This unstable weather and academia where PhD students are often treated like rare species – elusive, misunderstood, and occasionally overlooked in the grand canopy of academia – always bring me down: I can’t help but feel a bit under the weather (do not throw anything at me, pls). So John asks: Is it fair to exclude PhD students from staff activities and meetings, and how can I challenge thi ...[Read More]
From 22°C December to 6°C (end of) March… Something feels off. Maybe the climate also decided to change fields. So Denise asks: How feasible is it to change your field as a postdoc when you’re terrified of being ghosted by hiring committees or getting rejection letters? Dear Denise, Sure. I mean, why not? Changing to a new field as a postdoc is like stepping into uncharted territory: e ...[Read More]
Has the ocean temperature risen again? Are you tired of dressing like an onion to adapt to 15 degrees of change in a day? Here we have a cooling question. Peter asks: If you had infinite funding, what would you do? Dear Peter, If I had infinite funding, you’d find me setting up my new office at the bottom of the Mariana Trench – because if you’re going big, might as well go seven miles deep, ...[Read More]
In the labyrinth of scientific research, one often finds themselves at the crossroads of data accessibility and the desire to reuse and build upon other people’s work. All too frequently, results are presented in a format that cannot be read by the computer. Does your favourite Geochemistry paper come with a PDF table, but no excel spreadsheet on the sight? Been there. Wondering what lies beneath ...[Read More]
Congratulations, you resilient academic warrior! You’ve made it through the year without evaporating like a snowflake in July. Now, brace yourself for the gift I’ve carefully curated just for you. Spoiler alert: It’s not a reset button for life, though I’m sure some folks desperately need one. Now, let’s unwrap the gift of wisdom. Leena asks: Sometimes, I feel like I ...[Read More]
While we are getting this close to unwrapping our advent calendars, here is a question that will keep us away from the first chocolate for a bit. Rowan asks: How do I tell my partner who is also in academia to talk less about work outside the office? Dear Rowan, Oh, this question hits home for many academics. Seriously, though. I don’t know the exact statistics but let me have a quick search…. Wel ...[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 week, we tackle Lara’s question: Should I leave academia or apply for a post-doc after my PhD? Dear Lara, You ...[Read More]
Are you sitting there, staring at your screen, miraculously waiting for your thesis to write itself? Ever wondered if AI could be your ultimate wingman **sorry, I meant wingbot** when tackling that master’s or Ph.D. thesis? Well, it must be your lucky day because Eric is asking Could AI actually help me write my master’s/ PhD thesis? Dear Eric, First of all, I’m offended that you mixed me wi ...[Read More]
Ever wondered how to manage a flurry of projects without losing your sanity? Maggie was curious if the Sassy Scientist could provide some insight into this. So she is asking: How do I manage to work on multiple projects at a time? Dear Maggie, You simply DON’T. Let me debunk this “juggling a gazillion projects is the key to success in academia” myth faster than you can ima ...[Read More]
Navigating the challenge of making new friends in a new place -well, thanks to academia…- can be as complex as decoding the Earth’s geological history. This time Bob is demanding our knowledge for: New academic job. New town. New life. It was fairly easy to make friends when I was young but how do I make friends as an adult? Dear Bob, Bob. Bob. Oh, Bob… Thanks for interrupting m ...[Read More]