Questions tagged [academic-life]

Questions related to academic culture, academic communities, and the coexistence of "life" and "academia."

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2 votes
1 answer
326 views

Could my visiting instructor position be terminated due to low course reviews? Full time instructor position is not going well at all

I'm a fourth year doctoral student in Applied Experimental Psychology who earned a Master's prior to enrolling in my program (which my Ph.D program accepted on full). Long story short, my funding ran ...
19 votes
4 answers
6k views

What to do when corresponding author insists adding an affiliation that I do not belong to?

We have recently finished writing and submitting an article (I am the first author). When submitting the article, I uploaded the files and filled in the necessary information, but the final ...
-3 votes
1 answer
352 views

How to maintain your professional status and not get troubled by the junior lecturers

A new senior lecturer, say A has been assigned to work in doing some tutorials with a set of assistant lecturers. These assistant lecturers, say B1, B2, B3 etc. don’t know some of the theoretical ...
1 vote
0 answers
107 views

How to decide about the university to stay for the future after facing some troubles

In our country working in a state university is regarded as a priviledge. Even when we consider the degrees offered, people accept the state university degrees more. Usually first preference is given ...
2 votes
4 answers
229 views

Is reading newspapers good for academic vocab?

As I'm not native speaker and I aim to improve my academic English (spoken and written) i'm asking if reading newpapers is good way to improve academic English? Or they don't use academic English in ...
0 votes
1 answer
193 views

How to face some tough academic superiors who give undermining comments in the academic environment

If a group of Computing undergraduates ask to explain why 3 is greater than 2, what is the best way to explain it? When I asked the above question in the Math SE, one of the Mathematicians said this ...
5 votes
1 answer
586 views

Leaving postdoc after 6 months (or less)?

I just started a postdoc position at a prestigious institute in the US. I am one month in and the contract is for 1 year with a possibility of renewal (the project I work on received a 3-year grant). ...
0 votes
1 answer
62 views

Advice on Transitioning from Master's to PhD in the Same Research Group

I am a master's student in theoretical physics currently in my final semester in Germany. My master's thesis is already underway, and I aim to complete it by April next year. Recently, my partner and ...
4 votes
2 answers
859 views

What is more important, one semester less or a top final grade? [closed]

So I (in Germany) have two options: Option 1: finish my bachelor's in Maths at a renowned university now, with a very good grade (1.x), but not a top grade ("ausgezeichnet") finish my ...
356 votes
17 answers
66k views

Upset by male classmates openly comparing female students according to physical appearance

I'm a female student studying computer science (CS). Some of the male CS students have given me a physical ranking compared to other female CS students, and it has me really upset, but I don’t know ...
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

My Department head is very condescending - anything I can do about it apart from leaving the new job?

I have been facing the following "problems" with my department head at an undergraduate institute. I joined it just under a year ago and am already facing (what appears to be) a lot of negativity from ...
-1 votes
1 answer
196 views

Post docs in online/distance learning mode [closed]

For a Mathematics scholar, who is interested in Cryptography, AI and Computer Science related fields, are there any post-doc researches available to be done by online/distance learning mode? If there'...
1 vote
4 answers
1k views

Is it possible to return to academia after an industry experience?

After Ph.D. I went to pursue a position in industry. But after 2 years I figured that the company culture is not suited for me. Will the hiring professors in academia accept the fact that I wasn't ...
0 votes
0 answers
81 views

How to get approach in teaching a subject you are fluent in but not included in your degree

I am a Mathematics graduate and have done a post-graduate degree too, with a research component involving a mathematical application in cryptography. I'm currently working as a temporary lecturer in ...
-5 votes
3 answers
346 views

Recommended course of action if I am facing potentially biased grading and bullying due to my disabilities

It's obviously a very undesirable thing to even contemplate suing my university, but please hear me out on it. I'm leaning in that direction and seeking advice from anyone who's been there before, ...
20 votes
2 answers
12k views

Should I disclose my academic dishonesty on grad applications?

I just graduated in May this year (2023), and in my last semester of senior year, I was caught cheating on an exam and have academic dishonesty on my record, and I'm trying to apply for accelerated ...
0 votes
1 answer
193 views

Industry or Pure Academic?

I am a woman in a conservative society, my parents are strongly arguing I should have industry experience before pursuing a career in academia, although most professors in my Uni did not actually have ...
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

Career opportunities switching from academia to industry [closed]

I'm a physics Undergrad with a huge interest in computation and want to switch to industry. But I also don't want to lose the aspect of the research component of academia. I'm widely interested in ...
0 votes
3 answers
221 views

How do historians (or other academics) make confident judgements about the sources they use (be that in terms of interpretation or otherwise)?

I am a historian and wondering about this (hopefully not too abstruse) question: While historians (and other academics) obviously go through years of training in doctoral programs (including how to ...
5 votes
2 answers
586 views

Wondering whether I should be worried about getting a professor fired for disability harassment?

Should I be worried about getting a professor potentially fired? I reported someone for disability harassment (name-calling and very specific hate speech towards me a student with disabilities. (I'm ...
50 votes
9 answers
23k views

Received an ultimatum from PhD advisor to leave that broke me completely. How to cope emotionally?

I am a PhD student in an American university, on year 4 of a 5-6 year program. Recently (three months ago), my advisor told me to leave the program since he doesn't think this subject is for me (he ...
2 votes
0 answers
109 views

The academic lifestyle and climate change [duplicate]

I've got a friend who's currently travelling around the US visiting collaborators, attending conferences, giving talks, and building a giant carbon footprint. Considering our planet is on the verge of ...
3 votes
0 answers
214 views

How to increase the replay value of presentation karaoke?

In the context of an event for academics up to the postdoc stage, we organisers are considering hold a presentation karaoke (a.k.a. Powerpoint karaoke) for fun. The general idea is that you have to ...
6 votes
4 answers
701 views

Can a university rescind written offer after they are signed?

I have received a written offer from a US university (University A) for a tenure track position which I signed and returned after agreeing on all the negotiating terms. However, I have not heard back ...
1 vote
1 answer
210 views

I'm losing passion for my first choice of majors. Is this normal "jadedness" or do I listen to my heart's calling? [closed]

Although I'm physics and astrophysics (3rd/ 4th year or so as I've changed majors a few times) on paper, i.e. per my transcript, in truth, I've done a lot more math courses than physics ones. I've ...
-1 votes
1 answer
411 views

Offended My Professor [closed]

Last night in class we were having a discussion about how to handle an ethical dilemma in the workplace. I raised my hand said that I had read an article that said there are few times when we would ...
2 votes
1 answer
6k views

Dropping out and parting on bad terms with my PhD supervisor [closed]

I need to take responsibility for my actions. I need to take responsibility for my actions. There was a behavioral incident. I harassed him. He doesn't want to speak to me anymore. I will mention that ...
0 votes
2 answers
262 views

A better name for a reading list around a mathematician

I would like to create a reading list around the life and works of a mathematician. But I need to choose the name to use as the title. Take as an example the Bibliography of N. Bourbaki by L. Beaulieu ...
1 vote
4 answers
4k views

Are there drawbacks to taking 4+ years for a PhD? [duplicate]

I am a 3rd year PhD student. I am being pushed by my supervisor to apply for scholarships which will lengthen my PhD by two or even four more years. I enjoy what I do, and I have had good outcomes so ...
18 votes
6 answers
10k views

I keep making excessive silly mistakes. I just caught another one right before graduation - how to tell my advisor?

I am a graduate engineering student at a highly competitive university. I am writing my thesis and I feel like I am making great number of silly mistakes. The worst thing is that I do not realize my ...
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Meeting with Student Ombuds tomorrow - any advice please on how to do so effectively? [closed]

I'm meeting with the Student Ombuds, to deal with bullying and harassment situations with my school. I've gotten legal involvement, and this is with respect to my disabilities. I take exams with ...
0 votes
1 answer
347 views

Sabbatical Abroad Without Family: How Did it Work

Hello: Following this previous thread: (Profs who have done a full year sabbatical overseas with a family: How did you make it work?), I am equally curious about whether any prof has done a full-year ...
0 votes
1 answer
290 views

Why are so many chalkboards placed in public places in university campuses?

I have heard that many academic campuses, ICTS, for example, are equipped with abundantly many chalkboards in all public places. I wonder what the reason behind this is and how it helps foster ...
62 votes
11 answers
17k views

How do I gain back my faith in my PhD degree?

I am 3 years into a PhD program at a top North American university in STEM. My daily routine includes working on my research and preparing for courses I am assisting. In general, I would say that ...
6 votes
5 answers
619 views

What is a "personal tutor"?

On Workplace Stack Exchange, one answer to the question https://workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/124329/bullying-group-work says "Speak to your personal tutor. Immediately." I remember to have ...
2 votes
1 answer
342 views

Are the conferences by Acavent legit or a scam? - subquestion to general question "How to detect if a conference is a scam" [duplicate]

I am thinking of registering at a conference organised at Said Business School by a company in Lithuania called Acavent. The fee is 200 pounds which is a bit on the expensive side and the scientific ...
0 votes
2 answers
249 views

Common name for an award given by students

How would you call an award given by students to their favourite professor/instructor by voting? "Favourite professor award"? Any other suggestions? This is not about how a new award should ...
-3 votes
1 answer
238 views

How do you deal with grade deflation and with looking at grades?

I'm in upper years of physics and economics, as I've changed majors a few times and ultimately wound up coming back to physics, the subject that I love. That said, back in my business school days (I ...
1 vote
2 answers
444 views

Chances of ever being admitted to a new university with a straight F semester?

I know that a straight F semester sounds despicable, but hear me out please. I got hit by a car and that alone caused me hospitalizations that led me to a straight F semester. I'm a physics/ ...
1 vote
1 answer
158 views

wondering about Follow-up email after a campus interview [duplicate]

I had a campus visit that I thought it went very well at the beginning of Feb and I was informed that there was another candidate a week later. So it has been three weeks after they saw the final ...
1 vote
0 answers
136 views

What lawsuits have been filed against Wright State University? [closed]

What lawsuits have been filed against Wright State University? This school was operating as an unaccredited institution for years while engaging in research and academic fraud, as well as various ...
3 votes
1 answer
387 views

Permanent positions in academia: Switzerland and Austria vs Germany

I just finished my PhD in physics in Germany. I've seen that there it is difficult to find a fixed position. These are mostly only professorships which are obtained normally at the age of 40-50. That ...
3 votes
2 answers
10k views

Faculty hiring after campus interview

I did a campus interview two weeks ago (US universities, R1, Engineering). I was not the last candidate, so, by considering the last one, the search was closed one week ago. In the last meeting with ...
19 votes
5 answers
6k views

How to deal with a professor in the department undermining my field of research to colleagues and other professors?

I'm currently a first-year Ph.D Student. My field is applied mathematics. Thankfully, I was able to publish my first paper. In our institution, students usually spend two years before having their ...
0 votes
1 answer
336 views

How to become a Junior Group Leader in Europe [closed]

From your experience, in the field of biological-chemistry & biophysics: Do you think it is enough to have 10 first-author publications (in impact journals around 4-6) and only ONE publication in ...
-7 votes
6 answers
702 views

Why or why not is it unethical for students to take easier courses in prospect of meeting partners?

I don't understand the reception that this question has gotten. What I understand is, due to the dating app, there is an influx of male students in classes who become the top %, and they attract all ...
3 votes
0 answers
83 views

Is there any reason to not use a pre-defined absolute grading scale? [duplicate]

I feel like curving the grades is just unfair, not transparent and goes against what learning is about. It also adds extra stress on the students. Having a grading scale of let's say: A:91%- B:81%-90% ...
1 vote
1 answer
318 views

Are my expectations unprofessional about my graduate advisor?

I am in my first year of MSc program and I have some concerns and I would appreciate it if you could let me know whether these expectations are unreasonable. Before I start my work with my advisor, we ...
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

Postdoc project: Bait and switch

Earlier this year, I interviewed and received offers for two postdoc positions from competing universities, with one- and three-year contracts, respectively. The first is more related to my PhD, while ...
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

Do journal editors/referees expect relatively unknown authors to provide evidence of counsel from an expert when submitting a paper?

The reason I've brought up this question is due to the following observation. Let's say, for instance, there is some field which is called "Specific Grand Theory". The field is quite minor ...

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