Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #millertwittertakeover
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#MillerTwitterTakeover "I am having trouble getting lost in details & am almost forgetting the big picture. Any advice on how to keep up with both details & big picture?"
In epi training, we spend a huge amount of time learning epi methods. That is a good thing, but...
WCM 1/n
In epi training, we spend a huge amount of time learning epi methods. That is a good thing, but...
WCM 1/n
We really must remember that all of the methods are for one purpose & one purpose only...to answer a scientific question. It's essential that you keep the question in mind as you work through the methods, or you might end up answering a question you didn't ask. 2/n
So, be sure that your question is super-clear in your head & on paper. I suggest that when you sit down to code or review your results, review your question first. Put it on your monitor or wall. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover "Eager to hear your thoughts on applying for F31s or R36 as a predoc. Some think it’s great to practice writing grants/show you can get federal funding; others think it’s too time consuming & more impt. to focus on publishing."
I like this question. WCM 1/n
I like this question. WCM 1/n
I love it when predocs write a predoc NIH F31 (or R36 (dissertation award)). If successful, it shows initiative & ability to succeed in that space. We often note when a faculty candidate had an F31 or F32...always positively. I'd consider an F31 worth several papers. 2/n
And as a chair, an F31 does one other important thing--it frees up money for another PhD student.
Yes, you should write papers, but the graduate school experience is more than just papers, and grants are one skill to acquire. 3/n
Yes, you should write papers, but the graduate school experience is more than just papers, and grants are one skill to acquire. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover Could you please talk about dealing with a mountain of rejection as an ECR?...no idea what normal numbers of rejections/paper are...I think the arbitrariness of journal/award/grant decisions is difficult to understand/move past.
I'll give it a shot WCM 1/n
I'll give it a shot WCM 1/n
With a paper, I identify reach, good, & safe journals. Reach=I'd love for it to be there, good=I'd be happy for it to be there, & safe=I'll be ok with that. Sometimes, you need more than one safe journal. But I often am rejected x1, sometimes x2, & occasionally x3 2/n
Journal decisions are based on quality & fit. Sometimes, the quality is just fine, but the fit is not. Fit may be based on the readership, topic, or sometimes the impact of the study. So, you may be rejected for fit, rather than quality. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover As an early career epidemiologist, I find it difficult to stay up to date in my interest areas, while also learning the foundations of epi methods in my coursework. Do you have any tips that may be helpful?
1) follow @EpiEllie
WCM 1/n
1) follow @EpiEllie
WCM 1/n
2) Be sure to look at the TOC for @AmJEpi, @EpidemiologyLWW, & IJE. Ideally have them emailed to you.
3) SER webinars
4) Be sure to set aside time, in your calendar, to read. It's easy to let other things get in the way.
5) Form a journal club
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3) SER webinars
4) Be sure to set aside time, in your calendar, to read. It's easy to let other things get in the way.
5) Form a journal club
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6) Use an automated lit search to deliver papers in your interest areas to you weekly
7) as a student, keep taking 1 class/semester, even when you're doing your dissertation
8) Be sure to take advantage of workshops before conferences.
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7) as a student, keep taking 1 class/semester, even when you're doing your dissertation
8) Be sure to take advantage of workshops before conferences.
3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover Networking: Since networking is impt. to jobs & success after you have one, & it relates to another question I'll answer, I guess I should talk about it. Disclaimer: I am as introverted as they come & hate networking, esp. with people I don't know.WCM 1/n
My early career poster strategy was to stand next to it & if someone came up to look at it, I'd walk away like it wasn't mine & start looking at another poster. Don't do that. 😄 But you can learn to network & manage those introverted tendencies, if you have them. 2/n
1) Set reasonable expectations. How many conversations can you manage in a day at a conference? Pick a #, say 3-4, & make that your goal.
2) Choose any bigshots you want to meet ahead of time. Email them, or better yet, have your mentor email them & ask if to meet at a break.3/n
2) Choose any bigshots you want to meet ahead of time. Email them, or better yet, have your mentor email them & ask if to meet at a break.3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover So after 3 hours of talking about syphilis, opioids in OH, and HIV/opioids in Vietnam, I'm back to answer some more questions.
I'll answer another postdoc question: What makes an attractive postdoc candidate? WCM 1/n
I'll answer another postdoc question: What makes an attractive postdoc candidate? WCM 1/n
I think key things to be attractive for a postdoc are: 1) your match with the mentor (are you interested in similar things?); 2) do you have the skills needed or a foundation for those skills? In many postdocs, it's definitely ok/expected to learn more new methods. 2/n
3) What has your research record been? Publications are impt. but not the only way to have been productive. And publication quality would matter. That being said, working on at least one side project beyond your dissertation is helpful. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover What are your 3 main pieces of advice for early faculty years (first 1-2 years)? What are some of the DOs and DONTs you swear by? #ECR
1) Find out your uni's expectations annual & promotion-grants, papers, teaching, independence from prev. mentors. WCM 1/n
1) Find out your uni's expectations annual & promotion-grants, papers, teaching, independence from prev. mentors. WCM 1/n
Independence from previous mentors can be tricky, esp for those that work with big cohort data, like ARIC. So, being clear what is expected is key. It's a must to know how papers are valued: #, quality, impact factor, citations. Also, for grants, will a K be valued? 2/n
2) Find a mentor TEAM. One person will not be enough. You want substantive & professional development mentors. You may want people that look like you & that's a good thing, but sometimes for people of color, those folks aren't in your field. Meet with them & listen to them. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover What were your biggest struggles as a new researcher? How have those changed? What are your biggest struggles now? How do you work through those struggles?
I'll begin by saying my PhD is in neuroscience. I have more training than anyone should have. WCM 1/n
I'll begin by saying my PhD is in neuroscience. I have more training than anyone should have. WCM 1/n
When I was doing my extended MPH after an MD-PhD & ID fellowship, I struggled with a real feeling of failure. Why was I in school again? Why was I doing a 2nd fellowship? But I was also lucky-I loved epidemiology. So even though I was late to the game, I had found my way home.2/n
And I had #impostersyndrome. I also struggled with seeing some projects through to completion.
Now, I still struggle with those. But I have surrounded myself with colleagues who help me manage projects. If I were working alone, I'd be a disaster. Just ask @prof_klancaster 3/n
Now, I still struggle with those. But I have surrounded myself with colleagues who help me manage projects. If I were working alone, I'd be a disaster. Just ask @prof_klancaster 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover What do you do to help students with #impostersyndrome? I talk about imposter syndrome a lot, actually. The % of people-faculty, postdocs, students-that have it in some form is probably >80-90%. But few folks know that everyone else has it too. WCM 1/n
I often start by asking if they know about #impostersyndrome & ask them to describe what they experience. Then I talk about my own version. As a junior fac, I tried to teach myself every method I or a student needed, so that the other fac wouldn't find out I didn't know. 2/n
I didn't want other faculty to know that I was posing. Then I talk about how I still experience it, as a researcher, chair, & journal editor. It's not as severe now, I guess, but I still have it. I mean, why in the world would #epitwitter care about #MillerTwitterTakeover? 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover postdoc#2 Key ingredients for a good postdoc include: a good mentor (absolute necessity), time to do your own work, institutional support-grant writing seminars, for example. Think about whether you're a candidate for a K-award (see next) WCM 1/n
As a postdoc, you can write a K99/R00, which gives 2 yrs postdoc & has R00 (mini R01) funding for 1st years as faculty. Also K22 at some institutes. Finally, consider drafting a K01. You can't submit it, but it is a great marketing tool, if you can align mentor at new univ. 2/n
Keys to marketability: make sure all dissertation papers published (though I never published mine). # of pubs will vary by year. You may have less in first year, and more later. We know it takes time. Also quality is v. impt. Your postdoc is great time to show off your skills.3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover On postdocs (apologies that this is U.S-centric). Postdocs some in a few varieties: NIH-sponsored T32 (training grant), NIH F32 (individual grant), R01 (or equiv) sponsored, foundation sponsored, industry sponsored. Each has its own expectations. 1/n WCM
T32's usu. have a few slots. They often like when people come from outside the univ. Look on NIH Reporter for them in your field. F32's are written by postdoc, usually in year 1 or 2 of postdoc. R01 mean you're on someone's grant. Foundation grants are like F32-applied for. 2/n
Some uni's have industry-sponsored slots, esp. in pharmacoepi. With T32, F32, foundation, you have more freedom to work on your own area of interest. With R01, you're part of that bigger project, and generally your work will support that. 3/n
#MillerTwitterTakeover I'll begin with some time management advice. On my desk, I have this glass mug with stones in it. It reminds me to "put the rocks in first", which means first thing everyday, do the big things before working on the sand. WCM 1/n 
If you try to put the sand in first, there is no room for the rocks. So, each morning, I try to keep my calendar free until 11a. It doesn't always work, esp. for meetings I don't control. But my norm is to write, edit, & think in the morning when my brain works best. 2/n
A related strategy is to "pay yourself first." That means your work (your dissertation, your papers, your proposal, your analyses) is more important than something you're doing for someone else. Use your brainpower for your own work, give your less functional time to your job.
