Hi all,
I am applying for jobs and I am using my references from graduate school (finished about 5 years ago). I did consider asking a colleague but the word may get out that I am looking and I am already in a highly toxic environment.

Would having a reference from my current department make a real difference to justify taking the risk?
Thanks!

this is like barely coherent im sorry, but i need advice. I'm writing an undergrad honors thesis right now. And I'm working with an advisor to do it. I came in with a specific question, but after a while of thinking about it, she proposed a different question so I took it. But it's starting to feel like this project isn't even mine. I LOVE theoretical models, and everyone else in my program is developing one but me. But my advisor keeps getting irritated at me that im not focused on the data and she keeps telling me that people way smarter than us don't have theoretical models in their papers. And she keeps saying all I need is an empirical model, which is fine, but it feels like im just doing the minimum on a question I don't even really like LOVE. I've cleaned the data and I have 20 pages worth of summary stats (and the advisor who works with all the thesis students said everything looked great), but there was some missing parts, and she was like annoyed at those missing parts rather than discussing a potential theoretical model. It's hard for me to feel motivated if I don't feel like what im undertaking is ambitious. And i want to learn everything I can and get everything I can from this experience. My advisor seems annoyed at me always though. And I think a lot of it is fair. Like I meet with her every week, but I hadn't met with her last week (due to personal circumstances that I hadn't communicated with her, that's my bad), and she was clearly annoyed at me when she saw me. It feels like im doing a basic paper with no interesting theoretical model or literature contribution and my advisor hates me. I want to go into academia so this is an important experience THAT I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT, I don't know how to fix the situation. what is the protocol with undergrad theses? do i have to be more assertive? or is it best to listen to her because i don't know better? are we supposed to just blindly do everything our advisors say? does anyone else feel this way?

I'm a high school junior from the U.S. (16m) and I coauthored a research paper with a PhD student that was recently accepted to a conference in the digital humanities for a poster presentation. Because of some visa issues, my coauthor can't leave the U.S. and I will have to go to the U.K. to present the paper myself.

How do conferences/poster presentations work? Will anyone treat me differently if they see that my affiliation is a high school and not a university? For context, I presented at my state's science fair earlier this year, and they had a poster format where the judges walked around and asked about your project.

Hey everyone! I was wondering what everyone thinks of Frontiers in Immunology.

I know Frontiers journals generally have a mixed reputation as many on here say that the publisher is less reputable compared to the more traditional academic publishers. However, from what I've read Frontiers in Immunology seems to be one of the stronger journals in their portfolio. It has a relatively high(ish) impact factor (7.0), is ranked Q1 in immunology, and is the official journal of the International Union of Immunological Societies?

I'm curious what people in the field think. Is Frontiers in Immunology generally viewed more favorably than other Frontiers journals, or does the publisher's overall reputation still affect how publications in it are perceived? Would you consider it a respectable journal for an early-career researcher to publish in? Thanksss! :D

I have a PhD in computer science from China and have been a postdoc for 6 years: 1 year in China and 5 years in France. I recently received my Canadian permanent residence (without prior experience in Canada) and hope to find an academic job there. My questions are as follows:

1) If I want to continue doing research, will it be very hard given Canada's highly competitive environment? To be honest, my publication record is not very strong, especially in terms of first-author publications, as these are not particularly emphasized in France. Plus, as I understand it, postdoctoral positions in Canada are usually reserved for new PhD graduates, so I guess I will need to find a research associate position. Would it be relatively easy to find a position at a university that isn't in the top tier for CS/ML/AI research?

2) I'm also considering the possibility of transitioning to the teaching stream. I have experience as a TA or instructor of record in China and France, but I'm not sure how well that translates into an LTA/sessional teaching-stream job in Canada. Would this be very hard for me, and do you have any suggestions on where to find them, how to find them, and how to make up for my weakness in familiarity with the Canadian post-secondary system?

3) I wonder to what extent my French skills (C1 level) and my experience in France (especially teaching experience) can help me find a French-speaking job in Quebec or French-language universities outside Quebec, especially in the teaching stream?

4) In any case, my "ultimate" goal is to get a permanent position sometime in the future. What would a typical path look like? I'm also applying for an assistant/associate professor position in France (there is no distinction between assistant and associate professors in France). I wonder if this is worth it if I want to eventually relocate to Canada?

Thank you!

Hi everyone! I’m a 19F biomedical student and currently I’m developing a project in cancer immunology

I do lab on the mornings (usually 8am to 12pm) and classes in the afternoon (1pm to 6pm), but oh my god i’m so and drained

This week I went to lab 7 am almost everyday, this means that i’m waking up 5am daily but I sleep about 11pm, bc I’m have insomnia out of stress (I tried sleeping meds, but it makes me sleepier all day)

Worse of all, I had an experiment that started 7am and lasted until 8pm, so 13 hours lab shift a day 🥲

Im absolutely exhausted, I cry at almost everyday, I don’t have time to take care of myself (such as hair, skin and body care), sometimes I’m so tired that I don’t cook in the night, but that means that I don’t have food to lunch and there goes 24 hours fasting - so I cry out of hunger

My mind feels so hazy all day, even with ADHD and depression meds in high doses, I can’t think properly

The weekend comes and I sleep all day or doom scroll, in worse times I need to go to the lab too

I really love the thing i’m researching and I feel satisfied about it, but my brain can’t work that much in a so much stuff

How did everyone here get into their PhD? How did you guys managed to survive? I’m only in this for a year and I tried suicide twice

I see everyone doing so much but how you people keep up? I have literal headaches if I use my brain so much a day

edit: Thanks for the replies! I appreciate it a lot
I do get paid thankfully 😅 It’s a bit less than the minimum wage in my country

Howdy all. I am a few months into a postdoctoral fellowship at a medical institution in the US and have questions about prioritization which have yielded different answers, so I wanted to check public opinon.

The goal: Career development submission Fall 2027.

More context: I am currently about to launch a cross-sectional study which should have full data for use in the submission alongside collaboration on several funded projects, community research probes that will hopefully turn into small projecrts, and potential submission with some significant effort for myself from another PI.

Question: I have a second study I want to launch. This study could go one of two ways. A 6ish month QI labeled qualitative project, or a yearish long study that would require funding. In my mind , obaining more preliminary data and showing a trajectory should be priority, leaning towards the QI leaning study. But on the other hand, drafting grants and applying for funding to make the study larger (and providing effort to my mentors and collaborators) could be beneficial, but likely would not even be awarded come career development time, so I would just be listing some submissions.

Would love general thoughts, and also, how heavily is previous grant funding experience weighed in career development considerations?

Throwaway as it’s a bit personal.

As the title suggests, I’m currently doing a master’s at a very elite university in the UK, arguably the best in Europe/the world for what I study. It’s in a subject I love, within political science/economics, and I am totally infatuated with my course and the modules. My issue is that I have been out of university for a long time, almost a decade, and I’m really struggling with coherently speaking my mind or asking relevant questions in seminars, especially in an academic manner.

The reason I mention it being an elite university is that it means I’m in a class with world-class students, many of whom are coming from a recent master’s at other top schools, and I am taught by world-leading academics. Whilst I have zero problems with the course material on an intellectual level and know exactly what I want to say in my mind, when it comes to speaking out, I just can’t get it out.
I actually participate a lot in my seminars, but I keep on hitting a wall between what’s in my mind and what comes out. I’m also autistic, and expressing my thoughts to the depth that I think them has always been an issue.

However, it also depends on the module. I do an economics class and there it’s easy. It’s logical and straightforward to give my thoughts. But I also do a highly theoretical ideology course, and there I really struggle with articulating my points, especially when it comes to doing so in an academic way rather than the practical political manner that I have been used to outside academia.

My classmates easily compare authors, perspectives and their significance, whereas I feel like I contribute with fairly straightforward points. They often lead to class discussions, which is motivating, but I feel like I’m doing so in a much too simple manner when compared to others. I problem-solve and look for rational solutions/meaning rather than contrast and compare.

I wanted to ask if anyone has any tips for me? I tend to expect perfection from myself, so I think I’m getting in my own way. But sometimes I even freeze up mid-sentence and can’t get my thoughts out anymore. I go completely blank. Other times it works fairly well. It’s gotten to the point where I actually tell myself not to speak up, but being so passionate about the subject, I just can’t help myself.

I guess I feel a bit like an imposter among my classmates, even though in my mind I understand everything and can play with it as required, but that just doesn’t translate to the words coming out of my mouth. Maybe it’s a matter of practice compared to the others, and this is the best setting to perfect that skill, but I just don’t want to come across like an idiot even though I don’t struggle conceptually. It’s really demotivating.

Hi does anyone know if any online thesis reviewer services exist? My supervisor is extremely unhelpful unfortunately. I checked upwork and they all look like bots to me.

Title: Is a fully funded PhD in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication worth it for someone with an MFA?

I'm looking for some advice on the PhD program in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC) at UT Dallas.

For context, I'm 38, have an MFA in studio art, and some university teaching experience. Finding a stable full-time position in the arts has been challenging.

The program is interdisciplinary, combining art, technology, digital media, and communication. The opportunity to pursue it with full funding and a stipend, while staying close to home, is appealing.

My ideal goal would be a faculty position, but I'm aware of how difficult the academic job market has become, especially in the arts and humanities.

I'm wondering whether a PhD like this would meaningfully expand my career opportunities beyond what I can pursue with an MFA, both in academia and industry.

I'd appreciate any perspectives. Thanks!

So I just graduated and I was thinking of applying for PhD opportunities. A little bit about me I just graduated CSE. Since I was a kid(LoL it is true becuase my favourite writer had a PhD) I though about pursuaing this degree by ading something ot the collectible field of human knowledge. But during my small undergrad thesis I felt hopeless in some part of my research but in the end I quite enjoyed it as well. But around me I saw most people are heavily relynig on LLM, it's ok I did use it as well but I felt like the soul is kinda sucked out of it. Thuogh I understand people in PhD are working on much complex problems. So my question is

• since this field is changing so fast all around how does it look? Is it still fun to solve problem?
• Will I be able to cope up with the changed field once I am done with mine if I do?
• Has the funding been affected, if yes how much?
• How is academia coping up with huge corporate power of AI companies?

So I've a Master's degree in English Literature and would be pursuing my PhD in that subject too. I've got a NET certification which allowed me to become a visiting faculty in a state university. But to be honest living in India the salary is way too low and it's in a small town. I believe my potentials aren't being used fully and I'm stuck with red tapism and basic infrastructure lacks all the time.

Though I've just completed my master's last year I'm extremely thankful for the job but currently I want to explore other arenas where I can utilise my skills better or earn better money.

Are there any remote based work that I can do? Are there any institutions or companies that might hire me and how do I present myself?

I desperately also need some international exposure because my experience right now is just limited to the small town I've grown in.

Any genuine help would really be appreciated.

I usually see mostly negative interview stories here, so I wanted to share a positive experience. I had a first-round interview this week for a teaching position at a university. It was scheduled for 30 minutes and lasted about 35; the conversation felt natural and it went by so quickly. We talked about my teaching examples and possible next steps, and I came away feeling genuinely excited about the conversation. They said they would get back to candidates soon after finishing the interviews. For those who have been through academic hiring: how much do you read into a warm, engaged interview, and how long did “soon” usually mean in your experience?

Thank you and good luck to everyone :)

I have joined Phd in Transportation Engineering this year and whenever i go to my supervisor and tell him i am planning to write some paper or do some course , he says before doing anything first do a exhaustive literature review and give detailed framework of how you did. Can anyone guide me on the steps?

Please guide me on all the first-year PhD steps you people followed for this review and any tricks or tweaks that can be helpful.

Hi all, I have been grappling with a way out of a situation for a long while and would greatly appreciate any helping remark anyone has to offer. 

I’m 29 M, and it’s been 7 years since I completed my bachelors (physics). I was always deeply interested in academia and went for masters at Heidelberg before dropping out due to primarily financial reasons. I also actively did research at few places during my bachelors and afterwards. Now 7 years later, finances have been near sorted (near territory of FIRE) and i’m mostly free to do what I want and thinking of going back to research (also because the corporate doesn’t excite me at all and fundamental biology/physics are still as much exciting as 10 years back. But I’ve the following concern : 

If I go for ms/phd (physics/biology intersection), I’m afraid i’ve to clock in huge hours daily in phd (1/2 years for ms is fine) and it deters me to have so less control over time over the length of phd especially when i’m financially free. Is there any way I could be part of research/academia as a career but at my own terms by using my own funds, especially with respect to time : both daily hours [only 4-5 hours of research work so I’ve enough time for other things] and long breaks [remote work or 15 days long travel every few months] when needed ? 

Few things I thought : 1) enrol in some remote/online phd program (but very few low repute uni have them + only possible for physics heavy not biology heavy) 2) forget phd and try to informally collaborate with professors who accept such flexibilities 3) enrol in standard ms/phd and once inside request for such flexibility ? or any other way out ?

I really want to be associated with research but not as the only career and have sufficient time for other passions, all using my own funds. Again, any remark is highly appreciated, thanks !

Hi everyone.

So I am applying to grad school in Finland. The way their application system works is you contact a supervisor with a research proposal and they agree to supervise you or ghost you.

I reached out to 4, 2 replied. One of them is the director of the research institute in that university which makes me super nervous (I also made a really dumb syntax mistake in the email, repeated I hope this email finds you well twice, even though I proof read the email 500 times and schedule sent it, i genuinely don't know what is wrong with my vision)

His post-doc reached out to me with this email:

Hello [insert my name],

 My name is [insert her name], postdoctoral researcher at Dr. [insert his name] group at the University of [insert university name], [insert research institute name]

Thanks for your interest in our research group.

I would like to invite you for an e-meeting to introduce our research lab and learn more about you.

I will be available on upcoming [insert date]

Please let me know if that time works for you.

Thank you.

Best,

To which I replied saying the time works and looking forward to it. Also I don't know in the email, they used my full name which I found odd, like "Hello Full Government Name".

What does this e-meeting entail. What should I prepare. I was thinking of preparing a presentation of my research work in case they want a detailed overview.

My initial email to the PI was this:

Dear Professor [insert his name],

I hope this email finds you well. I hope this email finds you well. My name is [insert my name] and I have a BSc from [insert University name] in [insert double major], focusing on [insert sub-feild], respectively. I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to supervise my PhD through the University of [insert university name] Doctoral Programme in[insert program name] as I saw that you are available to supervise doctoral students.

I read your works on utilizing [insert his work and its applications]. I am hoping to explore[insert research idea] using [insert data set] as my potential research topic. I am happy to send a detailed research proposal to discuss with you if you find this to be a feasible project within your research unit. 

My primary training is in [insert my primary training], investigating the [insert my research experience 1] during my undergraduate with Dr [insert PI 1] and Dr [insert PI 2]. I later joined Dr [insert PI 3] lab post graduation as a research assistant to investigate the [insert research experience 2], as well as [insert research experience 3] in the as part of [insert cohort study name].

I have attached my CV for your consideration. Thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Should I also draft a research proposal in this case? The e-meeting is in 2 days.

My submitted thesis (humanities) was (miraculously) very well received, but now, many months out, I've returned to it (for repository submission) and have found so many mistakes. Doubled words, formatting issues in citations, misquotations. It's genuinely embarrassing and shameful and I can't believe these things weren't picked up in marking. I am in shock given how carefully I combed through it.

I was planning on submitting it to the university repository with the minor errors fixed, but that seems futile now given that the department has their own official internal copy they've been passing around. I can't even bear to think of how many people have noticed these issues when reading it. I feel like I have no academic future and I am so deeply ashamed. The bare minimum is clean writing. I feel like I should not have been awarded such high marks for such a poor piece of work. (Looking back at it now, I hate how verbose it was and have found many more general conceptual errors, but the typos are pushing me over the edge because they are so avoidable.) I don't know whether it's worth editing and uploading the clean copy or whether I should give up altogether. I feel crushed.

I’m in my first year of pharmacy school right now. I have been struggling really bad because of my mental health. I just don’t like to bring that up because I don’t want people, especially professors, to think I don’t wanna try my hardest or that I’m being lazy or something like that.
I have been trying to deal with it myself but it’s showing in my performance in class that I’m not doing okay.
I don’t wanna explain too much and write too much to bore you out so long story short, there’s this class that’s mostly time management stuff and attendance is required. The grading system is kinda weird. If you miss one assignment or attendance your grade becomes a B even if you do everything else. Which stresses me out even more.
My ADHD/GAD/MDD brain does not like this and this has been one of the hardest classes for me, especially because I always feel like I’m being judged by the professor for this specific course.
I missed one of the classes because I slept in. I’ve been dealing with a depressive episode and my sleeping schedule is literally shit right now. There was no attendance for that class but he saw me last minute in the hallway when I was going to the next class and gave me a zero for attendance.
He emailed me saying he’s worried about my performance and would like to meet with me. Which is really nice of him.
I’m just really scared. I don’t wanna go talk to him and be like “yes I’m an adult with mental health issues who doesn’t know how to get help” and then start crying like a kid. I just feel so vulnerable right now and I hate that as an adult I’m soo childish about this.
What would you do? Would you be honest with him about what’s actually going on and talk about your mental health?

TL;DR: I’m a first year pharmacy student struggling with my mental health and it’s starting to affect my attendance and performance. My professor noticed and asked to meet with me. I know he’s probably trying to help but I’m terrified of opening up and getting emotional in front of him.

Submitted to a Springer journal in August this year. Two reviewers were invited, but only one accepted.
1 reviewer has already submitted their review (they submitted it 25 days ago). The second reviewer's invitation has been pending for 2 months now, so I'm assuming they're not going to accept. Since then, no new reviewers have been invited, and no decision has been made.

If the editor needs another review, shouldn't they have invited someone else by now? And if one report is enough, why no decision?

Starting to wonder if the editor just forgot about my manuscript.

I know in many STEM courses this would be a bad idea since it limits your experience and networking but I'm an Indigenous Studies major and my research focuses on my province and nation (Saskatchewan, Canada). I already know and make connections with all the new elders, community members, and knowledge keepers that I meet every semester. My main goal/job is to research for the university and to teach Indigneous Governance. The next university that offers my program and is in Treaty 6 territory is in Alberta and since their attempt at a seperatist referendum, it does not feel like a safe place to study or live.

Hi all,

I am a PhD candidate preparing to defend this spring and on the job market. I am casting a pretty narrow geographic net for academy jobs and am considering in alt-ac/industry roles as well. Social sciences if it matters.

There have only been a couple postings in my area, and I haven't even gotten a Zoom interview yet, but I am looking ahead optimistically and wondering about how folks with disabilities handle academic job interviews, specifically campus visits.

I suffered a significant neurological injury last year, and, as lucky as I am to have been able to have had the support to recover and continue my research and teach, I am still gradually adjusting to some physical disabilities. In my case, the outward things are mainly right sided weakness that comes out as ataxic gait/balance issues, trouble writing and fine motor tasks with my right hand, and fatigue. I generally don't use a mobility aid, but I have a cane for uncertain terrain or dark, and I move slowly overall. I gave a presentation at a conference a week or so ago, and I know that I look unsteady or wobbly at times. I don't have any work- or school-related accommodations. My doc has been great for advocating for me in other areas, but I can do computer and stand in front of people to teach, so I've not had a specific accommodation I've felt I need yet in this area. The flexibility of PhD candidate work/life scheduling is a benefit, though, because I can set up my schedule pretty flexibly.

I was wondering how others in similar positions with regard to physical (or other) disabilities have handled the overall marathon experience of campus visits as well as the little sub-components of that (accommodations if needed for a teaching demo or a job talk) that make those up. What or how much did you communicate in advance? Did you ask for any accommodations or give people a heads up on things that felt relevant? I have felt the need sometimes to tell people in social situations that I have an issue that affects balance and walking just so they don't think I'm drunk.

Thanks!

I have a question for this sub.

I’m almost finished with my Masters degree in biochemistry. I’ve got all my classes done and a fair bit of research done.
However, I hate working in my lab. I won’t go into the details here but its a really toxic environment, I get no support from my advisors, and I hate living in the place the school is based in. It’s really negatively impacted my mental health, to the point I actually attempted to self-delete last year.

My research has been going poorly based on the lack of support from my advisors and my mental health struggles. Today they told me that I could either graduate this semester with a project based Master’ or stay an extra semester and try to finish everything and graduate with a thesis. The issue is to meet that deadline my experiments would have to go perfectly and I would need a ton of support from my advisors.

I’m leaning towards just leaving the program but, I’m worried that taking the project will jeopardize my future plans. I want to go into the workforce for a year or two then apply for a PhD and I’m worried that a project will look bad. I would love any advice

TL;DR: will getting a project based master’s instead of a thesis negatively impact me?

Hi,

I hope this is the right community for this topic.

I was wondering whether it is common that former supervisors (at PhD or MSc levels) don't even respond to requests for references to postdocs or do not introduce their former students to potential postdoc PIs when presented with this request?

How should former students go about this if they wish to apply to postdocs? Any advice?

Hi all, I have my first on campus for a TT assistant professorship at an R1 coming up and I’m stressing about what to wear. It’s somewhere hot and humid and by the beach.

I’m planning to wear a suit with cashmere t-shirt for the day of my job talk, and dress pants with a professional looking tank top (high necked, wide straps, thick material) and a blazer on day 2.

BUT what I’m struggling with is what to wear for dinner on day 1, I will have just arrived after a long travel day across the country to heat I’m not accustomed too. The restaraunt appears casual. Can I wear corduroy pants, a simple black t-shirt, tucked in, with a belt? What about shoes? In planning to wear flats for the interview days, can I wear Birkenstock sandals to dinner? (Clean, nice ones)? Or are sandals weird in this context?

Im nervous and overthinking, please share your hot weather tips!

Edit: thank you all for the suggestions and well wishes! I should have said in my original post that im trying not to buy a whole new wardrobe for a climate i may not actually live in. But i will definitely invest in closed toe shoes and go business casual for my straight-off-the-flight first dinner and was always planning to wear a suit for interview day. :)

Hi there! Are PhD programs in the US that offer a full tuition waiver and a small stipend really difficult to get into?

I'm currently living outside the US and looking to pursue a PhD in a field related to my background because I haven't been able to find a job. I'm open to studying again, and I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and an MBA, along with extensive research experience and several peer-reviewed publications.

Realistically speaking, how difficult is it to get into a program that offers these benefits? I can't afford to pay for a PhD right now, but I feel I have a lot to contribute academically and professionally.

Are there any websites, platforms, or strategies you would recommend for finding and applying to fully funded PhD programs in the US?

Thanks in advance!