My dog, Roxanne (Roxy for short), has been by my side for my entire graduate career. I adopted Roxy before starting a two-year Master’s program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She moved with me to the University of Maryland for my PhD program. Now in the second year of my PhD, I cannot imagine PhD life without her. Roxy has helped me navigate the most challenging aspects of academi ...[Read More]
“Everyone else is going. It’s so unfair. They just don’t understand. Everyone else’s supervisor said yes.” Denis has been sent to his scientific bedroom and he isn’t impressed. He contacted the Sassy Scientist via Tiktok to ask: My supervisor has banned me from going to conferences. What shall I do? Dear Denis, You supervisor is a mean, heartless seg-fault who w ...[Read More]
Despite finishing his experiments and writing up his thesis during a pandemic, Markus wants to keep climbing the academic pyramid. Reflecting on some of his choices during his PhD, he now asks: I didn’t spend anytime building my network during my PhD. Can I get a postdoc? Dear Markus, Of course! Academia represents the pursuit of scientific knowledge and the expansion of our collective under ...[Read More]
Despite the emergence of some minor ailments, Antti is still going strong with his research. With a slight declination in his productivity levels whilst stubbornly grunting along, he feels he should (and perhaps could) do better. Annoyed, he growls: Academia has cost me my 20/20 vision (and given me a sore ass). Who do I blame? Dear Antti, Blame me. I apologize unreservedly for prolonging your scr ...[Read More]
Frank freely admits he did a PhD because he didn’t feel ready to join the corporate world. Ties strangle him and he’s only ever seen 7am from the wrong side. But as universities and funding agencies request more performance metrics and research valorisation plans, he reached out to the Sassy Scientist to ask: What can geodynamicists learn from the business world? Dear Frank, Low-hangin ...[Read More]
After reading last week’s post Ilona asks how to switch research topics to something more impactful during their lifetime: How do I transition from a PhD in mantle convection to a postdoc in satellite geodesy? Dear Ilona, What a moon-shot you are aiming for! But, have no fear, nothing is impossible. Undoubtedly, space is cool. And looking from a distance at our lovely rock spinning and float ...[Read More]
Nerea cannot get enough of writing papers, reports and proposals. However, actually reading scribbles, especially those jotted down by (under)grad students, leaves her a histrionic gasp. She thus ejaculates: LLSVP or LLVP or LL(S)VP – why must we prolong the acronym wars? Aupa Nerea, The Americans. No doubt. It has got to be them. Just like so many things, they’ve ruined that beloved English ...[Read More]
…but it helps. Everyone has one colleague with that pinned above their desk. Sometimes with pictures of kittens. Lucile doesn’t want to be that interview candidate, so she asks: How can I prepare for an academic interview? Dear Lucile, Tips on how to appear to be a sane, motivated, enthusiastic, friendly, people-loving, positive, high-achieving, committed scientist? You’ve come t ...[Read More]
If I asked you about what your carbon footprint is, your mind might jump to the food choices you make when at the supermarket, or how many conferences you fly to when you could get a train (well, not now, but you know, back in ye olden days). In this week’s post, Eoghan Totten, a PhD student at the University of Oxford, discusses the potential “hidden” impacts on your contributio ...[Read More]
Congratulations Glenn! You survived your socially distanced PhD defence and after three months in your mum’s spare room you are raring to go, chomping at the bit, and approaching the start line for the next stage of your academic career. Having spent the last eight years in education, it’s time to start a new job! What should I do on my first day at work in a new place? Dear Glenn, Whe ...[Read More]