The world is full of scientists referring to a career in industry as turning to the dark side. Examples for this phrasing are found in alumni reports, blogs, and article in science magazines to name a few. Dubbing an industry job as working for the dark side has almost become an idiomatic phrase. But why is that? Why is working in industry branded as the dark side? I have some theories why this dreadful practice came to be. And I…
Category: Academic Life
How to make interdisciplinary research a success – seven ground rules for your team
Interdisciplinary research is important and necessary to address complex problems. The idea of working in interdisciplinary research teams is catching on more and more. This is also true in academic research. What is the secret of successful interdisciplinary research? I have identified those aspects both from my own experience and from reports of others. Read about the seven ingredients for making your interdisciplinary research a success. Devise your common objective Your interdisciplinary team should have a shared mission. You should…
How to write a lab book
Writing a lab journal has many benefits, which I described in my previous post. But how to do it? If you adhere to these eight rules on how to write a lab book, you are definitely on the safe side. Read how to write a lab book entry and what should be included. The bare minimum: title and date It is easy to understand why you should put down a date for your lab book entry. Also, writing a meaningful…
Seven reasons why you should keep a lab book
Some scientists think keeping a lab journal is as a waste of time. They view it as a time consuming distraction from doing their real work. Nothing could be further from the truth. Having a well-kept lab journal is highly beneficial in lots of respects. Apart from your boss forcing you, there are seven more reasons to keep a lab book. Writing a journal supports creativity Documenting your work, observations, or experimental results is seen as likely to curb the…
Four surefire signs you are a geek
Have you ever asked yourself: Could it be me? Am I a geek? Or is everybody else weird? Don’t wonder any more. Here are four surefire signs that tell you whether you are a geek. You think everybody knows about the model organism you study This happened to me when I was a fresh life science graduate. I interviewed for a job in front of a mixed audience of scientists, engineers and medical doctors. When I talked about my master…
How go give a great talk – three tips for PhD students from the book “As we speak“
Presenting and public speaking is undoubtedly one of your tasks as a PhD student. Most of us just try to survive it somehow. The book “As we speak” shows the reader how to make the most of your presentation. It also makes preparing your presentation much less daunting. I recommend reading “As we speak” to everyone who has to present. This book is a great read and contains helpful tips and strategies to present well and get your point across.…
Five surprising facts I learned about myself doing a PhD
During your PhD you undoubtedly learn a lot. Your build your expertise in the subject and even contribute to the knowledge in your field. But it does not stop there. You might even learn something you did not expect to learn. I learned some things about myself I did not think I would. Some of it might echo with you as well. Here are five surprising facts I learned about myself doing a PhD. I discovered some hidden talents Most…
Top five tools for scientific writing
Scientific writing is hard graft, but there are resources that can help you. Whether you are writing you thesis, dissertation, or research paper, you know you should write in a clear and concise way with the reader in mind. Still, sometimes you can be stuck. With the following five tools, scientific writing will be easier, better, and more importantly, more fun. Academic phrasebank Connecting your sentences and arguments in a logical order is important. Besides, the appropriate use of transitional…
Six takeaways from Steven Johnson‘s book “Where good ideas come from“ for group leaders
Steven Johnson‘s book titled “Where good ideas come from“ tells the reader exactly that – where good ideas come from. The enjoyable read touches on many aspects of work, life and natural history. As an academic or research group leader you are in the business of good ideas. Thus, some aspects of this book might be especially interesting for you. Here are the six most relevant takeaways for group leaders: Create the right environment Create the right environment for good…
Six tips to make your presentation more interactive
We all have seen those speakers that swamp their audience with information during a boring monologue. As a result, listeners only ask very few questions, if any, after the presentation. Soon after, they move on and forget about the talk. There is a better way to do this. The audience interacts with you and gives valuable feedback. What do they think of the topics? Which questions are on their mind? What’s more, your talk leaves a lasting impression with your…