ResilienceandSuccessinScienceAfewpersonalobservations,perspectives

andstrategies

Dr GrahamSmith

SchoolofPhysicsandAstronomy

UniversityofStAndrews

ResilienceToolkit

TakenfromVanderbiltUniversitywebsite

(Notjustgenetic– lotsoflearnt- effectivestrategies,processesandgoodhabits)

Overview

• ResilienceStrategies• WorkingandLivingSmarter

• Developinggoodhabitsandeliminatingbadones

• Areyoudoingtherightthingsshortandlongterm

• Basedonobservationsasa:• PhDstudent(4.5years)andPDRA(~10years)

• ApplicantforAcademicandFellowshippositions

• PhDandPDRAsupervisor,externalexaminerandCRSrep

• AdvisorofStudiesovermanyyears(toundergraduates)

• Tipsforfellowship/grantapplications

ResilienceinmyCareer

• PhD- Noequipment– nodefinedproject– butgreatarea

• PostDoc - wrotemyownproposals

• Academicapplication- nointernalcandidates/highstress

• Fellowshipapplication- hugeamountsofwork- didn’tworkwell

• BasicTechnologyApplication- hugeamountsofwork- didworkwell!

• Keepinglargishgroupgoing– keepingpeoplehappy

TopTips

• Physicalexerciseeveryday(Lifestyle)• Useeffectivetimemanagementandorganisation strategies(Skillset)

• Takeadvice,talktopeople,bepro-activeandcollaborate(Skillset)• Dothedayjobwell,butbeambitiousandthinkbig(Attitude)

• Getyourselfknownandgivegreatpresentations(Attitude)• Applyforfellowships,andlearntowritegrantapplications(Attitude)

Lifestyle - WhydoUGstudentsfailexams• CommonTraitsandhabitsofPoorlyPerformingUndergraduates

• Lackofconcentration/lackoffocus

• Clearlynotenoughsleep

• Toomuchsocialmedia/internet(ofthewrongsort)

• Handinginassignmentsatthelastminute(notalways)

• Atrocioustimemanagementskills

• Wrongtypeofhardwork

• Toofewortoomanyoutsideinterests

• LowEnergy

• Lackofexercise/outsideactivity

Lifestlye - Whydostudentssucceed

• CommonTraitsofHighlyPerformingUndergraduates

• Handinassignmentsearly

• Worktogetherinteamstoproblemsolve

• Askquestions,activelyseekadviceandareambitious

• Wellorganised – goodinformationsystems

• Goodsocialnetworks• Significantoutsideinterests• Nearlyalwaysdolotsofphysicalexercise

Lifestlye - TopTip

•PhysicalExercise(preferablyeveryday)

• Everythingelsefollows• Alertnessandgetupandgo

• BetterSleep

• Betternutrition(lessjunkfood)

• Lesssugarandcaffeinecravings

• Drinkingmorewater

SkillSets - CommonTraitsofmyPeers

• Highlyorganised (greatfilingsystemsandtimemanagement)

• Greatnote-takers• EfficientatMeetings(agendas,recordedactionitems)

• ManyhaveCleandeskandlabpolicy

• Oftenstartearly,butnotallworklonghours• Mostexercise(allleadersofmajorgroupsinmyfield)

• Ingeneral- greatcommunicators

• Originalthinkers– takeideasfromwidevarietyoffields

• Collaboratewidely– andsupportiveofothergroups

SkillSets– Timemanagement(avoidingprocrastination)

Statisticallymoststudents(andstaff)use

“JustinTime”StrategiesforWorkDeadlines

Earlystartsstrategy?

TimeManagement

E-mailmanagement– checkfirstthinginmorning

Collaboratewithotherstudentsandothergroups

Formstudy+readinggroups

SkillSetToDoListsandCalendarsandGannt Charts

Prioritise onimportance

Don’tjustdothetrivialtasks

Planyourdayinthemorning

- hourbyhour

Ifyouwonderwhereyourtimegoes

KeepaTimeLogDiaryforaweek

Writeitdowninyourlab-book

Skillset– EfficientuseoftimeStudiessuggestthatwetypicallyconcentratewell

foronly25minutes

SkillSet- StudySkills

Mindmaps/Powerpoint (Researchnotes/ideas)

Mnemonics/flashcards(learningnewarea)

CleanDesk– lowclutterpolicy

Lowlevelclassicalmusic

Selfmotivationaltechniques(“Iwillsucceed!”}

Goto seminarsoutsideyourfield(andcollectideas)

Attitude: Ifthingsaregoingwrong - useyourpersonalsupport/UniversitySupportnetwork- Talktopeople

• Talktorelevantpersoninvolved• TalktoyourSupervisor/HeadofResearch/HR• SeeStudentservices• IfappropriateseeaDoctor• Takeadvantageofsupportiveenvironment

FellowshipandGrantApplications

AppointmentStatisticsinPhysicsandAstronomyUniversityofStAndrews1989-2006

Fellowships 16 3

Abroad(without fellowship)

5 3

UK(without fellowship)

2 1

Internal(without fellowship)

1

Lecturer/ Reader Prof.

Last 31 Appointments over ~17 years

WhatdoesSt.Andrews Physicslookforwhenappointing?

• 1)Evidenceofhighqualityresearchandevidence

ofindependent research• Highqualitypublications(fromjournalorcitations)wherethe

personmadeaprimarycontribution

• Qualityofresearchplanandvision

• Evidencethatthepersoncandriveanewgroup- a�gogetter�

• Evidenceofabilitytowritegrantproposals

• 2)PresentationSkills(ofresearchandasindicator

ofteachingability)

But how do you show evidence of independent research?

Whowouldyoufund?

• Someonewhowaspassionate,enthusiastic,skilledandarticulatein

theirsubjectareawhohadagrandvisionofhowthefieldwasgoing

toevolveandwassuggestingaslightlyriskybutexcitingpotential

breakthroughthatwouldpotentiallyrevolutionise thefield,whilst

impactingonmanyotherresearchfields.

• Someonewhowassuggestingthenextobviousincrementalstepin

theirPhDresearch.

Ifyouhadtowritearesearchproposaltomorrow– whatwouldyouwrite?

Attitude:Searchforanexciting,breakthroughidea

TOPTIPS

1) Firstimpressionsmatter- StressIdea

andimpactinfirstparagraph

2) Beambitious(highimpact+

important)

3) Forfellowships,choosenew

emergingideawhereyourskill-set

addsanewdimension

Attitude: Conferences,Workshops,Seminars

LikeBart

Doyouendureseminarsorconferences?

Neveraskaquestion?

NeverLookattheConferenceBook

Alwayschoosetobetheposterboy/girl

Neverthinkofgivingatak

Taketheopportunitytopresentyourworkmemorably

Visitlocallabs

Activelyaskquestionsandengage

Identifykeypapersandkeyquestions

“Theonlystupidquestionistheoneyoudidn’task”

TopTipsforFellowships(andgrants)

1) Writeandactlikeaconsultant(CKDD).Writeaproposal,not

apaper.Takeadvice– getlotsoffeedback2) Removeallconditionals(might,maybe,couldperhaps)

andreplacewithdeclaritives (thiswill beachieved)

3)Forpresentationsandinterviewsgivehandouts

addressingallkeycriteria.Practice,practice,practice

4)ForpresentationsDON’Tgivearesearchseminar(KISS)

Attitude– Buildyourprofile/Trackrecord(This means NOW!!)

Be ProactiveTake every opportunity to write and present high quality papers. Be prolific

Take every opportunity to give talks.Go on training courses or research schoolsDo excellent research - claim ownership

Collaborate/Network - Get known!Go and talk to or visit leading national or international groups at conferences/ universities. Try and visit leading groups. Arrange to spend time in their lab

Instigate research + collaborations Write Proposals/Fellowship Applications

Volunteer to help write group proposals Write original proposals

But what if I fail? Its such a lot of work!

• Recognise at some level it’s a lottery. Just apply again. • Lots of famous Professors applied 3 or 4 times for fellowships and

multiple times for grants!• Many professors take a shot gun approach. Ideas can often be re-used

(sometimes much later)• Experience will stand you in very good stead no matter what your

career path