Tinted detail of a photo: Wet sand on a beach rippled into many small wavy ridges, with a shallow channel of water behind and grassy land below sharp, dark, partly snow-dusted peaks under white clouds.
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Geodynamics
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The Sassy Scientist

I am currently employed at a prestigious research institute (too prestigious for you to know) where I am continuously working with the greatest minds (especially me, myself, and I) to further our understanding of the solid Earth system (even though it is pretty much done: I have demonstrated it all!). Whether it is mantle or lithosphere structure and dynamics, solid Earth rheology parameters, earthquake processes, integrating observations with model predictions or inversions: you have read a paper of mine (and if you haven't, shame on you and get reading!). Even if you are working on a topic I haven’t mentioned here, I still know everything about it. Do you have any problems in your research career? I have already experienced them and have a fix. Do you struggle with your work-life balance? Been there, done that (give me something hard to work on). Nowadays, I have only one hobby: helping you out by answering the most poignant questions in geodynamics, research and life. I am waiting for you right here, so get me something to sassy with!

The Sassy Scientist – Well, Actually…

The Sassy Scientist – Well, Actually…

How to write a reply to reviewers for the first time? Dear Marcelo, Oh my, oh my! First off, congrats for finally getting that ‘final_manuscript_v10.doxc’ out of your computer and into the submission portal. And congrats for not being desk rejected. You have already made it where many others have failed. The first reply to …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Printing: Pre- or Post-?

The Sassy Scientist – Printing: Pre- or Post-?

Giusy is throwing some deep dives into the trenches of scientific literature. Deep they are indeed. Almost running out of oxygen whilst frantically flapping through the murky waters near the surface, she comes across a not-yet-published paper (or better: a non-peer-reviewed paper) that’s floating around the internet. Apparently well-written and soundly researched, she goes looking …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Guest of Honour

The Sassy Scientist – Guest of Honour

Interdisciplinary research are the buzzwords all funding agencies want to hear these days. After reading my blog on how to write an interdisciplinary proposal researching the interior of planets, Ruby decided to approach a geochemistry group to collaborate. They have kindly invited her to present her latest research at their group meeting, which left Ruby …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Race to the Deadline

The Sassy Scientist – Race to the Deadline

After snoozing their alarm for the 50th time, Alex gets started with their day. They should be writing their thesis first thing after breakfast, but instead they write to the Sassy Scientist: How do you manage to meet writing deadlines as a PhD student? Dear Alex, Ah! You have reached the writing stage. I assume …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – When All Is Said And Done

The Sassy Scientist – When All Is Said And Done

Lena has just shown me her beautiful LaTeX thesis template, complete with chapter headings. Populating it with text and results isn’t so exciting so instead she is beginning to consider: How should I celebrate my PhD defence? Dear Lena, Once all the hard work of writing your thesis is done, you’re left with one task …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Empty Promises

The Sassy Scientist – Empty Promises

Hugo is trying to refute some hypothesis postulated by a rival research group, yet he is unable to actually unearth the factual evidence behind this claim. Frustrated by the lack of transparency, he groans: How is it possible that I come across unhelpful references in peer-reviewed papers? Dear Hugo, The publishers don’t care. Not really. …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – Video Versatility

The Sassy Scientist – Video Versatility

Lis has been studying, investigating, deconvoluting, cross-correlating, referencing, inverting, plotting, database searching … and whatnot. With just a few synapses still firing at all cylinders and demonstrating an uninterrupted dispense of productivity, she wonders: Should I start my own (geodynamics…?) online video channel? Dear Lis, Why not? Everyone’s not working properly anyways in this day-and-age …[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – On The Rocks

The Sassy Scientist – On The Rocks

Sitting here and enjoying the view on the third rock from the Sun, Nana wants to get into the details. The whole may be more than the sum of the parts, but those parts can be pretty interesting too: What’s the most important rock? Dear Nana, I so value your decision to contact me; I …[Read More]