know PLENTY of tenure-track faculty in dual career households (heck, my own parents are an example - dad is a tenured prof, mom is very successful in the corporate world, and I like to think they did pretty well as parents :) ). If you're both in academia then yes it's pretty rough, but academic + non-academic couples don't usually have as much trouble. Also re: your options, has the department agreed that you can defer a year? Usually TT offers are expected to start the next academic year.
RESPONSE B: Take it! :)
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: to be a professor. Surprisingly, I got an offer at a R1 institution. They don't have any research in my field but are very strong in adjacent fields so I have some space to forge collaborations / start a new path while being supported. I also believe that I would be a decent professor and I enjoy mentoring students and teaching. In many ways, this is a dream offer and it seems crazy to turn it down. However, I've never been 100% all about science. When I look at my PI (and other PIs I've worked closely with) they are clearly devoted to science at the expense of other aspects of their life. While I love what I do, I also value family and the outdoors, etc and know that while I'm capable of working 24/7, I am much happier and healthier when I allow myself to take breaks -- something I'm not sure is possible in academia. Moreover, the school is in a medium size city, and my partner would have to compromise his aspirations to follow me, or we would have to take a year or two apart to jump start both our careers and hope he finds something in our city. Again, all the PIs I've worked with have been single-career families, so I'm struggling to find validation that it's possible to have two successful careers and a happy family life. Right now I have 2 options... (1) accept the position, defer a year to do a postdoc and help my partner jump start his career or (2) decline the position, do a postdoc, and think harder about my options. I would appreciate any insight into life as a professor and a human. TL;DR I got a good tenure-track offer, but am scared of signing my life away... help!
RESPONSE A: Take it! :)
RESPONSE B: Not sure if you’ve seen this before, but it might be a useful perspective: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-awesomest-7-year-postdoc-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-tenure-track-faculty-life/
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: 's clothes and appearance? I’m an undergrad taking this professor’s evening course to fulfill a graduation requirement. A main component for the class is an individual research project, which requires one-on-one meetings with the instructor. So far, we’ve had three of these and each time he has complimented some aspect of my appearance- clothing, hairstyle, etc. On Friday, the color of my toenail polish was the subject of choice. I attend a really small university and professors and students are often quite friendly/informal, but I’ve never really had anything like this come up before. It just strikes me as a little...weird. I can’t imagine this person would be careless enough to flirt with a student, not to mention the fact that he’s old enough to be my father and married with children. At the same time, that sort of attention doesn’t feel very professional or even “fatherly”. The only explanation I can come up with is that he’s in a creative field and, perhaps, is just the sort of person who notices aesthetic things. What would you make of these types of comments? Should I be concerned that he’s possibly being inappropriate or would you guess that it’s no big deal? Obviously he hasn’t said or done anything truly out of line yet, but I’d just like to know if this kind of thing seems odd to anyone else.
RESPONSE A: The professor may have the best of intentions. The professor may (consciously or subconsciously) find you attractive and thus the comments. Which of these or other explanations is true does not matter. You are having a professional discussion with someone in a position of power. The professor should not be making these comments. I think a simple "I was hoping you would compliment my work" would be a good way to handle it. If he doesn't stop, talk to the department chair. (I am a department chair.)
RESPONSE B: If he's making you uncomfortable, it doesn't really matter how innocent his intentions may be. He might just be making idle chit-chat, or he might have other ideas. But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a problem.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: Is it unusual for a male professor to comment on a female undergrad's clothes and appearance? I’m an undergrad taking this professor’s evening course to fulfill a graduation requirement. A main component for the class is an individual research project, which requires one-on-one meetings with the instructor. So far, we’ve had three of these and each time he has complimented some aspect of my appearance- clothing, hairstyle, etc. On Friday, the color of my toenail polish was the subject of choice. I attend a really small university and professors and students are often quite friendly/informal, but I’ve never really had anything like this come up before. It just strikes me as a little...weird. I can’t imagine this person would be careless enough to flirt with a student, not to mention the fact that he’s old enough to be my father and married with children. At the same time, that sort of attention doesn’t feel very professional or even “fatherly”. The only explanation I can come up with is that he’s in a creative field and, perhaps, is just the sort of person who notices aesthetic things. What would you make of these types of comments? Should I be concerned that he’s possibly being inappropriate or would you guess that it’s no big deal? Obviously he hasn’t said or done anything truly out of line yet, but I’d just like to know if this kind of thing seems odd to anyone else.
RESPONSE A: I think you should be cautious, but not concerned. He's in a creative field. If he is just making a compliment, take it as that, and from what you say he's not "sexualizing" you. I'd ask your other colleagues and see how he behaves with them. Like I said, be cautious but not concerned!
RESPONSE B: If he's making you uncomfortable, it doesn't really matter how innocent his intentions may be. He might just be making idle chit-chat, or he might have other ideas. But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a problem.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: So far, we’ve had three of these and each time he has complimented some aspect of my appearance- clothing, hairstyle, etc. On Friday, the color of my toenail polish was the subject of choice. I attend a really small university and professors and students are often quite friendly/informal, but I’ve never really had anything like this come up before. It just strikes me as a little...weird. I can’t imagine this person would be careless enough to flirt with a student, not to mention the fact that he’s old enough to be my father and married with children. At the same time, that sort of attention doesn’t feel very professional or even “fatherly”. The only explanation I can come up with is that he’s in a creative field and, perhaps, is just the sort of person who notices aesthetic things. What would you make of these types of comments? Should I be concerned that he’s possibly being inappropriate or would you guess that it’s no big deal? Obviously he hasn’t said or done anything truly out of line yet, but I’d just like to know if this kind of thing seems odd to anyone else.
RESPONSE A: If he's making you uncomfortable, it doesn't really matter how innocent his intentions may be. He might just be making idle chit-chat, or he might have other ideas. But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a problem.
RESPONSE B: I don't know what the answer is... maybe a polite but firm "I prefer to discuss my work" would be sufficient. I do *not* advise doing nothing and waiting to see whether the comments escalate, as the professor may interpret your silence as assent. Sadly, it is not unusual for professors to amuse themselves with inappropriate flirting. It makes me furious. There are several comments in this thread that are victim-blaming and enabling of this sexist professor. This is what makes sexism institutional. Suggestions that your clothing choices are to blame for his behavior are irresponsible and wrongheaded. Downvote me all you want, but people need to do a little introspection.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: Is it unusual for a male professor to comment on a female undergrad's clothes and appearance? I’m an undergrad taking this professor’s evening course to fulfill a graduation requirement. A main component for the class is an individual research project, which requires one-on-one meetings with the instructor. So far, we’ve had three of these and each time he has complimented some aspect of my appearance- clothing, hairstyle, etc. On Friday, the color of my toenail polish was the subject of choice. I attend a really small university and professors and students are often quite friendly/informal, but I’ve never really had anything like this come up before. It just strikes me as a little...weird. I can’t imagine this person would be careless enough to flirt with a student, not to mention the fact that he’s old enough to be my father and married with children. At the same time, that sort of attention doesn’t feel very professional or even “fatherly”. The only explanation I can come up with is that he’s in a creative field and, perhaps, is just the sort of person who notices aesthetic things. What would you make of these types of comments? Should I be concerned that he’s possibly being inappropriate or would you guess that it’s no big deal? Obviously he hasn’t said or done anything truly out of line yet, but I’d just like to know if this kind of thing seems odd to anyone else.
RESPONSE A: If he's making you uncomfortable, it doesn't really matter how innocent his intentions may be. He might just be making idle chit-chat, or he might have other ideas. But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a problem.
RESPONSE B: While not the same as the case here, science professors often and routinely comment on student attire, hair etc. There are pretty clear rules about hairstyles, clothing, and shoes that are appropriate for lab work. I often have to reprimand students about things like long fake fingernails and the incompatibility with gloves...
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: one-on-one meetings with the instructor. So far, we’ve had three of these and each time he has complimented some aspect of my appearance- clothing, hairstyle, etc. On Friday, the color of my toenail polish was the subject of choice. I attend a really small university and professors and students are often quite friendly/informal, but I’ve never really had anything like this come up before. It just strikes me as a little...weird. I can’t imagine this person would be careless enough to flirt with a student, not to mention the fact that he’s old enough to be my father and married with children. At the same time, that sort of attention doesn’t feel very professional or even “fatherly”. The only explanation I can come up with is that he’s in a creative field and, perhaps, is just the sort of person who notices aesthetic things. What would you make of these types of comments? Should I be concerned that he’s possibly being inappropriate or would you guess that it’s no big deal? Obviously he hasn’t said or done anything truly out of line yet, but I’d just like to know if this kind of thing seems odd to anyone else.
RESPONSE A: Is it something I would do? No. Particularly in a one-on-one situation. Is it something you should be concerned about? That entirely depends on what he's saying exactly. There's a big difference between "I like your shirt" to "That shirt looks good on you" to "That shirt really accentuates your figure." I probably wouldn't say any of the three, but the first one is being nice, the second is being a little flirty (and inappropriate in my opinion), and the third one is definitely inappropriate. If you're feeling at all uncomfortable about it, note exactly what was said and when it was said. Take these to his department chair or supervisor.
RESPONSE B: If he's making you uncomfortable, it doesn't really matter how innocent his intentions may be. He might just be making idle chit-chat, or he might have other ideas. But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's a problem.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: Can you ask to be removed as an author from a paper? I am a co author on a paper of a former fellow PhD student. I contributed minimally to the paper (extracted DNA from samples and sequences). The topic is something I know about and researching during my current postdoc. The issue is that I don’t think the methods is done correctly or the data interpreted properly. We have yet to see the final manuscript (I got a sneak peek of the partial manuscript). Can I ask to be removed as an author from the paper? Or is any publication seen as good? I want to progress within this field and don’t know how bad it would be if my name is on a subpar paper.
RESPONSE A: ​ related fun fact: ​ >**Alan Smithee** (also Allen Smithee) is an official **pseudonym** used by film directors who wish to disown a project. > >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan\_Smithee
RESPONSE B: I did it. It was before submission anywhere. I was doing the the lab work, so I believe I should not be among the authors, and but mainly the paper was really bad. After a year it got to reviewers and they all said that it is unreadable and until authors rewrite it to some more understandable version they will not review it. I am glad that my name is not there.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: data interpreted properly. We have yet to see the final manuscript (I got a sneak peek of the partial manuscript). Can I ask to be removed as an author from the paper? Or is any publication seen as good? I want to progress within this field and don’t know how bad it would be if my name is on a subpar paper.
RESPONSE A: Yes. I agree with /u/65-95-99's suggestions of what to do. If they're a colleague and you get on well with them, I'd recommend explaining the issues you have with the paper. It's in everybody's interest to make sure that the science is good and, hopefully, this can lead to a constructive dialogue, and your eventual inclusion in a good paper. If that doesn't get anywhere, and you continue to disagree with the methods and interpretation, you _must_ ask to be removed as an author. Part of being a co-author is taking responsibility for the integrity of a manuscript so, if you do not think you can take responsibility, you should not be a co-author. In the past, it was possible to blame everything on the first-named author if it turns out that a paper is dodgy but these days, it is expected that being listed as a co-author is equal to endorsement of the paper. This should never happen but, as an absolute last resort, you can request that a journal removes co-authorship if a manuscript has been submitted to a journal against your will. Most legitimate journals will email all co-authors when a manuscript has been submitted, saying something along the lines of "Please contact the Editorial Office as soon as possible if you disagree with being listed as a co-author for this manuscript". All of the reasons you've provided are legitimate reasons to request that co-authorship should be withdrawn.
RESPONSE B: ​ related fun fact: ​ >**Alan Smithee** (also Allen Smithee) is an official **pseudonym** used by film directors who wish to disown a project. > >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan\_Smithee
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: Can you ask to be removed as an author from a paper? I am a co author on a paper of a former fellow PhD student. I contributed minimally to the paper (extracted DNA from samples and sequences). The topic is something I know about and researching during my current postdoc. The issue is that I don’t think the methods is done correctly or the data interpreted properly. We have yet to see the final manuscript (I got a sneak peek of the partial manuscript). Can I ask to be removed as an author from the paper? Or is any publication seen as good? I want to progress within this field and don’t know how bad it would be if my name is on a subpar paper.
RESPONSE A: Did you approve submission of the publication? Typically you, yourself have to approve whether or not your cool with the publication
RESPONSE B: ​ related fun fact: ​ >**Alan Smithee** (also Allen Smithee) is an official **pseudonym** used by film directors who wish to disown a project. > >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan\_Smithee
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: see the final manuscript (I got a sneak peek of the partial manuscript). Can I ask to be removed as an author from the paper? Or is any publication seen as good? I want to progress within this field and don’t know how bad it would be if my name is on a subpar paper.
RESPONSE A: I did it. It was before submission anywhere. I was doing the the lab work, so I believe I should not be among the authors, and but mainly the paper was really bad. After a year it got to reviewers and they all said that it is unreadable and until authors rewrite it to some more understandable version they will not review it. I am glad that my name is not there.
RESPONSE B: Yes. I agree with /u/65-95-99's suggestions of what to do. If they're a colleague and you get on well with them, I'd recommend explaining the issues you have with the paper. It's in everybody's interest to make sure that the science is good and, hopefully, this can lead to a constructive dialogue, and your eventual inclusion in a good paper. If that doesn't get anywhere, and you continue to disagree with the methods and interpretation, you _must_ ask to be removed as an author. Part of being a co-author is taking responsibility for the integrity of a manuscript so, if you do not think you can take responsibility, you should not be a co-author. In the past, it was possible to blame everything on the first-named author if it turns out that a paper is dodgy but these days, it is expected that being listed as a co-author is equal to endorsement of the paper. This should never happen but, as an absolute last resort, you can request that a journal removes co-authorship if a manuscript has been submitted to a journal against your will. Most legitimate journals will email all co-authors when a manuscript has been submitted, saying something along the lines of "Please contact the Editorial Office as soon as possible if you disagree with being listed as a co-author for this manuscript". All of the reasons you've provided are legitimate reasons to request that co-authorship should be withdrawn.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Can you ask to be removed as an author from a paper? I am a co author on a paper of a former fellow PhD student. I contributed minimally to the paper (extracted DNA from samples and sequences). The topic is something I know about and researching during my current postdoc. The issue is that I don’t think the methods is done correctly or the data interpreted properly. We have yet to see the final manuscript (I got a sneak peek of the partial manuscript). Can I ask to be removed as an author from the paper? Or is any publication seen as good? I want to progress within this field and don’t know how bad it would be if my name is on a subpar paper.
RESPONSE A: I did it. It was before submission anywhere. I was doing the the lab work, so I believe I should not be among the authors, and but mainly the paper was really bad. After a year it got to reviewers and they all said that it is unreadable and until authors rewrite it to some more understandable version they will not review it. I am glad that my name is not there.
RESPONSE B: Did you approve submission of the publication? Typically you, yourself have to approve whether or not your cool with the publication
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Being added as a co-author without contributing to the actual research? My advisor recently asked me to convert the formatting of a paper that was rejected from one journal to the formatting of the next journal they will be submitting it to. In exchange they have offered to add me as a co-author. I also created one part of a figure that appears in the paper, but that didn't require me to have any knowledge or understanding of the paper. Normally I wouldn't have considered editing or figure art enough to deserve being a co-author. I'm slightly concerned about how it would make me look if someone asks what I contributed. The answer would have to be something like "not much, just some formatting of the final document". Should I accept their offer and put my name on the paper?
RESPONSE A: I think your contribution could easily add up to authorship depending on the norms of your field, and you are just coming in here with some imposter syndrome. Even if not, I'd take it as a "gift". Everybody else who you're competing against later in your career is playing the authorship game, you ought to too if you want a competitive CV. Nobody is going to bamboozle you at a conference demanding you explain your contribution to a random paper of yours is. Even if someone does, you can simply answer "I made figure x and contributed to the drafting of the paper", and that's both perfectly true and in line with typical authorship guidelines. To be honest, it looks almost more like your advisor is trying to help you by honestly getting your name on to some more papers rather than they just want to bribe you to do some bullshit reformatting.
RESPONSE B: You can tell him that you want to help without being added as a co-author. Perhaps being mentioned in the acknowledgments is more suitable.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Being added as a co-author without contributing to the actual research? My advisor recently asked me to convert the formatting of a paper that was rejected from one journal to the formatting of the next journal they will be submitting it to. In exchange they have offered to add me as a co-author. I also created one part of a figure that appears in the paper, but that didn't require me to have any knowledge or understanding of the paper. Normally I wouldn't have considered editing or figure art enough to deserve being a co-author. I'm slightly concerned about how it would make me look if someone asks what I contributed. The answer would have to be something like "not much, just some formatting of the final document". Should I accept their offer and put my name on the paper?
RESPONSE A: I think your contribution could easily add up to authorship depending on the norms of your field, and you are just coming in here with some imposter syndrome. Even if not, I'd take it as a "gift". Everybody else who you're competing against later in your career is playing the authorship game, you ought to too if you want a competitive CV. Nobody is going to bamboozle you at a conference demanding you explain your contribution to a random paper of yours is. Even if someone does, you can simply answer "I made figure x and contributed to the drafting of the paper", and that's both perfectly true and in line with typical authorship guidelines. To be honest, it looks almost more like your advisor is trying to help you by honestly getting your name on to some more papers rather than they just want to bribe you to do some bullshit reformatting.
RESPONSE B: If you don't feel comfortable with that, just politely refuse and explain your reasons.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Being added as a co-author without contributing to the actual research? My advisor recently asked me to convert the formatting of a paper that was rejected from one journal to the formatting of the next journal they will be submitting it to. In exchange they have offered to add me as a co-author. I also created one part of a figure that appears in the paper, but that didn't require me to have any knowledge or understanding of the paper. Normally I wouldn't have considered editing or figure art enough to deserve being a co-author. I'm slightly concerned about how it would make me look if someone asks what I contributed. The answer would have to be something like "not much, just some formatting of the final document". Should I accept their offer and put my name on the paper?
RESPONSE A: You don’t have to understand the paper, you’re not first author. Contributing a figure and editing the manuscript is solidly justifiable for authorship. Something you should know about research is most manuscripts are written by really only 2-4 people even if there’s tons of co-authors.
RESPONSE B: You can tell him that you want to help without being added as a co-author. Perhaps being mentioned in the acknowledgments is more suitable.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Being added as a co-author without contributing to the actual research? My advisor recently asked me to convert the formatting of a paper that was rejected from one journal to the formatting of the next journal they will be submitting it to. In exchange they have offered to add me as a co-author. I also created one part of a figure that appears in the paper, but that didn't require me to have any knowledge or understanding of the paper. Normally I wouldn't have considered editing or figure art enough to deserve being a co-author. I'm slightly concerned about how it would make me look if someone asks what I contributed. The answer would have to be something like "not much, just some formatting of the final document". Should I accept their offer and put my name on the paper?
RESPONSE A: If you don't feel comfortable with that, just politely refuse and explain your reasons.
RESPONSE B: You don’t have to understand the paper, you’re not first author. Contributing a figure and editing the manuscript is solidly justifiable for authorship. Something you should know about research is most manuscripts are written by really only 2-4 people even if there’s tons of co-authors.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Impact of recession on the life of a graduate student Hi, I don’t mean to ring any alarms by my title. I’m just curious to know how the 2008 recession (or any other local level recessions at any other times) affected the lives of people who were graduate students then? It is common knowledge that grad student stipends in most places is laughable. Im mainly concerned with figuring out what’s the worst that can happen should something like this happen while Im still ‘in school’.
RESPONSE A: I'll go against the grain a little here... I applied to a PhD program in '07 (before the recession) and began in '08. I was damn glad to be in grad school at the time. Stipends were shit to begin with, but at no point was I worried about my funding getting cut. I was happy to not be out fighting for a shitty job, and happy to know that my future was essentially locked in for five years while the economy recovered. There's a reason grad school enrollment is countercyclical with the economy.
RESPONSE B: It's much harder to find an academic job. Many departments (not all) waited to start searches for new professors, so now what was already an oversaturated job market is even more over saturated.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Impact of recession on the life of a graduate student Hi, I don’t mean to ring any alarms by my title. I’m just curious to know how the 2008 recession (or any other local level recessions at any other times) affected the lives of people who were graduate students then? It is common knowledge that grad student stipends in most places is laughable. Im mainly concerned with figuring out what’s the worst that can happen should something like this happen while Im still ‘in school’.
RESPONSE A: It was … not great. We didn’t experience stipend cuts, but many nearby universities cut benefits to grad students. A couple cut health insurance completely, and I had some friends leave programs due to this. At the time, we did not have a guarantee of summer employment. One good thing that emerged was that the department set up funds to make sure any student who did not have a TA and their adviser couldn’t provide an RA would get a department RA. But that didn’t happen right away. I had multiple friends who we had to pitch in to give them money because they didn’t get TAs and were on visa and couldn’t work external to the university. That scarred me and I don’t take students I don’t have RA funds for now, as a PI. The class after mine was half the size of mine because of TA cuts and the next was even smaller. They recovered by 2013 or so. What will happen this time is harder to say because the cost of everyday goods is up substantially, which is a different material impact than the 2008 crash.
RESPONSE B: I'll go against the grain a little here... I applied to a PhD program in '07 (before the recession) and began in '08. I was damn glad to be in grad school at the time. Stipends were shit to begin with, but at no point was I worried about my funding getting cut. I was happy to not be out fighting for a shitty job, and happy to know that my future was essentially locked in for five years while the economy recovered. There's a reason grad school enrollment is countercyclical with the economy.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Impact of recession on the life of a graduate student Hi, I don’t mean to ring any alarms by my title. I’m just curious to know how the 2008 recession (or any other local level recessions at any other times) affected the lives of people who were graduate students then? It is common knowledge that grad student stipends in most places is laughable. Im mainly concerned with figuring out what’s the worst that can happen should something like this happen while Im still ‘in school’.
RESPONSE A: I'll go against the grain a little here... I applied to a PhD program in '07 (before the recession) and began in '08. I was damn glad to be in grad school at the time. Stipends were shit to begin with, but at no point was I worried about my funding getting cut. I was happy to not be out fighting for a shitty job, and happy to know that my future was essentially locked in for five years while the economy recovered. There's a reason grad school enrollment is countercyclical with the economy.
RESPONSE B: This is something I'm also very concerned about as well. PhD students don't get paid enough as it is, and I just finished my first year, so having to live through my PhD program and a recession would be incredibly stressful...
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Impact of recession on the life of a graduate student Hi, I don’t mean to ring any alarms by my title. I’m just curious to know how the 2008 recession (or any other local level recessions at any other times) affected the lives of people who were graduate students then? It is common knowledge that grad student stipends in most places is laughable. Im mainly concerned with figuring out what’s the worst that can happen should something like this happen while Im still ‘in school’.
RESPONSE A: I'll go against the grain a little here... I applied to a PhD program in '07 (before the recession) and began in '08. I was damn glad to be in grad school at the time. Stipends were shit to begin with, but at no point was I worried about my funding getting cut. I was happy to not be out fighting for a shitty job, and happy to know that my future was essentially locked in for five years while the economy recovered. There's a reason grad school enrollment is countercyclical with the economy.
RESPONSE B: I experienced a state-wide recession in grad school. There were moments when funding was in question, which was nerve-wracking. Ultimately, students received their stipends, but the program I was in had a discretionary account taken away after the state cut funding to the university. This made it all but impossible to continue a visiting authors and scholars series. The account also paid for food and drinks at events, conference travel funding, and some smaller random things like supporting travel for prospective students. A hiring freeze was also implemented so my department could not replace a faculty member who had left.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Impact of recession on the life of a graduate student Hi, I don’t mean to ring any alarms by my title. I’m just curious to know how the 2008 recession (or any other local level recessions at any other times) affected the lives of people who were graduate students then? It is common knowledge that grad student stipends in most places is laughable. Im mainly concerned with figuring out what’s the worst that can happen should something like this happen while Im still ‘in school’.
RESPONSE A: It was … not great. We didn’t experience stipend cuts, but many nearby universities cut benefits to grad students. A couple cut health insurance completely, and I had some friends leave programs due to this. At the time, we did not have a guarantee of summer employment. One good thing that emerged was that the department set up funds to make sure any student who did not have a TA and their adviser couldn’t provide an RA would get a department RA. But that didn’t happen right away. I had multiple friends who we had to pitch in to give them money because they didn’t get TAs and were on visa and couldn’t work external to the university. That scarred me and I don’t take students I don’t have RA funds for now, as a PI. The class after mine was half the size of mine because of TA cuts and the next was even smaller. They recovered by 2013 or so. What will happen this time is harder to say because the cost of everyday goods is up substantially, which is a different material impact than the 2008 crash.
RESPONSE B: It's much harder to find an academic job. Many departments (not all) waited to start searches for new professors, so now what was already an oversaturated job market is even more over saturated.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: How to set up a post doc? (4th year graduate student in a heath science related field) I’m a 4th year grad student and am getting to the point of trying to figure out “where do I go from here???” I am in a health science related field and know that I want to do a post doc and eventually try and get a faculty position. Any time I start trying to research potential labs to do my post doc I start to get incredibly overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. Potential options, potential for failure and misery, geographic change, potential life change. How should I go about trying to set up a post doc? Where should I start? Do you literally just start emailing PIs? How do I narrow down the endless list of potential labs? Should I stay in a similar research area or attempt to branch out? Really any advice would be helpful.
RESPONSE A: Yes, you can literally just email PIs, whether you’ve met them or not. Attach an up-to-date copy of your CV (including the info for your references). The email will function as a cover letter. Make sure your email is compelling.
RESPONSE B: Pick the research topic you like best and let all else follow
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: a faculty position. Any time I start trying to research potential labs to do my post doc I start to get incredibly overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. Potential options, potential for failure and misery, geographic change, potential life change. How should I go about trying to set up a post doc? Where should I start? Do you literally just start emailing PIs? How do I narrow down the endless list of potential labs? Should I stay in a similar research area or attempt to branch out? Really any advice would be helpful.
RESPONSE A: You have to know what kind of research field you are interested in doing if/when you get a faculty position in the future. What skills/techniques have you already acquire and what haven't you acquire but need to succeed in your field of interest. Once you have that in your mind, then you can start hunting down labs that you can learn/acquire these skills/techniques from, but at this point you have a much smaller scope to search the lab that you can fit in.
RESPONSE B: Talk to your advisor about potential post doc advisors first, having them make the connection for you is always your best bet. But also figure out who in the field you are interested in tends to always have grant money and publishes with post docs frequently, then network, network, network. Go to the big conference(s) in the field, and email them in advance to see if you could setup a chat to talk about research. The just talk about research! If they ask about your plans, mention you’re looking for a post doc position in the near future, but if for some odd reason it doesn’t come up, just mention in a “thanks for meeting” email that you’ll eventually be looking for a post doc, and may email to see if they have a position when you’re at that stage, but if anything comes up in the meantime, you’d be interested in hearing. Yes, you can cold email (and probably should as a backup) but unless you or your advisor already knows them, you’ll just wind up in one of the myriad post-doc factories that won’t do you any good in the long run.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: How to set up a post doc? (4th year graduate student in a heath science related field) I’m a 4th year grad student and am getting to the point of trying to figure out “where do I go from here???” I am in a health science related field and know that I want to do a post doc and eventually try and get a faculty position. Any time I start trying to research potential labs to do my post doc I start to get incredibly overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. Potential options, potential for failure and misery, geographic change, potential life change. How should I go about trying to set up a post doc? Where should I start? Do you literally just start emailing PIs? How do I narrow down the endless list of potential labs? Should I stay in a similar research area or attempt to branch out? Really any advice would be helpful.
RESPONSE A: Pick the research topic you like best and let all else follow
RESPONSE B: Talk to your advisor about potential post doc advisors first, having them make the connection for you is always your best bet. But also figure out who in the field you are interested in tends to always have grant money and publishes with post docs frequently, then network, network, network. Go to the big conference(s) in the field, and email them in advance to see if you could setup a chat to talk about research. The just talk about research! If they ask about your plans, mention you’re looking for a post doc position in the near future, but if for some odd reason it doesn’t come up, just mention in a “thanks for meeting” email that you’ll eventually be looking for a post doc, and may email to see if they have a position when you’re at that stage, but if anything comes up in the meantime, you’d be interested in hearing. Yes, you can cold email (and probably should as a backup) but unless you or your advisor already knows them, you’ll just wind up in one of the myriad post-doc factories that won’t do you any good in the long run.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Trans professors: how do you deal with name change in terms of publications? Full professor transitioning... I won't have problems at work, but I sure wish I had gone by my initials from day one. I'm still active in a field with Chicago citations (first and last name). Any experience dealing with this in terms of publications? I'd obviously want to ensure a sense of continuity with previous published work.
RESPONSE A: In addition to using ORCID, you might want to talk to a librarian at your institution about this. They know a lot about how those citation counts are actually created, and how different databases may match examples of your work together. If your institution has a digital repository or another system where they try to pull together faculty bios, that might be another place to submit copies of your own work to tie them all together. Congratulations!
RESPONSE B: Joan Roughgarden just changed them. As a reader of their papers there was a tiny bit of confusion but they were (IIRC) at the same institutions so it was obvious. EDIT to eliminate her dead name
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: When should I tell my supervisor that I’m thinking about dropping out of my PhD? Here’s my situation, in a bit more detail: I’m just at the end of the Master’s portion of the degree, and would be leaving with a good grade in that; I’m in a social sciences/humanities programme in a world top 10 institution for my subject; I am in the UK; I’m fully funded by a research council. I’m basically 95% certain that I want to leave, and have already started searching for jobs. I don’t want my supervisor to put work in to my project when I know I’m planning on leaving - I would feel really guilty about it. On the other hand, I can’t afford to pay my rent if I lose my funding before I find another source of income and am a big fan of not starving to death - I don’t know if telling him means the institution will be alerted and cause me problems on that front, especially because I have no idea how long it will take for me to find something. At the minute, I’m considering not saying anything until I have a job secured, but again, I’m worried that that’s a dick move. What would you guys do, in my position? I can provide more information about my reasoning/situation if that helps - I’m being purposefully vague about the specific university and course.
RESPONSE A: Treat it just like any other job. When you’re prepared to leave and have a job offer in hand give them your leave notice
RESPONSE B: Is there an ombudsperson at your institution? They can be helpful sounding boards for these types of situations because they can look into institutional policies but keep things confidential.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Should I call my grad school supervisor by their first name? I noticed 3 PhD students in our group call the supervisor by his first name. He always signs off with first name. We NEVER call profs by their first name where I'm from, and I feel awkward. What should I do? Should I go with first name? Another MSc student goes with Dr. last name, however. Btw, this is a Canadian university.
RESPONSE A: I'm a professor at a Canadian university and I don't know any profs who go by anything other than their first name with grad students! Undergrads are sometimes different, but academic culture in grad school is pretty relaxed.
RESPONSE B: It is normal for PhD students to call faculty by their first names when there is more of a colleague type of relationship or preparation/socialization into the field. When I was a doctoral student and just starting I had written emails with Professor or Dr as a title and often got emails back saying at this point we are on a first name basis. It’s not common, however, at the Master’s level to be on a first name basis. In my field, we actually prefer Professor to Dr (in a university and not industry setting, of course) and I have no idea how that convention emerged. If the other masters student is using Dr consistently then that’s probably what it should be, but there’s never harm to ask and it might even reflect positively on you!
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Should I call my grad school supervisor by their first name? I noticed 3 PhD students in our group call the supervisor by his first name. He always signs off with first name. We NEVER call profs by their first name where I'm from, and I feel awkward. What should I do? Should I go with first name? Another MSc student goes with Dr. last name, however. Btw, this is a Canadian university.
RESPONSE A: It really depends on the country, and I have no knowledge about the customs in Canada. In some countries, you basically always use the "Dr./Professor last name" whereas in other countries you always use the first name (including first year undergraduate student addressing a professor). If in doubt, just ask him.
RESPONSE B: I'm a professor at a Canadian university and I don't know any profs who go by anything other than their first name with grad students! Undergrads are sometimes different, but academic culture in grad school is pretty relaxed.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: pilots in 90ies action movies". I did a first round of literature search (Google scholar) and found a handful of somewhat relevant publications on "aviation in media" or "the fascination of flying in 20th century literature". It's clear that it's not exactly a hot topic, but I'm okay with that as I'm doing it for personal interest only, although I do hope to publish it at some point in some form. With the available literature, I would probably have to make the connection between "90ies action movies" and "media" to acknowledge previous works. I can certainly deal with that. However, I also found a recent masters thesis that pretty much did all the ground work on "pilots in action movies". As you'd expect, there was a plenty of breadth, but not as much critical reflection or connection to a wider context. I looked up the supervisor and their research interests seem to be tangentially related at best ("history of media studies", say). How do I go about pursuing my "Pilots in 90ies action movies" interest without pretending that thesis didn't exist? Do I cite it? Do I ask the supervisor for a collaboration even though they don't seem to be doing anything related at this time? Do I inquire whether they plan to publish anything about it? I have never been in a situation where there was virtually no literature except one piece that was almost exactly what I was looking to do. Should I become much more specific? Say "female air force pilots in 90ies action movies direct-to-video releases" or something? I'm hesitant about that approach because going into so much detail when the bigger picture has not been properly described yet seems a bit odd. I'm grateful for any insight on how to approach this (and sorry for the somewhat silly example).
RESPONSE A: Cite it but write your own thing. By the time you get to the end and through peer review, it may not be similar at all.
RESPONSE B: Why would you pretend it doesn't exist? I'd summarize briefly what it did, and then what you are going to do differently. I'd be careful to keep kid gloves on since it is just a MA thesis, and not go too hard on its deficiencies.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: the supervisor and their research interests seem to be tangentially related at best ("history of media studies", say). How do I go about pursuing my "Pilots in 90ies action movies" interest without pretending that thesis didn't exist? Do I cite it? Do I ask the supervisor for a collaboration even though they don't seem to be doing anything related at this time? Do I inquire whether they plan to publish anything about it? I have never been in a situation where there was virtually no literature except one piece that was almost exactly what I was looking to do. Should I become much more specific? Say "female air force pilots in 90ies action movies direct-to-video releases" or something? I'm hesitant about that approach because going into so much detail when the bigger picture has not been properly described yet seems a bit odd. I'm grateful for any insight on how to approach this (and sorry for the somewhat silly example).
RESPONSE A: I'm in the humanities in Europe and have often cited MA theses even in major publications - I'm in a relatively small field and a lot of interesting new topics get covered in them. It's all in the wording: you can acknowledge the work they've done without giving too much credence to the overall conclusions or building your whole argument around theirs. A short footnote is often enough.
RESPONSE B: The advice here is good... I would add that it's actually great when you find a kind of summative or "mapping" MA (or even published article or book). In my experience, at first it takes the wind out of your sails -- someone else got there first! ugh, of course it feels less cool and interesting now -- but when you realize that they've done the "mapping," it lets you get right into larger, deeper, more interesting stuff without having to spend that energy mapping the topic... use their bibliography (build on it, of course), use their work as a reference when you lay out the parameters of your argument and interests. As you note, those kinds of mappings are not very ambitious and the arguments in them are (appropriately) less dimensional than one that is complex and ambitious enough to motivate and propel a PhD project.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Professors - how do you prefer to be asked for letters of recommendation? I'm currently a grad student in the humanities looking to apply to a few library studies programs. Asking for letters of rec gives me such anxiety that I think my memory has blocked out how I went about it a few years ago for the program I'm currently in. That being said, I'd love to hear how you prefer to be asked for such letters. Do you like the student to drop by your office and ask you face to face in a meeting? Or do you prefer to be asked and give the initial yes or no to their request via email? Email sounds like the least anxiety-inducing option for me, the asker, but if my chances are better by asking in person, I'll do it. Thoughts?
RESPONSE A: I just want to emphasize that LORs are very much a part of the job as faculty. I realize it feels like a very awkward thing to ask for. But as long as you're polite about it and give as much advance notice as possible, you're not imposing on the professor. Writing these letters comes with the territory.
RESPONSE B: Students have asked me both face to face and via email, and either way works. I do like to meet with them in person prior to writing the letter, however, because I like to know what the letter is for (internship, further education, job application, etc.) and I like to make sure that I can write a good letter that emphasizes whatever strengths they believe will be important for the recipient to know. I adjunct, so I have no office, and usually just meet with students before or after class. Best of luck to you!
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Professors - how do you prefer to be asked for letters of recommendation? I'm currently a grad student in the humanities looking to apply to a few library studies programs. Asking for letters of rec gives me such anxiety that I think my memory has blocked out how I went about it a few years ago for the program I'm currently in. That being said, I'd love to hear how you prefer to be asked for such letters. Do you like the student to drop by your office and ask you face to face in a meeting? Or do you prefer to be asked and give the initial yes or no to their request via email? Email sounds like the least anxiety-inducing option for me, the asker, but if my chances are better by asking in person, I'll do it. Thoughts?
RESPONSE A: I just want to emphasize that LORs are very much a part of the job as faculty. I realize it feels like a very awkward thing to ask for. But as long as you're polite about it and give as much advance notice as possible, you're not imposing on the professor. Writing these letters comes with the territory.
RESPONSE B: Nicely. Be sure that I know you because I had you in my class and you performed very well or because you were involved in a project with me. Give me some lead time; don’t tell me that’s due tomorrow. Also, share with me your goals and ambitions
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Academic burnout is a thing, What is it about academia that's making you burnout? Is it the pressure to perform to unrealistic expectations? Is it the bureaucracy? Is it the job insecurity?..... If you plan on leaving academia, where do you hope to end up? I'd love to hear Academics criticisms of academic life
RESPONSE A: Academics work long hours primarily because of the nature of research, i.e. uncertain and troublesome and routine. Also, getting a decent job in academia, i.e. assistant professor is hard. This pushes people to be way more competitive than before, i.e. need to come up with lots of data, yet impressive data to come up with many and good papers in journals.
RESPONSE B: Not knowing what am I evaluated on. No possible career progression. ​ Expectation to be able to do everything, even without training. I'm a researcher, that's what I have an education for, but I also have to be a teacher, administrator, team leader, author, graphic artist, mechanic, cleaner, secretary, therapist and stage performer. Zero managerial tools - there are people on the same permanent positions, earning the same, some working long hours and going out of their ways, others who don't even show up on some days and do literally nothing. Incredibly frustrating and demoralising. ​ Peer review. It's a stupid pissing contest with zero credibility in review process.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Academic burnout is a thing, What is it about academia that's making you burnout? Is it the pressure to perform to unrealistic expectations? Is it the bureaucracy? Is it the job insecurity?..... If you plan on leaving academia, where do you hope to end up? I'd love to hear Academics criticisms of academic life
RESPONSE A: Not knowing what am I evaluated on. No possible career progression. ​ Expectation to be able to do everything, even without training. I'm a researcher, that's what I have an education for, but I also have to be a teacher, administrator, team leader, author, graphic artist, mechanic, cleaner, secretary, therapist and stage performer. Zero managerial tools - there are people on the same permanent positions, earning the same, some working long hours and going out of their ways, others who don't even show up on some days and do literally nothing. Incredibly frustrating and demoralising. ​ Peer review. It's a stupid pissing contest with zero credibility in review process.
RESPONSE B: the long hours and tenure means the assholes never leave so you are stuck with them as long as you stay put.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Academics, how do you avoid burnout?
RESPONSE A: Exercise, the outdoors, computer games, remembering you'll die one day and it all doesn't really matter. Edit: and working past 5pm should be an exception not the norm. Whenever i have lots to do I go in *early*, not stay late. Don't let folk make you think mad hours are acceptable.
RESPONSE B: You do not. You just deal with it.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Academics, how do you avoid burnout?
RESPONSE A: I treat my job like a 9-5 M-F job for the most part, except for some limited emails (and I really limit the time I check email outside of normal working hours). When I feel myself getting really exhausted/my brain doesn't work I will try to take some time off when it's convenient for my schedule- right now I'm taking a half spring break where I haven't don't any research instead of working through it like I did last winter break/last year spring break. And last year I was super burnt out at the end of Fall semester so I didn't do much over winter break. Also I try to finish up and submit a paper around final exam week each semester (proctoring 3 hour exams is a great time to write + lots of extra free time) and then take a week off in winter break and 1-3 weeks off in May before starting on my next project. I also take the week before the week before the first week of class off every year in August, and often will travel somewhere and take another week off sometime mid June. Apart from all that, I try to do things that involves leaving the house and having fun/getting absorbed in something at least once or twice a month. Usually live music shows and hiking or some other outdoor activity (gem mining, going to the zoo, kyacking). If all I do is work I start really hating work. Despite all that time off I am one of the most productive people in my department. Probably because when I work I don't hang out on reddit or facebook, I work.
RESPONSE B: You do not. You just deal with it.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Academics, how do you avoid burnout?
RESPONSE A: I treat my job like a 9-5 M-F job for the most part, except for some limited emails (and I really limit the time I check email outside of normal working hours). When I feel myself getting really exhausted/my brain doesn't work I will try to take some time off when it's convenient for my schedule- right now I'm taking a half spring break where I haven't don't any research instead of working through it like I did last winter break/last year spring break. And last year I was super burnt out at the end of Fall semester so I didn't do much over winter break. Also I try to finish up and submit a paper around final exam week each semester (proctoring 3 hour exams is a great time to write + lots of extra free time) and then take a week off in winter break and 1-3 weeks off in May before starting on my next project. I also take the week before the week before the first week of class off every year in August, and often will travel somewhere and take another week off sometime mid June. Apart from all that, I try to do things that involves leaving the house and having fun/getting absorbed in something at least once or twice a month. Usually live music shows and hiking or some other outdoor activity (gem mining, going to the zoo, kyacking). If all I do is work I start really hating work. Despite all that time off I am one of the most productive people in my department. Probably because when I work I don't hang out on reddit or facebook, I work.
RESPONSE B: What others are saying. It cannot be avoided. But it can be predicted, and it can be lived through and dealt with. A better question is how one *recovers* from burnout.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: How to deal with a below par student asking for a reference letter? I hope the question is more or less self-explanatory. Let's say there is a student you have only interacted with in the context of your courses and although he has been agreeable and showed interest in the materials, he doesn't seem to bee the hardest working kid and has not earned remarkable grades as a consequence, he just passed the class. He asks for a reference letter. What would you do? I want to be kind to him but I don't want to lie. I can think of courses of actions like declining to write the letter (What would you say to decline politely?), agreeing to do so but warning him that the letter will be written according to his below average performance in the class (Is that normal? How do you write such letter without sounding like a douche or a hard-ass?) or just writing the letter (but I don't know what will happen when a not so great letter is undisclosed). I have no experience with this beyond asking for letters for myself so I'm interested n hearing your opinions. The letter would be for an application to college in the US, by the way.
RESPONSE A: As someone who just asked for letters of recommendation 4 hours ago... I'm starting to sweat bullets... If you're one of my professors I would like for you to be up front with me. Let me know that you do not feel it is appropriate for you to provide a letter of recommendation or inform the student that they should consider finding alternative sources that could highlight a particular attribute that they want pointed out in their application.
RESPONSE B: "No"
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: How to deal with a below par student asking for a reference letter? I hope the question is more or less self-explanatory. Let's say there is a student you have only interacted with in the context of your courses and although he has been agreeable and showed interest in the materials, he doesn't seem to bee the hardest working kid and has not earned remarkable grades as a consequence, he just passed the class. He asks for a reference letter. What would you do? I want to be kind to him but I don't want to lie. I can think of courses of actions like declining to write the letter (What would you say to decline politely?), agreeing to do so but warning him that the letter will be written according to his below average performance in the class (Is that normal? How do you write such letter without sounding like a douche or a hard-ass?) or just writing the letter (but I don't know what will happen when a not so great letter is undisclosed). I have no experience with this beyond asking for letters for myself so I'm interested n hearing your opinions. The letter would be for an application to college in the US, by the way.
RESPONSE A: It is not uncommon for the admissions department of my law school to receive recommendation letters for applicants that say something like, "I was asked by John Smith to write this letter." And then that's basically the entire letter.
RESPONSE B: > Billy is always punctual to class and has excellent handwriting.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: How to deal with a below par student asking for a reference letter? I hope the question is more or less self-explanatory. Let's say there is a student you have only interacted with in the context of your courses and although he has been agreeable and showed interest in the materials, he doesn't seem to bee the hardest working kid and has not earned remarkable grades as a consequence, he just passed the class. He asks for a reference letter. What would you do? I want to be kind to him but I don't want to lie. I can think of courses of actions like declining to write the letter (What would you say to decline politely?), agreeing to do so but warning him that the letter will be written according to his below average performance in the class (Is that normal? How do you write such letter without sounding like a douche or a hard-ass?) or just writing the letter (but I don't know what will happen when a not so great letter is undisclosed). I have no experience with this beyond asking for letters for myself so I'm interested n hearing your opinions. The letter would be for an application to college in the US, by the way.
RESPONSE A: "No"
RESPONSE B: > Billy is always punctual to class and has excellent handwriting.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Faculty, Post docs, Advanced PhD students: How do you organize the articles you have read? Hi, I am a second year doctoral student in the social sciences at an R1 university. More advanced students in my department as well as faculty have advised me to keep track of the academic articles I have read for coursework and research projects. Some students suggested Mendele and I am very familiar with Zotero from my work on a meta-analysis, but I am looking for something with a search feature. When I read each journal article, I would like to keep notes on its research questions, sample, analytic strategy, and results. Further, I would like to be able to search for these documents on my computer and compare across multiple studies at once. Some people have suggested Excel or Word, but this does not have a link to the articles and the ability to tag like Zotero. How do you organize the articles you have read? I am open to more flexible systems. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: ... I have a pile on my cabinet.
RESPONSE B: Endnote is pretty good
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Faculty, Post docs, Advanced PhD students: How do you organize the articles you have read? Hi, I am a second year doctoral student in the social sciences at an R1 university. More advanced students in my department as well as faculty have advised me to keep track of the academic articles I have read for coursework and research projects. Some students suggested Mendele and I am very familiar with Zotero from my work on a meta-analysis, but I am looking for something with a search feature. When I read each journal article, I would like to keep notes on its research questions, sample, analytic strategy, and results. Further, I would like to be able to search for these documents on my computer and compare across multiple studies at once. Some people have suggested Excel or Word, but this does not have a link to the articles and the ability to tag like Zotero. How do you organize the articles you have read? I am open to more flexible systems. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: I am using Mendeley, but it can be any pdf organiser that allows you to insert citations and references directly. Then just write a word document with the summary for each paper as you like, then add citations and bibliography as you go. When you actually write manuscripts these notes help you transfer citations into new documents easily and quickly. If you are writing on paper (as I often do when I scribble notes for lit. reviews), then note down first and second author name, journal, and year. This can help you track down the paper in your pdf organiser quickly.
RESPONSE B: ... I have a pile on my cabinet.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Faculty, Post docs, Advanced PhD students: How do you organize the articles you have read? Hi, I am a second year doctoral student in the social sciences at an R1 university. More advanced students in my department as well as faculty have advised me to keep track of the academic articles I have read for coursework and research projects. Some students suggested Mendele and I am very familiar with Zotero from my work on a meta-analysis, but I am looking for something with a search feature. When I read each journal article, I would like to keep notes on its research questions, sample, analytic strategy, and results. Further, I would like to be able to search for these documents on my computer and compare across multiple studies at once. Some people have suggested Excel or Word, but this does not have a link to the articles and the ability to tag like Zotero. How do you organize the articles you have read? I am open to more flexible systems. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: piles sorted by vintage and colonist fungal and insect species
RESPONSE B: ... I have a pile on my cabinet.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Faculty, Post docs, Advanced PhD students: How do you organize the articles you have read? Hi, I am a second year doctoral student in the social sciences at an R1 university. More advanced students in my department as well as faculty have advised me to keep track of the academic articles I have read for coursework and research projects. Some students suggested Mendele and I am very familiar with Zotero from my work on a meta-analysis, but I am looking for something with a search feature. When I read each journal article, I would like to keep notes on its research questions, sample, analytic strategy, and results. Further, I would like to be able to search for these documents on my computer and compare across multiple studies at once. Some people have suggested Excel or Word, but this does not have a link to the articles and the ability to tag like Zotero. How do you organize the articles you have read? I am open to more flexible systems. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: ... I have a pile on my cabinet.
RESPONSE B: I use endnote pretty much because it is the standard in my field. I use collections to organize by topics and then every time I wrap a manuscript, I save the citations in that manuscript as a permanent collection. These capabilities, the search function, and cloud backup make it a very functional reference manager.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Faculty, Post docs, Advanced PhD students: How do you organize the articles you have read? Hi, I am a second year doctoral student in the social sciences at an R1 university. More advanced students in my department as well as faculty have advised me to keep track of the academic articles I have read for coursework and research projects. Some students suggested Mendele and I am very familiar with Zotero from my work on a meta-analysis, but I am looking for something with a search feature. When I read each journal article, I would like to keep notes on its research questions, sample, analytic strategy, and results. Further, I would like to be able to search for these documents on my computer and compare across multiple studies at once. Some people have suggested Excel or Word, but this does not have a link to the articles and the ability to tag like Zotero. How do you organize the articles you have read? I am open to more flexible systems. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: ... I have a pile on my cabinet.
RESPONSE B: Airtable if your only issue with excel is tags and links. You can include a pdf as a value in a row.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Go through peer-review without changing the study A paper I wrote during my Masters just got back from peer review. Several reviewers commented on the paper and asked for major revision. The suggestions seem quite reasonable and I would be happy to revise the paper. The problem is now, however, that the PI from my old uni says I cannot have access to the data set (they claim that the data needs to stay in the city – which I find ridiculous). Without looking at the comments in detail, they advised me to formulate friendly responses, saying that "further analyses will not be of added value, because...". Not sure what my question is – there isn't probably any straight forward advice in this kind of situation. I probably just wanted to share my frustration. I think this is really not how research should work... Did anyone had similar experiences?
RESPONSE A: Sometimes the IRB can be weirdly strict about data, and so there might be restrictions from the IRB that the PI is reacting to. Normally, though, there should be no issue with anonymized data. It's strange that the PI doesn't want the paper published, and is making it hard for you to do so? It's always a gamble to tell the reviewers that you don't want to implement their suggestions...
RESPONSE B: Extra security on data is not terribly unusual. I definitely do NOT suggest making a scientific case for not doing the analyses. If the case is thin, the motivation will be obvious and it will piss off the reviewer. Nobody likes being obviously lied to and especially in science duplicity is frowned on. That said, I suggest one of these options: 1. Have the PI do it and blame the dumb reviewer. 2. Have the PI offer the work to another junior person that would then be added as an author. 3. Go in person for a day and knock it out. 4. Be up front in the response to reviewers and say that you no longer have access to the raw data. Then, update your discussion/limitations section to address the issue that the reviewer raised.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: Is it okay to involve PhD students in peer review? In my opinion, it is beneficial for everyone if PhD students help with peer review. The student will probably learn a lot and maybe they will notice things that the advisor (the actual reviewer) missed. However, the peer review guidelines that I'm aware of clearly state that it is not okay to share information about the review process with *anyone* without the approval of the editor. What do you think about this?
RESPONSE A: My advisor frequently shared articles that he was reviewing with me. We would each read it, write critiques, and then share notes. He also instructed me not to share the article with anyone or discuss it with other people. I think it was fine, and it was a good learning opportunity.
RESPONSE B: You can ask the editor.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Is it okay to involve PhD students in peer review? In my opinion, it is beneficial for everyone if PhD students help with peer review. The student will probably learn a lot and maybe they will notice things that the advisor (the actual reviewer) missed. However, the peer review guidelines that I'm aware of clearly state that it is not okay to share information about the review process with *anyone* without the approval of the editor. What do you think about this?
RESPONSE A: My advisor frequently shared articles that he was reviewing with me. We would each read it, write critiques, and then share notes. He also instructed me not to share the article with anyone or discuss it with other people. I think it was fine, and it was a good learning opportunity.
RESPONSE B: It would be a good thing to do as long as the actual reviewer reviews too! I know times that the reviewer does not have time and the PhD candidate will do the job
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Is it okay to involve PhD students in peer review? In my opinion, it is beneficial for everyone if PhD students help with peer review. The student will probably learn a lot and maybe they will notice things that the advisor (the actual reviewer) missed. However, the peer review guidelines that I'm aware of clearly state that it is not okay to share information about the review process with *anyone* without the approval of the editor. What do you think about this?
RESPONSE A: It would be a good thing to do as long as the actual reviewer reviews too! I know times that the reviewer does not have time and the PhD candidate will do the job
RESPONSE B: In my experience, many PIs will reassign their students to do reviews if the manuscripts address the particular studens' field of research. I think it's very common although not strictly according to the terms agreed on when accepting the review assignment. Most PIs who do that will check and the student's review, however, to make sure that certain standards are adhered to. In the end, the PI takes the responsibility, so they have to do a certain part themselves. About the confidentiality issue, though. I think that a research group is already a confidentiality unit of some sort. Which means the group shares certain data or insight with each other, but not with the outside world, until it is actually published. Same goes for proposals in preparation and things like that. So a certain level of trust and confidentiality has already been established within the group. And so I think a manuscript is also safe in that environment, as in, the students are an extension of the PI, so that sharing a manuscript with a certain person in the group is acceptable to me.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: What do you think about the new Netflix show The Chair? It's about all/most of us. Thoughts?
RESPONSE A: Well, it's about TT/tenured literature professors at a private institution. That may not really be all or most of us, and I say that as someone in an English dept.
RESPONSE B: I've only watched the first episode and got quite irritated at how dysfunctional, lacking in self awareness and disorganised most of the characters were, which probably means it's a fairly accurate portrayal of your average university department.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: a summary of the implementation details for replicability purposes. - Automatically find new areas of possible improvements. - Allow users to open issues on papers (as it's done on Github) and implement crowd review (later). I think that drastically reducing the time spending on reviewing scientific literature would increase productivity by a lot, but I would love to hear your feedback on this. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: You have a relevant idea for anyone trying to catch-up on the developments on a certain topic. I think that most researchers, which usually already know the relevant articles (think seminal contributions) in their domain are only checking top journals for new advances or critical changes in their research theme. This could be more geared to researchers or students in the early stage. But then again, my concern is that by giving them the fish, you are not letting them learn how to fish. Struggling and learning to find papers is a skill that transfers to any other type of search that requieres specialised knowledge, endurance and patience. That’s why I think this might not be relevant for all researchers, but maybe for students, early-stage researchers, or when you want to expand to a new topic you are not thoroughly knowledgeable. Yet, there is the possible (not certain) drawback of slightly hindering the development of a relevant research skill.
RESPONSE B: The problem with most of these proposals is that the "relevant paper" metric is incredibly individualized for everyone past the general lit-review stage. Papers I find to be interesting and relevant are very meh to other postdocs in my group, even those working on similar projects, and I feel the same way about papers they bring up. At some point automating the decision of what papers to read is just as hard as automating the research itself. But, if someone would provide a reasonable RSS + keyword search for journals, even abstracts/titles, that would be wonderful. I host a personal web-service to do this for me and its ridiculous that it doesn't exist in a more user-friendly way. MBA/Startup people listen up - I'd never pay for this kind of stuff, but I'll accept an ad or two in my feed.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: evolved from that method. Here are some other things that the platform could do: - Automatically find the standards used in a given field and compare methods, results, metrics, benchmarks. - Evaluate the "innovation potential" of a given field: how much can it still be improved and how easily? How large are the improvements in that field? How many papers are published? Is the interest in that field dying or accelerating? - Automatically create a summary of the implementation details for replicability purposes. - Automatically find new areas of possible improvements. - Allow users to open issues on papers (as it's done on Github) and implement crowd review (later). I think that drastically reducing the time spending on reviewing scientific literature would increase productivity by a lot, but I would love to hear your feedback on this. Thank you!
RESPONSE A: The problem with most of these proposals is that the "relevant paper" metric is incredibly individualized for everyone past the general lit-review stage. Papers I find to be interesting and relevant are very meh to other postdocs in my group, even those working on similar projects, and I feel the same way about papers they bring up. At some point automating the decision of what papers to read is just as hard as automating the research itself. But, if someone would provide a reasonable RSS + keyword search for journals, even abstracts/titles, that would be wonderful. I host a personal web-service to do this for me and its ridiculous that it doesn't exist in a more user-friendly way. MBA/Startup people listen up - I'd never pay for this kind of stuff, but I'll accept an ad or two in my feed.
RESPONSE B: How would you detect what sort of paper a particular work is? Are you expecting them to already be tagged with 'review/method/application' or would you have to somehow figure that out from the text? It seems like a nice idea but I'm just not sure it's possible for all fields. AI powered search engines like Semantic Scholar still really struggle with separating different fields or sub-fields, so how can you separate even further by paper type?
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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POST: How to talk to your supervisor for the authorship of the paper in which others haven't contributed sufficiently? It's a very difficult discussion as my supervisor would want to have the names of all the people in the team while they didn't contribute directly to the work. As I have done most of the work, I feel that others are just getting their name on my hard work. Their contribution has been either very minimal or not adding anything significant. My supervisor would want everyone's name on the paper while I do not agree here. Should I talk to my supervisor about this or just accept it while I dislike it?
RESPONSE A: I used to feel this way too, lots of "co-authors" basically just lobbied for grant funding or proofread for typos and it felt crazy to give them credit for research. Eventually, I realized that ink's free and a paper's just a paper. While it feels like a magnum opus the first few times you publish, you'll eventually struggle to even remember all the papers you've written. Putting aside vanity/ego and investing in making other people in academia like you will do so much more for your career than being able to boast about writing a paper all by yourself. In most fields, everyone knows that only one or two authors did 95% of the work anyways. A rising tide lifts all boats and spreading credit around your lab as generously as you can ethically rationalize will end up paying off in the long run.
RESPONSE B: Tell your advisor exactly how you feel, tactfully.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: How to talk to your supervisor for the authorship of the paper in which others haven't contributed sufficiently? It's a very difficult discussion as my supervisor would want to have the names of all the people in the team while they didn't contribute directly to the work. As I have done most of the work, I feel that others are just getting their name on my hard work. Their contribution has been either very minimal or not adding anything significant. My supervisor would want everyone's name on the paper while I do not agree here. Should I talk to my supervisor about this or just accept it while I dislike it?
RESPONSE A: Everyone knows that the first author is the primary and made the majority of the intellectual contributions and did most of the work. You acknowledge that the others contributed on some level but don’t provide details. You need to be mature in deciding what level of contribution is meaningful, here is a good guideline: If there is a concept in the paper that they helped formulate or if there are results that they helped execute then you should consider them for authorship.
RESPONSE B: Tell your advisor exactly how you feel, tactfully.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: This sub can be a pretty depressing read sometimes. What are some of the things you love about academia?
RESPONSE A: Healthcare is a huge benefit. My health insurance is among the best in the country, which, with a toddler and a partner with a chronic health condition....I'm willing to work for less money to have the stability of healthcare associated with a giant university.
RESPONSE B: During a global pandemic you get double spring breaks and to work from home without worry. Watching my hourly wage friends struggle has really put a point on how fortunate we are. Apart from that, living a life of constant learning and discovery is what I came for, and its what I got.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: [Looking for Resources] Is there a community that focuses on academic writing? A few related questions: 1. Am I right in the assumption that academic writing is a bit off-topic for this subreddit? 2. Can anyone recommend community/ies that specifically discuss/es the topic of academic writing?
RESPONSE A: I boned up on ‘analytical writing’ by reading everything I could by the author Prochaska and trying to emulate the style, I’ll never be the writer he is but my stuff looked a bit more and more like that over time, and I was considered in the top 10% of my class, you can do this.
RESPONSE B: I have seen about academic writing groups on Twitter. Might be good place to check.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: [Looking for Resources] Is there a community that focuses on academic writing? A few related questions: 1. Am I right in the assumption that academic writing is a bit off-topic for this subreddit? 2. Can anyone recommend community/ies that specifically discuss/es the topic of academic writing?
RESPONSE A: 1. Not really, imo. Most threads about academic writing get fair enough traction here. 2. Dunno. r/AskAcademia is larger, but you could perhaps try r/AskProfessors as well. (The latter is a little bit more of a question-answer tint.)
RESPONSE B: I boned up on ‘analytical writing’ by reading everything I could by the author Prochaska and trying to emulate the style, I’ll never be the writer he is but my stuff looked a bit more and more like that over time, and I was considered in the top 10% of my class, you can do this.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: Is there a relative lack of positions in non-academic professions for those with biomedical/biological science PhDs? Hi all, ​ I'm in the final year of my PhD in a biomedical science topic, and I'm looking at both academic and non-academic careers when I finish. ​ I've read a lot online about careers outside of academia, and it does seem that jobs in industry (medical, non-medical, scientific, patent law, data analysis, etc), especially the more attractive ones, are more catered towards those with engineering, physics, chemistry, and mathematics based degrees. I know a number of people with BSc or PhDs in biomedical/biological sciences fields that have industry jobs at large companies (Fisher et al.), but these are generally in marketing, sales, shipping, QA, or something generic. ​ Am I missing something here? I'd be really interested in using my skill set in a non-academic environment, but it seems that my qualifications aren't valued so much outside of post-doc work. Is there simply a saturation of biomedical sciences PhDs out there?
RESPONSE A: Don't buy into the cult. Don't do a postdoc.
RESPONSE B: For research-based positions, it is very contingent to the topic of your research and the techniques used. Companies are usually quite focused and will look usually for a good fit when they hire at PhD level, I.e do you have a track record in the area they are hiring.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Is there a relative lack of positions in non-academic professions for those with biomedical/biological science PhDs? Hi all, ​ I'm in the final year of my PhD in a biomedical science topic, and I'm looking at both academic and non-academic careers when I finish. ​ I've read a lot online about careers outside of academia, and it does seem that jobs in industry (medical, non-medical, scientific, patent law, data analysis, etc), especially the more attractive ones, are more catered towards those with engineering, physics, chemistry, and mathematics based degrees. I know a number of people with BSc or PhDs in biomedical/biological sciences fields that have industry jobs at large companies (Fisher et al.), but these are generally in marketing, sales, shipping, QA, or something generic. ​ Am I missing something here? I'd be really interested in using my skill set in a non-academic environment, but it seems that my qualifications aren't valued so much outside of post-doc work. Is there simply a saturation of biomedical sciences PhDs out there?
RESPONSE A: If you have any stats training, biostatistics is still a very attractive and high need field from what I've seen.
RESPONSE B: Don't buy into the cult. Don't do a postdoc.
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POST: Is business casuals okay for an academic conference? I'm trying to understand the dress code for conferences. Like how okay is a business casual? Also, how strict is a business casual (are jeans ok?).
RESPONSE A: My general approach is: if I haven't been to this conference before, I'll dress "academic casual" (business casual with a jacket), but I'll pack a pair of jeans or something which is more comfortable, either in case it turns out to be pretty laid back or I just stop caring after the fourth day of talks. This should fit in just about anywhere as academics usually abhor wearing suits. Once you've been to a particular conference once, it should be pretty similar if it recurs. I've seen colleagues present in black t-shirts and cowboy hats, so it clearly varies quite a bit from one conference to another.
RESPONSE B: No one will care. You know you're a big name when you can pull off the shorts, sandals and socks combo :p
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POST: Is business casuals okay for an academic conference? I'm trying to understand the dress code for conferences. Like how okay is a business casual? Also, how strict is a business casual (are jeans ok?).
RESPONSE A: I'm in biomedical science. If it's a basic research (academia, labs) conference you'll see it range from the occasional blazer/suit, mostly open necked shirts, plenty of t shirts and jeans. I've been to a couple of more medical oriented conferences and there it's a lot more formal. You can tell the basic researchers at those ones cos we look like shit
RESPONSE B: Are you currently on the job market? If yes then slacks and a button down with nice shoes is just fine. If not then shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops.
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POST: Is business casuals okay for an academic conference? I'm trying to understand the dress code for conferences. Like how okay is a business casual? Also, how strict is a business casual (are jeans ok?).
RESPONSE A: I'm in biomedical science. If it's a basic research (academia, labs) conference you'll see it range from the occasional blazer/suit, mostly open necked shirts, plenty of t shirts and jeans. I've been to a couple of more medical oriented conferences and there it's a lot more formal. You can tell the basic researchers at those ones cos we look like shit
RESPONSE B: In the big leagues, no one cares. Throw on a blazer and some okay shoes, and call it a day. I like to wear skirts only when I’m feeling saucy. I don’t even bother with the blazer anymore lol
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POST: Is business casuals okay for an academic conference? I'm trying to understand the dress code for conferences. Like how okay is a business casual? Also, how strict is a business casual (are jeans ok?).
RESPONSE A: Varies widely by discipline. Ecologists dress like shit! It's almost embarrassing (I am no exception to this 😂). People will be more dressed up in psychology, applied / professional programs, etc. Business casual should be fine, but ask someone with experience.
RESPONSE B: Are you currently on the job market? If yes then slacks and a button down with nice shoes is just fine. If not then shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops.
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POST: Is business casuals okay for an academic conference? I'm trying to understand the dress code for conferences. Like how okay is a business casual? Also, how strict is a business casual (are jeans ok?).
RESPONSE A: In the big leagues, no one cares. Throw on a blazer and some okay shoes, and call it a day. I like to wear skirts only when I’m feeling saucy. I don’t even bother with the blazer anymore lol
RESPONSE B: Varies widely by discipline. Ecologists dress like shit! It's almost embarrassing (I am no exception to this 😂). People will be more dressed up in psychology, applied / professional programs, etc. Business casual should be fine, but ask someone with experience.
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POST: People who were grad students during the 2008 financial crisis, how badly did it affect you? I will be starting a PhD soon, so I just thought knowing an answer to this might be helpful should there be another recession coming. I believe academia might have been affected differently from the rest of the workforce.
RESPONSE A: I was a poor graduate student instead of a poor working person, I suppose.
RESPONSE B: I was just finishing my doctoral studies at that time. It was fucking brutal. Our endowment lost 75% of it value and shit was cut left and right, suddenly that $1200 that was earmarked for my summer conference travel was just...gone. I had strong external funding but some people got smoked. Hiring fell off a cliff. Nobody in my field was hired for probably twenty-six months, and the job market has not recovered. It was a double-whammy as that's when mandatory retirement got killed off and now lots of departments are clogged with the shambling corpses of 90-year-old white dudes with dementia pulling in the salary of ten adjuncts. It's really beautiful.
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POST: People who were grad students during the 2008 financial crisis, how badly did it affect you? I will be starting a PhD soon, so I just thought knowing an answer to this might be helpful should there be another recession coming. I believe academia might have been affected differently from the rest of the workforce.
RESPONSE A: I started grad school in Fall 2008, so literally starting classes as the financial collapses occurred. It was a perfect place to wait out the storm, I couldn't have planned a better life strategy.
RESPONSE B: I will still in undergrad, but was working in a lab at the time. My public university "temporarily" cut all faculty salaries by 10% and all the best professors immediately jumped ship to private institutions. I'm not there anymore, but I still don't thing the university has recovered.
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POST: How has the Donald Trump Presidency affected your life in academia so far? Asking this question towards people in academia in the United States, but if it's affected you abroad as well feel free to answer.
RESPONSE A: It's really brought faculty together across the campus; I saw more people from my university at the March for Science than in a faculty senate meeting. People have mobilized politically and faculty who I have never seen attend a meeting, join a group, or even talk about politics are animated and engaged. Faculty in general are also talking more about the need to incorporate basic citizenship concepts into classes in many disciplines, and there has been a campus-wide effort to be more overtly supportive of our minority, undocumented, and international students. The one clear negative impact has been a serious decline in international applications for next fall. Overall we haven't seen many direct negative consequences (yet) but there has been a general political awakening that I see as very positive. The longer term will likely be another story though.
RESPONSE B: So far, only in the sense that I suspect future grant proposals will have to be framed without reference to climate change. I imagine that funding cuts will significant affect whether I'm funded at all, though. Or at least the level of funding.
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POST: How has the Donald Trump Presidency affected your life in academia so far? Asking this question towards people in academia in the United States, but if it's affected you abroad as well feel free to answer.
RESPONSE A: Several of my friends who are foreign citizens have already left or are looking to leave the country. Mainly over fear of future funding and visa problems. Not a majority by any means, but three have already left.
RESPONSE B: So far, only in the sense that I suspect future grant proposals will have to be framed without reference to climate change. I imagine that funding cuts will significant affect whether I'm funded at all, though. Or at least the level of funding.
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POST: Anyone go through a name change? How did it affect your publications? Recently got married and looking to change my last name. I'm in the last year of my PhD and have a few papers published and a few in the pipeline. Anyone that went through a name change have any tips on making sure your work remains connected?
RESPONSE A: Ugh I always think about what I will do when I get married I will probably use the good ol hyphen and keep both mine and his name. But curious if there are more effective ways to address this!
RESPONSE B: You could just not change your name. If your partner isn't in academia, they could change theirs. A third option is keep your current name for academia and your new name for personal. You could just change it and not worry. Personally, I'd just not change my name.
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POST: Anyone go through a name change? How did it affect your publications? Recently got married and looking to change my last name. I'm in the last year of my PhD and have a few papers published and a few in the pipeline. Anyone that went through a name change have any tips on making sure your work remains connected?
RESPONSE A: Couldn't you just change your name on the ones you have in the pipeline before they are set in stone, so to speak?
RESPONSE B: I had 2 women colleagues who used their maiden names for their professional activities (except for paychecks at the college) and their married names elsewhere. It's not been a problem for either of them, including HR. They get their paychecks under their legal married names but they are on the course schedule and publish under their professional maiden names. I was chair and I didn't have any idea they were doing it until I got the first financial spreadsheet that showed married names. I checked with both just to be sure it was correct and both said it was and it was no problem.
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POST: Anyone go through a name change? How did it affect your publications? Recently got married and looking to change my last name. I'm in the last year of my PhD and have a few papers published and a few in the pipeline. Anyone that went through a name change have any tips on making sure your work remains connected?
RESPONSE A: I had 2 women colleagues who used their maiden names for their professional activities (except for paychecks at the college) and their married names elsewhere. It's not been a problem for either of them, including HR. They get their paychecks under their legal married names but they are on the course schedule and publish under their professional maiden names. I was chair and I didn't have any idea they were doing it until I got the first financial spreadsheet that showed married names. I checked with both just to be sure it was correct and both said it was and it was no problem.
RESPONSE B: Ugh I always think about what I will do when I get married I will probably use the good ol hyphen and keep both mine and his name. But curious if there are more effective ways to address this!
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POST: Anyone go through a name change? How did it affect your publications? Recently got married and looking to change my last name. I'm in the last year of my PhD and have a few papers published and a few in the pipeline. Anyone that went through a name change have any tips on making sure your work remains connected?
RESPONSE A: I am in the process of making my maiden name a second middle name and then adding my husband’s last name. I’m going to start publishing with my maiden name and my new last name.
RESPONSE B: Ugh I always think about what I will do when I get married I will probably use the good ol hyphen and keep both mine and his name. But curious if there are more effective ways to address this!
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POST: a masters to really have a chance. I don’t know a single person who’s doing a masters that isn’t integrated, if I was to work to save up for a masters I’d probably be in my home town working in retail or a factory for like 2 years and I feel like what’s the point in my placement if it will be dated by the time I can go further. It doesn’t seem that scholarships are particularly common here in the UK, I know funding bodies that would make a PhD possible but it’s the masters year that I have no clue how to possibly fund. I have a few friends who went to much more prestigious unis than me, Russel Group and not ex-poly with firsts in STEM subjects yet they work in retail with people who didn’t even do degrees because my home town has no real graduate job market. And I’ve seen that everyone who’s graduated who had big dreams after returning home after the first year their motivations are gone How did you potentially cover the cost of a masters?
RESPONSE A: As someone else mentioned, I got a career development loan from Barclays (I think you used to be able to get up to 8k (this is 2010 pre fees-hike, with 13 months interest free frlm graduation). I worked hard the summer before to clear my student overdraft and save enough to cover rent (the cheapest shared house I could find in sheffield), and worked two part-time jobs (the main one was in bars, so it fit round studies). I had a very strict food budget, and scheduled my time strictly. I also applied for any relevant funding/awards, and was awarded one cash prize which covered a laptop. My loan was paid back by the time I graduated from my PhD. Admittedly, fees were cheaper and I was up North. For somewhere like Oxford, college accomodation will be a necessary part of affording to live there (I'm there now, and rent is insane).
RESPONSE B: Consider the London NERC DTP. I’m in it alongside a couple of people who only hold biology undergraduate degrees. It’s well remunerated at the London real living wage too.
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POST: s to really have a chance. I don’t know a single person who’s doing a masters that isn’t integrated, if I was to work to save up for a masters I’d probably be in my home town working in retail or a factory for like 2 years and I feel like what’s the point in my placement if it will be dated by the time I can go further. It doesn’t seem that scholarships are particularly common here in the UK, I know funding bodies that would make a PhD possible but it’s the masters year that I have no clue how to possibly fund. I have a few friends who went to much more prestigious unis than me, Russel Group and not ex-poly with firsts in STEM subjects yet they work in retail with people who didn’t even do degrees because my home town has no real graduate job market. And I’ve seen that everyone who’s graduated who had big dreams after returning home after the first year their motivations are gone How did you potentially cover the cost of a masters?
RESPONSE A: Consider the London NERC DTP. I’m in it alongside a couple of people who only hold biology undergraduate degrees. It’s well remunerated at the London real living wage too.
RESPONSE B: Have you looked here? It might also be worth seeing what charity/industrial sponsorships are available. Could take a bit of googling, but worth a try. And even if they are competitive, you've nothing to lose by applying. There is a chance that some PIs will have funding put aside for students on specific projects, so have a look/email around. Getting in touch with and showing and interest for the research of people is a very good foot in the door, for any kind of postgraduate study. How set are you on Oxford (or was that just an example)? Because while institutional prestige does matter, at the graduate level you want to be looking for the best research, not just the best branding. The fit of the research with what you're interested is very important, and is (at least one of) the thing you should look at first. And other institutions might be more within your reach to get straight into a PhD.
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POST: I'm legally changing my name, all my publications are in my old name. How do I deal with this? I'm in the process of legally changing my first, middle, and last name. I have a few papers published in semi-prestigious journals. I will be applying to PhD programs, and am not sure how to proceed considering the authorship of my publications will no longer match my current name. Obviously, I could just explain my situation in the application, but I'm worried that I'll be met with suspicion that I'm trying to pass off someone else's work as my own. Are my concerns unfounded? How should I proceed? Thanks!
RESPONSE A: Get an ORCID. It is static across name changes.
RESPONSE B: Concerns are likely unfounded. Maybe place an asterisk in your CV indicating your changed name?
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POST: How did some MDPI mega-journals get super-high IF? Are they gaming them somehow? I've always considered MDPI as "borderline predatory but not 100%". Past threads in here confirmed that "they're not a full scam but they've got really lots of issues". It has come to my attention that "applied sciences", a mega-journal that published the most diverse topics, has a 2.7 impact factor! More than many technically-focused medical imaging journals. Diagnostics an incredible 3.7!! A colleague of mine was invited to publish on "Cancers" and it's 6.6. Yet they mostly publish papers that are never really popular. I realized I've never cited a single MDPI paper. So... are these IF genuine or are they gaming the system somehow? They do not appear to be massively using self-refering editorials like some traditional journals...
RESPONSE A: I think there's indeed a couple of them who are largely legit such as pharmaceutics, pharmaceuticals and cancers. Then there's the borderlines such as antibiotics, cells,... and the really predatory ones without IF. But all of them employ the same mass-soliciting approach. Maybe this is also a sign of the times that conventional publishers need to up/change their game a bit...
RESPONSE B: This blog explains their model and how they got these IFs: https://paolocrosetto.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/is-mdpi-a-predatory-publisher/
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POST: How did some MDPI mega-journals get super-high IF? Are they gaming them somehow? I've always considered MDPI as "borderline predatory but not 100%". Past threads in here confirmed that "they're not a full scam but they've got really lots of issues". It has come to my attention that "applied sciences", a mega-journal that published the most diverse topics, has a 2.7 impact factor! More than many technically-focused medical imaging journals. Diagnostics an incredible 3.7!! A colleague of mine was invited to publish on "Cancers" and it's 6.6. Yet they mostly publish papers that are never really popular. I realized I've never cited a single MDPI paper. So... are these IF genuine or are they gaming the system somehow? They do not appear to be massively using self-refering editorials like some traditional journals...
RESPONSE A: I also simply do not get the IFs associated with some MDPI journals. I have published there, and in general review was appropriate, and often with up to 5 or 6 reviewers commenting. However, I also see some utter shit published in their journals, and simply have to wonder how did this pass any sort of review. The annoying thing is, it is starting so that I cannot ignore these journals as a publishing option. When an MDPI journal has twice the impact as (what is for me) the field gold standard journal, it is simply suicidal to ignore them.
RESPONSE B: I'll say this: I reviewed a few papers for them, by and large they're not unreasonable, but the one experience that baffled me was when I and the second reviewer rejected a paper, which I was then invited to review again in a revised version (minor cosmetic stuff, easy second reject). I've never had this happen before - both reviewers hard reject, and then being allowed to submit a revision!?!?? MDPI does seem biased for acceptance, let's put it that way.
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POST: Income in academia I was wondering about what various sources your income is made out of in academia Obviously the university pays you if you have been hired by them to conduct research, but is your salary dependent or independent on your amount of output (e.g., number of papers per year). Do journals pay you as well for your articles? If so, how? Is it an upfront payment or continuous payment based on engagement?
RESPONSE A: If you're in a tenure track position (which are very difficult to get), generally the university pays you for 9 months for research and teaching and grant writing and department service. The expected amount is only doable in 12 months though. The salary is usually what people in industry would make in maybe 6 months. There are no bonuses for doing any of this really well, but if you do them well enough for your first 5 years or so, you don't get fired. The one exception is grants, where you can sometimes supplement your pay on certain amounts off grants. But those grants have to cover pretty much everything for your research, minus a small amount of start up funding. That includes paying the journals to publish your work. Even though they don't pay you when you review articles that they want you to publish. The system is deeply broken.
RESPONSE B: “Do journals pay you as well for your articles” Lol
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POST: ? If so, how? Is it an upfront payment or continuous payment based on engagement?
RESPONSE A: “Do journals pay you as well for your articles” Lol
RESPONSE B: It depends on the country you are in and whether your institution is public or private. In the USA among private universities, the research professor will have their base salary (often referred to as hard money). Then there are government grant awards that allow the professors to pay themselves even more (but some limits apply, including a cap on how much one can accept or how far they can divide their % effort among each award/project). But those aren't the only sources! Professors can own (or co-own) companies spawned from their lab's research. They can also accept funding from industry collaborations, but with both cases they are (or should be) reviewed by a conflict of interest committee....and sadly, most of the time these members just rubber stamp things and don't scrutinize too much unless there are complaints or blatant red flags. Then there are personal investments in the companies that they may be affiliated with. These are usually disclosed, but they amount to the tiny fine print you see on the Conflicts of Interests section at the very bottom of research articles. If you look closely and do some searching, you'd be amazed at how many top researchers are essentially feeding the value of their investments through their labs research publications! lol. It's a very blurry area and there's no simple way to regulate without hurting some level of Innovation.... Then there are speaking invites (most often unpaid, but if you're important enough they pay!). There are special government grants that don't care about your NIH funding/project/% max, as they just want the job done (e.g. Dept of Defense awards). I haven't seen any single line item checks, but based on what I have seen, I would speculate that some PIs can make up to triple or beyond above their base salary. It reminds me of when Homer Simpson was made Union President. He asks how much it pays. "Nothin" "Doh!" "....unless you're crooked!" "Woohoo!!"
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POST: What are the worst paper/proposal review comments that you've received? I'm assuming that everyone here has at one point or another received some harsh comments on a journal paper or a funding proposal. But sometimes there are ones that just stand out for one reason or another. What are some of yours? For me, two in particular stand out. 1. On a journal paper, one of the comments said "If the editor somehow accepts this paper, the risk permanently destroying the credibility of this journal and its editorial board. As well as every author who has published in this journal or will do so in the future." I remember this one for it's entertainment value: I sent an excerpt of this (the first sentence) to the Shit My Reviewers Say twitter where it was posted a little bit back. 2. On another journal paper, I received a comment from someone who obviously knows me and dislikes me: "The lead author of this study has an apparent history of convincing otherwise well-respected scholars to be unwitting co-authors on his poor excuses for academic papers." This one still sticks with me because I still have no idea who this is - I don't know of any 'enemies' that I may have, but apparently I have at least one.
RESPONSE A: "The authors have described what amounts to a chemical parlor trick" In the intervening three years since this asshat's comment, we've received two R01s and translated the technology to the clinic, where it is being used for the PET imaging of colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Still makes me mad to this day. lol.
RESPONSE B: I didn't even realize responses were allowed to be of a personal nature like #2.
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POST: paper, the risk permanently destroying the credibility of this journal and its editorial board. As well as every author who has published in this journal or will do so in the future." I remember this one for it's entertainment value: I sent an excerpt of this (the first sentence) to the Shit My Reviewers Say twitter where it was posted a little bit back. 2. On another journal paper, I received a comment from someone who obviously knows me and dislikes me: "The lead author of this study has an apparent history of convincing otherwise well-respected scholars to be unwitting co-authors on his poor excuses for academic papers." This one still sticks with me because I still have no idea who this is - I don't know of any 'enemies' that I may have, but apparently I have at least one.
RESPONSE A: "Recommend reject (see comments in Ms)." Absolutely no comments or markings in the attached copy of the manuscript.
RESPONSE B: I think the most obnoxious comment I got on a paper was along the lines of: "If X is occurring in the mouse, then it means that procedure] was unsuccessful and the entire paper is invalid." We had a fairly good idea that this was a specific salty "competitor" who worked in rats, in which case his statement would be true. But the rat and mouse responses are different and I included *multiple citations* on using X as a metric in the *mouse* model in the original manuscript submission. Last paper I submitted only had two reviewers. The first gave thoughtful and fair feedback. The second wrote a paragraph about how this was not suitable content for the journal and should go to some other one. Also, their paragraph ended cut-off in mid sentence, which was classy as fuck. Luckily the section editors didn't agree, and after our paper was officially accepted one of them emailed us to say how excited she was about our paper and what a great contribution it is to the field. So suck it reviewer #2. --- I'll leave this here for others who aren't familiar with it and can use a good laugh now and then - [Shit My Reviewers Say
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POST: "Do you also brew beer?" What's the most out-of-left-field question you received in a thesis defense? A committee member asked me in my Master's defense to confirm whether I brew beer (I did, and it was unrelated to my research), then I had them over a few months later to observe a brewing session. Not sure if the question was supposed to help me feel relaxed. Up until that point I had been grilled pretty hard and led to a conclusion that my work was meaningless. Still passed, though, so maybe the brewing saved me in the end!
RESPONSE A: What planet is most likely to become a star and why? My PhD was in biochemistry and molecular biology. My dissertation focused on proteins in macrophages in cardiovascular disease. Not physics or astronomy.
RESPONSE B: Me too and it's also not exactly my thesis topic.this gives me the creeps ^^ did U study in Germany?
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POST: "Do you also brew beer?" What's the most out-of-left-field question you received in a thesis defense? A committee member asked me in my Master's defense to confirm whether I brew beer (I did, and it was unrelated to my research), then I had them over a few months later to observe a brewing session. Not sure if the question was supposed to help me feel relaxed. Up until that point I had been grilled pretty hard and led to a conclusion that my work was meaningless. Still passed, though, so maybe the brewing saved me in the end!
RESPONSE A: Me too and it's also not exactly my thesis topic.this gives me the creeps ^^ did U study in Germany?
RESPONSE B: I was asked the same question! It was upon EH&S finding my kegerator fridge in the lab though, so slightly different context.
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POST: What is the weirdest, funniest or rudest comment you've ever gotten on a student evaluation?
RESPONSE A: Stop dressing like a hobo
RESPONSE B: When I was a TA, had a student dis the instructor as weird and boring but the TA (me) was cool. ... I'd rather be torn down myself than someone else be torn down to make me look better. That's just rude.
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POST: What is the weirdest, funniest or rudest comment you've ever gotten on a student evaluation?
RESPONSE A: Stop dressing like a hobo
RESPONSE B: My TA is the spawn of Satan. (I was the professor and said TA was amazing...just told the student he would have to repeat an experiment to generate such a comment).
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POST: What is the weirdest, funniest or rudest comment you've ever gotten on a student evaluation?
RESPONSE A: "I hope he does well on his quest for the glorious scientific prize that is the NOBEL!!!" I never had an aspiration for a Nobel prize. Not sure where that comment came from.
RESPONSE B: "Has no ass. Needs to work on that."
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POST: What is the weirdest, funniest or rudest comment you've ever gotten on a student evaluation?
RESPONSE A: "Has no ass. Needs to work on that."
RESPONSE B: When I was a TA, had a student dis the instructor as weird and boring but the TA (me) was cool. ... I'd rather be torn down myself than someone else be torn down to make me look better. That's just rude.
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POST: What is the weirdest, funniest or rudest comment you've ever gotten on a student evaluation?
RESPONSE A: "Has no ass. Needs to work on that."
RESPONSE B: My TA is the spawn of Satan. (I was the professor and said TA was amazing...just told the student he would have to repeat an experiment to generate such a comment).
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POST: /elife-s-new-model-changing-the-way-you-share-your-research > Since its inception, eLife’s mission has been to innovate and improve the way research is communicated. With the increasing popularity of preprints among the scientific community, including eLife authors, in 2021 we announced that we would only review articles that were available as preprints. > We are now excited to introduce our new publishing process. > From next year, we will no longer make accept/reject decisions at the end of the peer-review process; rather, all papers that have been peer-reviewed will be published on the eLife website as Reviewed Preprints, accompanied by an eLife assessment and public reviews. The authors will also be able to include a response to the assessment and reviews. > The decision on what to do next will then entirely be in the hands of the author; whether that’s to revise and resubmit, or to declare it as the final Version of Record. This is a crazy and revolutionary change. Thoughts?
RESPONSE A: The most interesting piece of this to my mind is that they're going to publish reviews. This seems like it might actually improve the review process - if they're publicly available, reviews might become more rigorous (and less petty/'why aren't you citing me specifically'/rude - these are recurring problems in my field, anyway). Hard to say at this point whether it'll be a net good or not, but I'll be keeping an eye on it.
RESPONSE B: Not revolutionary. eLife has become increasingly exclusionary at first round, before peer review. Editors are high-level academics, which sounds nice, but in practice means that 1) they are not professional editors 2) do not consistently apply their own editorial standards 3) can be prone to cronyism. Shifting even further to a model where filtering occurs mostly BEFORE review just entrenches power with the fairly small group of high-level scientists who make decisions about which papers get reviewed or not. Instead of building "innovating and improving" publication, eLife is kinda sorta just replicating PNAS circa. 2005.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: elife-s-new-model-changing-the-way-you-share-your-research > Since its inception, eLife’s mission has been to innovate and improve the way research is communicated. With the increasing popularity of preprints among the scientific community, including eLife authors, in 2021 we announced that we would only review articles that were available as preprints. > We are now excited to introduce our new publishing process. > From next year, we will no longer make accept/reject decisions at the end of the peer-review process; rather, all papers that have been peer-reviewed will be published on the eLife website as Reviewed Preprints, accompanied by an eLife assessment and public reviews. The authors will also be able to include a response to the assessment and reviews. > The decision on what to do next will then entirely be in the hands of the author; whether that’s to revise and resubmit, or to declare it as the final Version of Record. This is a crazy and revolutionary change. Thoughts?
RESPONSE A: This just means bad science will be out there for people to cite.
RESPONSE B: Peer review is broken, but this is not the solution. The underlying assumption here is that readers are going to take responsibility for thinking critically about the paper and take the time to read through reviews. Unfortunately, as I think everyone here knows, this is a very naive assumption. With the enormous volume of research being published (which is only going to increase with policies like this), there literally isn't the _time_ to do this for every paper you read. Hell, with the number of times my papers have been incorrectly cited, it already seems to be setting the bar too high to expect anybody to read the paper in the first place. Peer review is gatekeeping, and it can be extremely unfair, but some amount of gatekeeping is essential to (i) maintain some minimum standard and (ii) keep research output under control. Publishing reviews is good and it should be standard practice. The kind of review-in-public-view process that some publishers like EGU do is great. This plan by eLife is going too far. I cannot see how this can work in practice.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: Trailing spouse options Hi everyone! Looking for some advice regarding options for a trailing spouse headed to Champaign, IL (UIUC). It sounds like there are many options there, though might be tricky for a foreign national who may need a work visa. Has anyone had experience with UIUC’s dual career program? Or alternatively, has anyone’s partner decided to pursue a PhD or higher education in lieu of finding full-time employment? Thank you!
RESPONSE A: Didn't Trump cancel all green card applications? Genuinely asking since I know several European scientists who are canceling their plans to work in US institutes
RESPONSE B: Just ask your spouse to see if their future boss has any thoughts on this. My case: I did not bring up anything about my spouse during interviews. After I joined my current postdoc, my boss realized that I'm missing my spouse and asked me to pass on her CV. She then sent it to her friends and she got a job in three months! My productivity is great, my spouse is doing great in her postdoc, our bosses are happy, and overall it's a great setting for now. tldr: just ask your spouse to talk to their future boss/whomever recruited her for suggestions. That said, there are two main things you may need to know: 1. Your Visa status will determine what kind of opportunities you can pursue. If your spouse is on a J-1 and if you're following them as a dependent, then your options are plenty. If they're on a H1B, and you're following on a H4, the options are close to zero. 2. Currently, almost all universities are on a hiring freeze. The chances of getting a non-academic position in an academic institution are close to zero. But, this could change very quickly.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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A
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POST: What are the best career fields for trailing spouses? Knowing that our life together will always require that we live in college towns, what are some career fields that will make it most likely I'll be able to find a job wherever we move? I'm in my mid-30s and work as an urban/community planner. However, with free tuition for classes at a major research university, I could conceivably get another degree in the next few years. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Any experience?
RESPONSE A: My husband has a specialized PhD. I have a very portable career. I have an library science masters and an masters in instructional design (freelance/telecommute). If I pursue ID, I can telework or freelance. If I cannot get an academic library job, there's always public libraries. I am earning tenure so I do hope not to move. Anyway, I'd really recommend ID not librarianship (in the latter, job market is tight). With ID, there are many contract positions remote.
RESPONSE B: If you're looking for academic work, english with an emphasis in rhetoric/composition might be something work looking at. Most (the majority) of incoming students take writing classes, and course caps are typically lower than other fields (that means more sections). These are taught by a variety of professionals, but the adjunct pool can change dramatically between semesters leaving positions open. Adjuncting isn't ideal, but many of the couples I know in my discipline have managed to establish this arrangement. One person will get a TT and the other will adjunct at that institution and maybe others. While it isn't much, it can amount to an additional 10-20 grand in your budget. My SO is likely going this route because we really want a similar calendar.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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B
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POST: massive growth in enrollment due to the lucrative career options in my field, so there are more students in these classes now who perhaps aren't as well suited to the discipline. In the previous semester the grading was similar, with mean scores in the 60s and a bimodal distribution from a senior faculty member in the department. I don't know about his review scoring, however.
RESPONSE A: honestly? Absolutely nothing. I can think of one or two things that are even more useless than student's evaluations but not too many. First student evaluation are correlating with grades and "expected" class complexity. Typically graduate students and upperclassmen rate classes higher. Second, your rating seems to be non- mandatory. As such it is statistically meaningless - you will be getting ratings from people who adored you and those hating your guts. If you want meanigfull evaluations read/talk to your mentoring professor review, and may be tape your lectures and watch them later.
RESPONSE B: This is how I approach student evaluations. I basically sort them into two categories: those that include details to give me insight into why somethings was/wasn't effective, and those that do not. I look at the evals that include these important details, and then use this to help write up common themes students are communicating through those details (e.g., X was useful because A--I keep doing X, Y made it hard for me to learn because of B--I talk about what I might do differently next semester to address Y). I honestly haven't heard of a satisfactory way to deal with student evals because they are conflated with biases (e.g., grades, student who doesn't like to be pushed to do better/wants path of least resistance). The evals I receive, both good and bad, often feel more like consumer reviews than thoughtful, reflective evaluations. I don't know how to use this data in any better way, despite the emphasis that everyone seems to place on it (e.g., it has to be talked about in annual reviews and for tenure/promotion stuff). If someone has figured out how to do this I would love to hear about it.
Which response is better? RESPONSE
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