Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #PhDLife

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Embarking on the PhD Journey? ✨
Congratulations & here are my top tips for beginners - a 🧵

As a 4th year PhD student, I am sharing the top tips, which I received as a beginner, to help you navigate this rewarding yet demanding experience.
🌻

#PhDBeginnerTips #academicchatter Image
1️⃣Keep a #ResearchJournal

A PhD is a whirlwind of ideas, experiments, and discoveries. A dedicated journal to document everything will be an invaluable resource throughout your journey.

➡️Check out my upcoming tweets on how to maintain a research journal Image
2️⃣Have an Unofficial Board of Mentors:

In addition to your guide or doctoral committee, cultivate a network of trusted individuals who can advpice & support you.

➡️This amazing advice is from my mentor & friend @Maddie_Chera, & I have 6 people on my "board" now!😁

#mentoring Image
Read 6 tweets
Hey y'all, I've got big news!🤩

I got selected for an international workshop in Spain!!!! (more details⬇️)

Past few months, I've been preparing for that & was waiting for everything to be confirmed. I was dying to tell you guys😁

Now please send me your best tips💖

#PhDchat ImageImage
So this workshop is called the #Complexity72h where participants form teams and work on a project for 3 days and by the end of the 72 hours we need to upload a report of the work on ArXiv!

It's like a hackathon but for research writing!

How exciting, right?🤩
And ya girl also got a research visit at an amazing lab!!😍
I'm absolutely thrilled about this. And anxious, of course.
It feels like the pieces are falling into place - after years of rejections. And man, do they happen in the most unexpected ways!✨
Read 4 tweets
Thesis Writing 101

I have edited 100,000+ words and tens of theses in science and history (more than I can keep track of!) over the last ten years.

Here are 17 insights from my experience that can help you improve the quality of your #AcademicWriting 🧵
1. Read aloud: Reading aloud helps to catch errors that were overlooked during silent reading. Find the 'Read Aloud' feature on MS Word under 'Review.'

2. Bring coherency: Make sure that each paragraph flows logically so that the overall #thesis structure is well-organized.
3. Improve formatting: Format your #thesis according to your university's guidelines. Adjust the font type, size, header, and footer.

4. Use citation management tools: Using these tools (Mendeley, EndNote, etc.) can help you save time & avoid errors in writing your bibliography.
Read 11 tweets
ChatGPT but for research papers?

Humata is an AI research assistant where you can ask a question about any file and automatically get the answer.

I gave it go with my Nature Cell Biology publication:
First, I asked it for the main results of the paper.

It pretty much summarised the abstract and some of the results in a more digestible way. So far, so good. Image
Then I asked it to identify the gap in literature and research question.

Whilst the gap in literature was accurate, the RQ was simply a re-write of the literature gap. The research question is most definitely more complex and detailed than that which was pulled out by Humata. Image
Read 9 tweets
@NotionHQ has introduced a new exciting feature, Notion AI, which can help you (1) improve existing content, (2) summarise content or (3) write new content.

Here are 5 ways you can use Notion AI to improve your academic writing:
1. Improve existing content

With text you have already written, you have the option to make some modifications to that section. Here, I've asked Notion AI to make the text longer, which has added some detail and formatted the initial paragraph to enhance it academically. ImageImage
It is important to note, there are no references here so far. So, I asked Notion AI to provide me with references for this section of text.

It provided me with references, albeit, not formatted correctly. Image
Read 8 tweets
Speaking at the #PhD 3rd Year Forum @CamUniGeography @Cambridge_Uni. Main focus is #governance of #conservation related relocation in
@mytadoba #Tiger Reserve tho it considers socio-economic (v brfly #ecological) outcomes) #Wayanad #Wildlife #Sanctuary is a satellite site Image
Grateful to my co #travellers @Krithikasampath
@SamirTadoba who made it easier & FUN! Also
@jituramgaokar @nandkishorkale1 and his incredible team @PrajaktaDH #PoonamDhanwatey. the generosity of the villagers🙏 @bhask286 for his support
And the funders who made it possible -shukriya
@stjohnscam @CamUniGeography
The @ruffordgrants #SMUTSGrant @RGS_IBG
2 more years to go.... #university #team #phdlife #research
Read 4 tweets
ANNOUNCEMENT - Applications Open:
Sunday 28 May I will be continuing #20phds20mins on @einstein_agogo. 20 PhD students will be selected from the applications received by 5pm Friday 19th AEST.
@3RRRFM Image
Each interview will be approximately 1 minute long. PhD students will get their first ever taste of live radio in a supportive and professional environment. Best of all, you will get to work with other amazing students.
Interviews will occur on Sunday 28 May 11am-12pm Melbourne time. Participation in person (local) or via zoom (non-local). A compulsory briefing session will be held at 11am on Saturday 27th.
Eligibility: Current STEM PhD students from Earth who have not previously been on @3RRRFM
Read 7 tweets
With all the rage about ChatGPT, have you ever wondered about the differences between AI and more classical technologies? Join me for a brief tour, with its relation to Aerospace. @RedDivulga, @filarramendi, @uc3m y @doctoradoUC3M.  @PhDAaeroUC3M #PhD #Aerospace #Engineering
ChatGPT, and its equivalents work like buttonsmashing. You have a bajillion buttons, and them you mash, tweak, and tune them randomly. Like this young Alien Stu is doing in the Pixar short movie Lifted.
Stu is trying to learn how to abduct humans. I know, a very Aerospace oriented scenario. Consider him as Chatgpt in its beginnings. He pushes random buttons, and not surprisingly, nothing really works. However, the more he tries, the more he learns the buttons
Read 17 tweets
Exceptional academic writing is best done with a system.

To achieve outstanding publication and citation success.

Here are my 7 secret publishing strategies to get 28k citations in 15 years ↓

@academicvoices @PhDVoice @PhD_Genie
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #phdlife
1. Use incremental studies for high-impact, low-effort publications

• Focus on niche areas with less competition.
• Develop expertise in a specific area or methodology.
• Use your unique perspective or resources.

Scan the recent Future Work to find your next increments.
2. Decide where to publish without wasting time & effort

• Research the impact factor & reputation of target journals.
• Align your research topic with the journal's scope.
• Consider open-access options for increased visibility.

Create a ranked list of your target journals
Read 9 tweets
Peter Higgs believes he would be regarded as “unproductive" in today’s academic system. He simply wouldn’t be able to “survive” in #science.

On his way to Stockholm to receive a Nobel Prize in 2013, he said the following in an interview to Guardian:

#AcademicTwitter #phdlife
- He wouldn’t expect to make a breakthrough in today’s academia.

Why? Because expectations to "collaborate and keep churning out papers" are too high

"It's difficult to imagine how I would ever have enough peace and quiet in the present sort of climate to do what I did in 1964"
- He said he would've been fired had he not been nominated for the Nobel in 1980.

Why? He published fewer than 10 papers after his groundbreaking work in 1964.
Read 10 tweets
All the horrible things I have thought and done during my #PhD that I was absolutely sure nobody else was thinking or doing

(but which, actually, they all absolutely were)

#phdlife #phdchat #phdtips #academicchatter #academictwitter @ThePhDPlace @PhD_Genie
🗯️ They're going to figure out that I'm not actually capable of doing this work

🗯️ I have no idea what I'm doing

🗯️ I don't think I'm ever going to figure out how to plan and structure this thesis
🗯️ I don't even get the most basic theories in my field that everyone else seems to be quoting off the top of their heads

🗯️ I've honestly never heard of Foucault / Bourdieu / Irigaray / Donna Haraway until right now (theories we 'should' all know in feminist/gender studies)
Read 26 tweets
The more I read recommendation letters, the less I want to rely on them.

Many people will disagree with me. But I will still say that:

#AcademicChatter #phdlife #research Image
1. Recommendation letters promote elitism.
“You are not from a famous advisor’s group..? Sorry, you don’t belong here.”

2. When poorly written, a recommendation letter devaluates the candidate.
“This student has such a dull reference… It’s clearly not for us.”
3. Recommendation letters is a way to indirectly control and even intimidate students and postdocs.
“You don’t want to spend 15 hours a day on your research? But then how can I write a good recommendation letter for you?”
Read 11 tweets
Unpopular opinion: There isn't actually anything you HAVE TO DO in your #PhD or #research>>>

🧵

#phdlife #phdchat #phdtip #academictwitter #academicchatter
Yeah, yeah, I know all the agency vs structure people are going to crawl up my arsehole now and get very angry.

But what about privilege?!
But what about systemic oppressions?

Okay but hear me out first...
Apart from things like, say, breathing, there are few things that we inherently HAVE TO DO

Whenever we say we *have* to do something, it is actually a choice we are making about what we prioritise + value more

I'm not saying this is easy
or that the choices are equally weighted
Read 25 tweets
Academic Writing is a skill all on it’s own. And it can be a hard one to master.

Luckily there are now AI tools that can teach you how to be a better academic writer.

Here are 3 ways Paperpal helped me:

🧵below

#academia #phdlife #phdchat #science #AcademicChatter #phdvoice
Paperpal is an AI tool that has been trained on millions of academic research papers.

It understands how manuscripts are written and supports over 1300 subject areas.

Paperpal can give grammar and language suggestions that actually improve your manuscript while you write.
And I love using the MS word plug in it to write my manuscript !

As a non-native English speaker I'd say my English is pretty good, but sometimes finding the right word or synonym to get my point across can be a hassle. And I'm never 1 to pass up ways to improve my writing!
Read 9 tweets
Let's learn a few things about Behavioral Economics and Behavioral Science

🧵

#EconTwitter #AcademicTwitter #phdlife @PhDVoice #economics

(1/9)
Behavioral Economics focuses on how behavior affects economic decisions and outcomes, while Behavioral Science focuses on the study of behavior more broadly and its influences across multiple domains.

While they are related, they differ in their scope and focus.

(2/9)
Behavioral economics (BE) emerged as a response to the traditional assumption that people are perfectly rational and make decisions based solely on self-interest. It recognized that people's decisions are often influenced by factors such as framing, heuristics, and biases.

(3/9)
Read 9 tweets
Say goodbye to high #ArticleProcessingCharges!

Here is the ultimate guide to publishing your next paper for FREE: 🧵👇

#AcademicChatter
#AcademicTwitter #openaccess #postdoc
@PostdocVoice @OpenAcademics @StoriesImg
@ThePhDPlace #phdlife #phd
1. DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals - 1) Go to DOAJ.org 2) Search for journals 3) Apply filter "Without: APCs"

After finding a journal, check if they're indexed or not.

I was surprised by the number and quality of articles I saw on DOAJ.
2. University Agreements: Your University may have an agreement with specific scientific journals to publish articles for FREE or at a reduced cost.

Check your University's website for details. @UofT, for example, has 100% waivers with 8 publishers:
onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/copyright/apc-…
Read 14 tweets
Presenting a paper at an academic conference can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you make a great impression! 📈💻

A thread 🧵

#AcademicConference #PresentationTips #phdlife @PhDVoice @Phd_Reality
2/9
1. Know your audience: Tailor your presentation to the specific conference and attendees. 🤝#KnowYourAudience
3/9
Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to become comfortable with the material. 💪 #PracticeMakesPerfect
Read 9 tweets
How to become a Scientific Illustrator? 🔬🎨🖌️
I receive this question almost every day. Below is some information and tips on how to become a scientific illustrator! Ask me any questions in the comments!
#illustration #sciart #career #phd #phdlife Image
1) Develop your artistic skills: Scientific illustration is a highly specialized field, and it requires a high level of skill in illustration, drawing, and design. Take classes in art, drawing, and graphic design to develop your skills.
2) Learn about the scientific subject matter: Scientific illustrators need to have a deep understanding of the scientific concepts they are illustrating. Take courses in the sciences, such as biology, physics, or chemistry, to gain a solid foundation in the subject matter.
Read 10 tweets
I have written 300+ peer-reviewed scientific papers in the last 15 years with more than 27,000 citations.

Here is how I use sentence templates to write abstracts at lightning speed. ↓

@acm_chi @academicvoices @PhDVoice @PhD_Genie #AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #phdlife
Most abstracts follow this 3-act mini paper structure:

1. Study purpose & background

2. Methods, analysis, main results

3. Takeaways: Meaning, contribution, limitations & future research

Let's give you some sentence templates to steal for each part below.
1.a Study Purpose

• This research aims to investigate/analyze/examine the causes of/the relationship between…

• The objective of this work is to understand/elucidate/uncover…

• The aim of this study is to provide/generate/develop a comprehensive understanding of…
Read 13 tweets
Most academic writing is awful at concision.

It's always:

• Verbose verbiage
• Prolix prose
• Jumbled jargon

Horrible to read.

Here's how top academic writers tweak their text. ↓
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #phdlife #phdvoice #phdstudent Hero image with text in front of yellow background (with pat
1. 'Irregardless' is a word, but don't use it.

The dictionary shows it's a word but also labels it as non-standard and incorrect in standard English.

Use either 'irrespective' or 'regardless.' This shows the dictionary definition of irregardless. Irrega
2. There is more than one way to write the possessive form of a word that ends in S.

Most academics are used to AP style, where the possessive of a word ending in S gets an apostrophe.

→ James' paper

But Chicago style recommends against that for clarity.

→ James's paper Two different styles of possessives ending in S from The Chi
Read 10 tweets
I just reviewed 60 PhD applications for the General Epi Methods track in the @JohnsHopkinsEPI.

The personal statement has a huge impact on my decision-making for who to invite to interview.

Here are my tips for writing your PhD application personal statement.

#PhDlife
Tip 1: Show your passion using concise language that is compelling but does not sacrifice professionalism.

You do NOT have to disclose personal information. Make and keep your boundaries.
Tip 3: Convey grit and emotional intelligence. #PhDlife is filled with problems that need careful thought, response (after and aside from reaction), and dedication to finding solutions.
Read 9 tweets
Create the perfect digital Lab Notebook 📒🧪🧬 that links to your Reference Manager and Notes!

A Step by Step guide using Obsidian + Calendar Plugin:

⬇️

#phdlife #phdchat #phdvoice #phdforum #phd #AcademicTwitter #AcademicTwitter Image
1. Install @obsdmd to create your first vault.

If you are in academia and have not worked with Obsidian yet, then your world is changed forever today 😮 (Check out why, here: buff.ly/3j8bl3d)

Let's move on to creating our lab notebook... Image
@obsdmd 2. Let's install the Calendar Plugin.

- Go to the Obsidian preferences
- Click "Community Plugins"
- Click "Browse"
- Search for "Calendar"
- Install and Enable the plugin ImageImageImage
Read 10 tweets
Its always difficult to take the first step, its always challenging to dive into a new domain. Happy that all the hard works brought the fruit eventually. Read our work from @RajeshPandeyLab @IGIBSocial @AcSIR_India on #singlecell #multiomics
The story highlights how important it is to understand the effect of #SARSCoV2 even after recovered from #COVID19 and how strength of #MachineLearning can be used for developing #disease #Biomarkers
This was indeed a challenging task, both on #Biology and #Bioinformatics front, but learnt a lot apart from the science part of it, especially #teamwork and #timemanagement.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #phdlife
Read 5 tweets
Discovering how to use reference management software is a key research skill and will save you time.

Here are 3 reasons why you should start learning now ↓

#PhDLife #PhdChat #AcademicTwitter #OpenScience
@PhDfriendSana @OpenAcademics @yourPhDpal
1. Saves you time.

Organisation on autopilot by creating:
- tags
- folders
- star favourite papers for quick access
- organize by author/topic/project/date/journal etc.

Never worry about losing a paper again.
2. Automatic citation generation.

Construct bibliographies and cite your sources using the citation style you've chosen (e.g. APA, Harvard, MLA, IEEE, Vancouver).

Ensuring consistency compared to manual referencing.
Read 4 tweets

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