Applying for tenure-track (or something close to that) positions is the very reason for many brilliant scientists to eventually run away from academia as fast as they can. Finding an opening, preparing your application and bracing yourself for the n-th `no thank you, but you should really try again!’ is a tedious, time-consuming, numbing, soul-destroying, kill-me-now process. Among the many ...[Read More]
Hilde has been ever so occupied with her research, especially finishing a manuscript for the first time. Submitting that paper was supposed to be some sort of closure, and mental solace, yet somehow there seems to be a predilection for progressive diffidence: When has enough time passed to send a reminder/enquiry to an editor if the paper is in the ‘decision with editor’-stage? Dear Hilde, DonR ...[Read More]
Scientists are starved for recognition. When that little compliment we have been fishing for does not arrive from our supervisor, but from an unkown benefactor, we tend to open our hearts to them. But we should be careful about our new email besties. Delfina asks: Publishers have approached me for a book deal. How do I proceed? Dear Delfina, For the vast majority of the times, ignore them. Chances ...[Read More]
Frustrated that her peers have won prestigious grants, while she has no money in the bank whatsoever, Bonnie asks: How do I win a big grant? Dear Bonbon, Everybody knows that the only way to win a grant is by having already won grants. Or awards. I’m not picky. And don’t think that I am joking about this. I am dead serious. At the very least you should have something on your CV that ma ...[Read More]
