Questions tagged [early-career]
On issues affecting academics or researchers specifically in the early stages of their careers.
276
questions
1
vote
2answers
110 views
Potential for interview when abroad
I attended a panel for early career researchers, and one of the panelists mentioned that at the university he was at, it is more challenging for the department to pay for the flight costs to host an ...
3
votes
3answers
234 views
How to deal mentally and emotionally with a prolonged stressful period?
I am a second-year PhD student, but I think this question may interest a broader readership.
I'd like to ask experienced researchers for some insights on how to navigate a prolonged stressful period.
...
14
votes
5answers
8k views
How should I address racist comments from a superior?
After finishing my master’s, I applied for a couple of positions, and the first interview I was invited to was at a renowned research institution in my field. I was living in our capital at that time ...
79
votes
10answers
20k views
I feel like male professors don't feel comfortable taking me as a student. How should I address this problem?
It has happened in many instances in my education that my male advisors or professors get very uncomfortable around me and some refuse to take me as their student. They tell me that in a decent way, ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
Which domain should I choose for my personal website? [closed]
I have decided to create an academic personal website, but I am unsure whether I should choose a .com or a .org domain.
I have read that .com is mainly used by commercial organizations, whereas .org ...
4
votes
2answers
194 views
How to search for a Career Counselor / Specialist for Life Sciences?
Does anyone know how I could go about finding a career counselor that can help an "ex-academic" in some way to find a job in "real world"? Essentially, I am looking for type of ...
15
votes
4answers
6k views
Getting married abroad on August 21st, job begins on August 23rd. What do I do?
I just completed my Ph.D. and have recently been offered a lecturer position in a university. The first day of classes is on August 23rd, and I am getting married abroad in Europe on August 21st. The ...
5
votes
1answer
410 views
Who exactly is a pseudo professor?
I was recently in a meeting with other university professors and one of them introduced himself as a "pseudo professor". The other, when introducing themselves reiterated that they ...
5
votes
0answers
79 views
What funding sources are available for mathematicians in Italy? [closed]
In addition to European funds (ERC grants), what funding sources are available for researchers in mathematics working (or aiming to work) in Italy at different career stages ((1) postdoc, (2) RTDa/...
0
votes
1answer
261 views
PhD - unhelpful supervisor, how normal is it?
My question maybe trivial but I really want the opinion of others if the problem is with me or with my supervisor/ the lab.
Half a year ago I started PhD in a small university town in Europe. I am a ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it worth it to continue thinking about academia? [closed]
I will try to make this short.
My Ph.D. was in life sciences. I was a part of an "International Ph.D program in life sciences" in Germany. The Ph.D was a nightmare of its own. I had to ...
2
votes
1answer
181 views
Changing fields after PhD, master or post-doc?
I am not far away from finishing a PhD in molecular toxicology, however with time i have gotten more and more interested in topics such as renewable energy, environmental/climate science and ...
2
votes
1answer
162 views
How to gracefully leave a lab due to poor infrastructure and aiming to move into a new field of research?
I am an early career postdoc in a prestigious high-ranking university in US. I did my PhD in from a good state university in US and published a decent number of papers. My current PI has no expertise ...
0
votes
3answers
201 views
Is there a biological age drawback for comparable academic experience in order to get permanent position?
I wanted to know if there are (potentially unofficial) limits about biological age in order to get permanent positions.
For instance let's say that you started your 3 years PhD about 27 (where people ...
2
votes
1answer
157 views
Choosing between PhD offers - top supervisor at my current institution or good supervisor at new university [closed]
I have offers for a funded PhD at equally prestigious universities in the same country. One is the university I did my undergrad (and doing my masters) in, with a "rising star" PhD ...
1
vote
1answer
351 views
Does it get easier?
So I'm a current PhD student in applied math. My interests have somewhat gravitated over time so I feel like I'm constantly in new territory and constantly struggling to understand the papers I read. ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Feasibility of a partially remote postdoc [closed]
(This question is somewhat related to those answered here and here, but is different in the "partially" remote aspect, and in a few other details I list below.)
I am currently finishing my ...
79
votes
7answers
14k views
Can I be a good scientist if I only work in working hours? [duplicate]
I am doing postdoc in developmental biology. Recently I started to leave work at the lab, meaning that I don't work at home anymore. Before I spent many hours at night (at home) analyzing my data; now ...
24
votes
8answers
9k views
Should I hold back some ideas for after my PhD?
I guess this a question about 'career pacing'. I am currently a first-year grad student studying for a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at a research university in the US. Even though I have only been ...
3
votes
0answers
71 views
Having a Promising Assistant Professor vs Well- Known Full Professor as a PI [duplicate]
If one's ultimate goal is to obtain tenure (as a professor of chemistry or some other STEM field, for example), is it honestly better to have a more well-known professor as a PI versus an assistant ...
5
votes
1answer
142 views
Careers at the National Research Council of Italy and difference from the university system
What is the organization of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR)? In particular, I'd like to know
How does one get a position there? I assume there are public competitions (as for university ...
3
votes
1answer
260 views
Нow to start an academic career if you got your PhD five years ago and didn't do science for these five years?
I think that it's too late for postdoc. Also, I think that my PhD thesis is weak and not many people would be interested. What is the way to start academic or near-academic career, if not teaching? ...
4
votes
1answer
231 views
Quick publication in a good journal VS long fight to publish in a very prestigious journal. What's more impactful at the beginning of a career? [closed]
I'm the first author of an article which, according to my advisor, has some chance of being published in the prestigious IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. This however would probably entail a ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
Prerequisites for RTDb (tenure-track assistant professor) position in Italy
I have read that a prerequisite to apply for a RTDb (tenure-track assistant professor) position in Italy is to have held a 3-year RTDa position in an Italian university or an equivalent 3-year postdoc ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it possible to quit a TVL13 job in probation period?
I would like to ask whether it is possible to quit a wissenschaftlicher mitarbeiter job based on a TVL13 contract in the middle of probation period? Or do I have to wait until I finish it?
I have ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
Is there such thing as a person who books guest lectures?
I'm a professional photographer. I have done numerous lectures at colleges and high schools about photography and photo assisting. This has always been for ex-professors or peers that have become ...
16
votes
4answers
3k views
How concerned should one be if he/she does not get referee invitations?
A friend of mine is an experienced researcher in early career. We are surprised to learn that she never get invited to referee for any journal. I once rejected a referee request and referred the ...
2
votes
0answers
280 views
Am I wasting my research time?
I am dividing the question in to two parts.
I will first tell about my experiences, (in this first part of my question), at different levels of my academics and the reason for selection of a ...
5
votes
2answers
433 views
Am I rational to be hopeless to have an academic career after my mental recovery?
I used to be a PhD student in one of the top research institutes in Germany. Then I realized I have a mental illness and my mother insisted that I go to a psychologist. He told me that I have a ...
4
votes
0answers
246 views
How many publications/citations/h-factor for EE tenure track in top ~100 research university? [closed]
Does anyone know of statistics how many publications/citations/h-factor an assistant professor in Electrical Engineering has at the beginning of tenure track in a top 100-200 research university?
If ...
1
vote
3answers
262 views
Talking to supervisor about PhD projects
I am an international PhD student, in the last lap of my PhD, and have a little more than a year to defend my thesis. My work is in theory, and our simulations take a lot of computing time. As we are ...
3
votes
1answer
147 views
Is hourly paid lecturing a viable route into a permenant lecturing position?
I have struggled to get a permanent lecturing position in the location I want. I am location restricted due to the current COVID 19 situation. My long term goal is to get a permanent lecturing role.
...
12
votes
5answers
775 views
COVID-19 anxiety's impact to my output: any strategies for mitigation?
In the COVID-19 pandemic I am dealing with anxiety for the first time, and professionally floundering.
I'm usually good at prioritization, but the state of the world means emergencies, and anxiety ...
10
votes
4answers
672 views
Does it make sense to “pause” an academic career so that I can pursue financial independence and self-fund my research?
I graduated with a bachelor’s in the humanities last year. I would have preferred to continue studying, but I don’t have the money, and I have found very few opportunities for full funding where I ...
5
votes
3answers
489 views
How do I move forward after working with a toxic academic supervisor?
How do I move forward after working with a toxic academic supervisor who ruined my all job opportunities by giving negative referrals, when my next job is asking referee report from him?
If anyone has ...
0
votes
1answer
177 views
Is Research Right for me?
I am going to start college in a while and one of the programs I've applied for is a Bachelors in Technology followed by Masters in Science Program which is a consolidated program here and can be done ...
0
votes
0answers
90 views
Finding time for the associate editor job – should one ask institute's management?
An early career researcher (ECR) is asked to become an associate editor for a reputable classical journal. Of course, no renumeration is offered. Based on the experience of other ECRs in a similar ...
0
votes
0answers
85 views
Pros and Cons of being an editor for an edited book volume
I am early in my tenure track position. I have just completed my post-doc and PhD two years ago. In collaboration with colleagues, we have recently circulated call-for-papers for an edited book.
What ...
2
votes
0answers
130 views
TAing for two young hotshot postdocs (possible “in” for future research)? or TAing a lab with more student engagement?
Incoming theoretical physics PhD student in the US.
I hope to get into academia after my PhD.
When listing TA preferences, would it behoove my career goal more to list as my top preference a course ...
0
votes
2answers
209 views
Is a math bachelor the right choice for me? [closed]
I am currently a student in high school, who plans on going to university.
As of now, I am planning to pursue my bachelors degree in mathematics in the UK and then go on to do a PhD in computer ...
1
vote
1answer
179 views
Specialise now or broaden knowledge?
I am currently an undergraduate student in mathematics coming to the end of a 4-year Bachelor degree. I have strong credentials (good marks, plus research and teaching experience) and have been doing ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Am I taking a wrong approach while looking for an academic position in applied areas - brutal criticisms appreciated! [closed]
After a PhD in pure mathematic, I wanted to do work in applied areas where I could bring in my pure math expertise. So I did two postdocs in computational medical imaging where I could apply my pure ...
6
votes
3answers
855 views
Is there a way out of losing interest in science during a PhD?
My concern is that I completely lost interest in science over the past few months, however, I am still towards the end of my first year of my PhD studies. I will offer some background:
I have always ...
28
votes
6answers
8k views
When someone cites one of your papers, is it a good idea to send an email to the authors to show appreciation?
For an early career researcher in physics or science in general, is it a good idea to send a "thank you" email to other authors who cited one of the researcher's papers? Will this be perceived in a ...
2
votes
1answer
261 views
I have somehow completed my PhD without having the required theoretical understanding of my field. Can I have an academic career? [duplicate]
I have an undergrad in mechanical engineering. My Masters, PhD was in Mechanical too. However, I have never been academically strong (grades were majorly C and B+). I had to retake advanced ...
1
vote
1answer
154 views
Would it be ok/wise to end my PhD contract after submitting my PhD thesis in order to be able to start a new job at that time?
I would like to start looking for a job in the period preceding the submission of my thesis, so that if I’m lucky and I find a job, I could end my PhD contract (around PhD submission time) and take on ...
3
votes
4answers
386 views
Very highly regarded (but also very abrasive) secondary PhD supervisor - how much should I involve him in my project?
I'm doing a PhD and I have two people listed down as my supervisors for the project, who I will call supervisors A and B. I get on really well with supervisor A, he makes constructive suggestions in a ...
1
vote
1answer
248 views
How do you interpret the feedbacks of my boss [closed]
I have a PhD in biological sciences but working (for two years by now) as a data analyst (I can say something like a bioinformatician) in a university analysing cancer omics
My boss says that I am an ...
1
vote
5answers
76 views
What are the subjects that one must learn while an undergraduate to pursue an academic career in Biophysics? [closed]
I am an undergraduate student pursuing a B.Sc(Hons.) degree in Physics. I want to pursue an academic career in Biophysics. So, I wanted to know which subjects are required for higher studies in ...
19
votes
7answers
8k views
Choosing between a Post-Doc and a faculty position at “2nd-tier” institution
I am Ph.D. student in India working in computer science. I will be graduating soon. I have two options: 1) post-doc 2) join a "tier 2 institute" (i.e., an institution ranked between #11 and #20 in ...
