With the winds of change brought by a new season, I’m back to help my readers to get out from dispair. This time a reader ask: Dear Sassy scientist, How do I deal with rejection during a job hunt? Dear Sarah, I hear you writing from the edge of despair. Let’s be honest: you’ve chosen …[Read More]
Although often daunting and discouraging, every academic must navigate the inevitable process of peer review. In this week’s post, Jean-Baptiste Koehl, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oslo (Norway), reflects on what the future of peer review might be. Author disclaimer: The reflections presented here reflect my perspective grounded in my own experience. While peer …[Read More]
Between protests and strikes, I finally found some time to answer some questions. In case you are not aware – idk how that’s possible… do you live on Neptune? – everything is on fire, has been for a long time tbf. So I chose Michel’s question. They ask: I’m lost. I feel like I don’t …[Read More]
When reading a scientific paper or a text explaining the physical workings of the Earth, one of the most striking aspects is the methodological approach—sometimes involving numerical models, other times fieldwork and/or rock geochemistry. This diversity of approaches can initially cause some discomfort, a feeling that things are like square pegs in round holes. How …[Read More]
Fresh out of your bachelor’s degree, or more commonly these days, your master’s degree, it can be tempting to pursue your PhD as quickly as possible. While there are compelling reasons to dive straight in, rushing into a PhD might not be your best choice. To be or not to be a researcher? Before …[Read More]
Is it a good day to have a meltdown? It’s cold and there is sun outside, neh maybe not. Procrastinating even having a meltdown. But this audience doesn’t even let me do that. Today, we’re answering Kai’s question: Why do we consider leaving academia a failure? Dear Kai, Sorry, the question ended up in my …[Read More]
Seasons change, and so do our passions. My climate anxiety? Yeah, it’s on the rise, like the global average temperature. So, Mae asks: My research field feels stagnant (or even dying), with limited opportunities, and I have developed new interests. How hard is it to change fields/direction after your PhD? Dear Mae, I mean this …[Read More]
Science Sisters is a lighthearted interview series where Iris van Zelst (postdoc at the German Aerospace Center) chats with lots of different people (with a focus on – but not limited to – women in science) to make some sense of the academic world. Filled with laughter and silliness, it explores different career paths, academic life, …[Read More]
You guessed it right, it’s that time of the month when I emerge from my lair, ready to share some of my great wisdom to help you navigate this scorching October. Seriously, my climate crisis depression has me in its grip but I’m here to cool us down a little bit, no worries. So, this …[Read More]
You’ve spent months battling with radiators and cold wet weather, but the summer is finally upon us and to make things even worse we’re heading into a heatwave. The office that just weeks ago seemed impossible to keep warm is now so sweltering it feels as though you’re stepping into the sauna when you arrive …[Read More]