Questions tagged [early-career]
On issues affecting academics or researchers specifically in the early stages of their careers.
316
questions
7
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2
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196
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How to prepare for the questions you get at a research interview
I recently applied for several permanent research positions. The interview were all similar: a talk on your past, present and planned research and some time for questions. I prepared well for the talk ...
- 311
5
votes
3
answers
165
views
Providing evidence of being the major contributor of a successful grant proposal helps your opportunities to get a job in the academic field?
I recently worked on a grant proposal for a project. As it sometimes happens to post-doc researchers, to move forwards in their career they have to ask a senior researcher to act as the principal ...
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-2
votes
1
answer
166
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From these two options, which one is better toward becoming a Professor in a high-ranking university? [duplicate]
Let's say you've just finished your PhD.(EECS), your ultimate goal is to become a Professor from any high-ranking University (world top 100). You are presented with two main options.
Option 1: ...
- 139
0
votes
0
answers
104
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Staying longer as a postdoc vs doing another postdoc elsewhere
I am currently on the third year of a postdoctoral fellowship that is due to finish in ~10 months. I'm looking into faculty positions, but I take into account that I might not succeed in getting one ...
- 593
0
votes
5
answers
513
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How do I learn the "hidden curriculum" for academic career success? [closed]
I have the impression that there are a lot of hidden secrets, unstated norms and rules that make or break potential researchers in academia. How do I acquire this secret knowledge?
Additional context: ...
- 1,586
1
vote
0
answers
85
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What should I choose between the Georgia Tech MSCS and CMU MCDS programs? [closed]
I am admitted to both the Georgia Tech MSCS (Specialization in Machine Learning), and the CMU MCDS programs. Georgia Tech costs me around 30k USD while CMU costs me 120k USD. Both are 1.5 year long. ...
- 39
0
votes
1
answer
216
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How can someone build their early-stage career without help from their advisor?
A PhD student I know is having trouble with their academic advisor. Their advisor is very hands-off (to the level of being neglectful) and has a very sink-or-swim mentoring style. To be clear, the ...
-3
votes
1
answer
128
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How do I transition out of the stuff I worked on in my PhD thesis? [closed]
One piece of advice I've gotten is to try to work in a different area from the thesis. "Don't keep squeezing and milking out one paper." I started reading papers in a different field but I ...
- 1,586
0
votes
3
answers
168
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Would it be a good idea to show my research statement to multiple people?
I showed my research statement for applying to postdocs to my advisor, but that's it. Also the recommendation letter writers looked at it (they requested it, anyway) but have provided no feedback/...
- 1,586
14
votes
5
answers
7k
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If someone doesn't get into a graduate program/postdoc, or a grant, etc, how are they supposed to know why?
So that they can do better next time. There's usually no transparency or explanation of why they were rejected.
- 1,586
1
vote
1
answer
219
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"Pausing" my PhD for 3 months to do an internship in industry, pros and cons?
I am a first year PhD student in an interdisciplinary STEM subfield, in a UK-style program (so 3 or 4 years long). I have been offered a 12-week internship in a biotech startup working in a similar ...
- 465
1
vote
1
answer
230
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Should I quit PhD in Germany to apply for Top Universities because of Personal Reasons? [closed]
I guess similar questions have been asked but I didn't find one which is close to mine.
To my background: I have two bachelor degrees in two natural sciences from a well known university in Germany (...
1
vote
0
answers
219
views
A better method than essays to measure diversity, inclusion, and equity?
I have been invited to join a scholarship/grant committee for supporting university early career researchers (ECRs). One of the aims of the panel is to implement diversity, inclusion, and equity ...
- 700
0
votes
2
answers
293
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When should I start applying for Tenure Track positions? [duplicate]
Ph.D. Candidate in Social Work. When should I start applying for Tenure Track positions, if I plan to complete my degree by December 2023?
I'm Canadian. And yes, there are Social Work researchers in ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
264
views
Could taking a post-doctoral position actually hurt my future career?
I would like to briefly explain my situation: I am currently a doctoral student at a German university of applied sciences in a small but growing institute (with a relatively good working climate). I ...
- 861
7
votes
1
answer
311
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are there paid graduate school coaches/consultants (Europe)
I'm a master's student. I need to hire a coach/consultant who can advise on academic politics and procedures and knows European or Australian/New Zealand unis and available finances.
My google skills ...
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30
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Guilt about quitting PhD as first student of the lab
I am a first year PhD student in a lab in Europe. I joined the lab 6 months ago and soon afterwards realized that the topic and institute are not what I had imagined it would be.
It took me quite some ...
- 309
18
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Is doing a postdoc with someone you already worked with during your PhD a bad move?
I am currently looking for a postdoctoral position.
The PhD I did was quite multidisciplinary, and among the fields within there is a field "A" that I would like to investigate further ...
user47115
38
votes
13
answers
10k
views
Is there a point in pursuing a PhD outside of top universities?
I graduated with engineering and physics degrees last year, and started a PhD program in theoretical physics. While the program is a good one, it is not top-15 in the US or top-50 in the world. This ...
- 421
19
votes
2
answers
5k
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I submitted a paper over a year ago and have not heard back. What should I do?
I submitted a pure mathematics paper (my first paper!) to a journal in September 2020. It is now December 2021 and I have received zero reports. A few months ago I sent an enquiry. I got a response ...
- 1,586
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Resignation from a postdoc without appropriate notice period (UK)
I am 3 months into a 15 months postdoc in the UK, so I am still into the initial 6-months probation period. My contract specifies I have to give 3 months notice before leaving (plus some further ...
- 151
2
votes
1
answer
96
views
Get exposure on different topics before choosing one for a PhD
I started my PhD in computer architecture in 2017 and after one year I left it to start working for an information security company. I have been in the industry for 4 years. I now want to go back to ...
- 121
0
votes
0
answers
104
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First year postdoc at career crossroads - how do I communicate this with my PI?
I'm in a predicament on where and how to take my next career step, and how to communicate this to my PI. Important note - so far they've been really supportive of me and my career. TL;DR at bottom of ...
0
votes
1
answer
198
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Should I abandon my PhD topic after a year?
After the first year and pretty much at the cusp of submitting my research proposal, I feel that my PhD topic and supervisor is far too technical. I had completed a masters that was closer to ...
0
votes
2
answers
243
views
Does the country where you do a postdoc matter (irrespectively of other aspects)? [closed]
I am looking for postdocs, and I have different postdoc offers.
I am really hesitating between different possibilities.
Some of those offers are interesting, in a dynamic group and they are in eastern ...
- 159
6
votes
6
answers
6k
views
What's a reasonable length of unemployment after finishing my PhD?
I finished my PhD one month ago. I applied to post-docs and I received three firm offers. Those offers are interesting but are (i) not in the field I would ideally like working on, (ii) are not the ...
- 159
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
What are the tips for getting promoted to a Program Coordinator at a 2-year college?
I am a fresh graduate from my graduate program who just landed a casual instructor position at a 2-year college.
In the 2-year college that I will be working for, instructors are usually hired as a ...
- 3
24
votes
0
answers
666
views
Does the new law "zur Stärkung der Berliner Wissenschaft" make postdocs in Berlin de facto permanent?
In the German city-state of Berlin, a new law titled Gesetz zur Stärkung der Berliner Wissenschaft (law to strengthen Berlin science) was passed. One of the changes has been described as tenure track ...
- 40.3k
10
votes
1
answer
192
views
Why do I need to declare parallel grant application(s)?
Some funders (e.g. the ÖAW and the FWF in Austria) require the grant/fellowship applicant to declare if they have submitted any other grant application(s) at the same time. (This is asked during ...
- 234
12
votes
2
answers
376
views
How to do research without being a star researcher?
After my PhD and postdoc in computer science I got a permanent position in a company's research lab. This is my first time to work without a supervisor nor colleagues (other members have there own, ...
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
213
views
How bad is it: doing the first PostDoc and PhD at the same place? [closed]
In academic recruiting it is often asked that one has lots of experience which includes being at different institutions preferably in different countries.
I would like to who:
What are the potential ...
- 1,497
1
vote
1
answer
194
views
DAAD funding for stay abroad for PhD students and postdocs: is it added to the regular TV-L salary?
There are several funding options from the German DAAD for PhD students and Postdoc working in German universities to visit other countries:
Research grants for doctoral candidates
Research grants ...
- 57
8
votes
1
answer
307
views
How to pursue an academic career in Italy
I am an early career scientist that want to pursue an academic career in Italy.
I am familiar with the usual track of an academic in Italy: Phd, "assegno di ricerca", "RTDA", "...
- 81
4
votes
1
answer
502
views
How do the logistics work for recipients of a DFG "Eigene Stelle" grant (in Germany)?
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), which funds most basic research in Germany, has a grant program that funds a temporary position ("Eigene Stelle") for novice principal ...
- 57
3
votes
1
answer
161
views
Italian universities: how to find out the "hiring plans" for researchers in the next 1-4 years?
In Italian universities (mathematics departments), is there a way to find out in advance what are the "hiring plans" for the next 1-4 years? In fact, when is it known within a university ...
- 57
1
vote
0
answers
186
views
Career choice：postdoc or non-tenure assistant professor job with little teaching load
I am a PhD candidate and I am currently in the mist of choosing my career path.
A little about my current situation:
I have a family in a large city where my husband grew up in. We are not likely to ...
- 11
26
votes
9
answers
10k
views
Do academics look down on applicants who leave academia and try to go back?
For example, if I do a postdoc and then leave for a year and then decide I want to go back to academia, is it possible, or will researchers look at my file, say, "Oh, a year not in academia,"...
- 2,082
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votes
3
answers
2k
views
How do I share my ideas without being scooped?
I finished grad school and now I will probably be an adjunct but will apply for postdocs again. I want to talk about my research ideas with other people but I am worried that postdocs will work on ...
- 2,082
3
votes
2
answers
136
views
What other academic pre-PhD positions can I apply for in the UK?
In my home country, it is common for people to work at a research lab/group with titles such as "Research Assistant" after their Masters before their PhD.
Do such positions exist in the UK, ...
- 41
2
votes
0
answers
142
views
Postdocs or RTDa/b positions and a question on PhD acquired outside of Italy and equivalence with the Italian title
Is it necessary to have obtained the "equivalence" of Ph.D. acquired in another country (Germany in my case) to the Italian title before applying for postdocs or RTDa/b positions in Italy?
I ...
- 57
6
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Are researchers generally sympathetic to not taking jobs in certain countries?
Suppose that an early career researcher received a job offer from a country that the researcher really doesn't want to go to, because of political or other personal reasons (concern for safety, ...
- 2,082
1
vote
2
answers
258
views
How to: Change of research field after thesis
I'll soon have finished my PhD in mathematics in a not top ranked university, and as far as I see it, my thesis is not going to be especially impressive.
My goal after the defense is to either leave ...
- 23
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is spending 16 years (in total) in academia to get three degrees career suicide? What do I do?
It took me 5.5 years to get my BSc, 3 years to get my MSc, and 6 years to do my PhD. I had a child as a teenager (so I have spent my entire adult life a mum) and we moved countries (to Germany) when I ...
- 151
1
vote
2
answers
134
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 ...
- 2,082
3
votes
3
answers
403
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.
...
- 91
15
votes
6
answers
9k
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 ...
- 10.6k
79
votes
10
answers
21k
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, ...
- 935
0
votes
1
answer
154
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 ...
- 717
4
votes
2
answers
389
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 ...
- 557
15
votes
4
answers
7k
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 ...
- 308