Time for a thread, this is for #ECRchat #AcademicChatter tips for new graduate students/post-docs in the current #COVID19 climate, esp those #workingfromhome. First, stay calm. We are all in this together, we will get through this. Priorities are to be safe, happy & healthy. 1/16
There are many things you can do from home (note- you will need a device & internet access for the majority, if you don’t then access printed copies of publications). This is for grad students/post-docs starting in a new field but may be useful for all. First, read papers. 2/16
Start by reading reviews in your research topic. Your lab head is a start, either their own or suggestions. If you don’t know how to access papers, find out what electronic platform your research field regularly uses to search for publications with key words. Mine is PubMed. 3/16
Familiarise yourself with the terminology that is new to you- look up the meaning of unfamiliar words. Read the same review numerous times until you understand it. Then start accessing key papers cited in the reviews & read them. Learn how to critique these papers. Tips next 4/16
Ignore the abstract. Read the paper thoroughly a number of times. Then write an abstract that summarises what the paper aimed to do & what the main findings were. Restrict this to 250 words (limit for many journals). Then compare your abstract to that of the paper. 5/16
Repeat for other papers. When you are confident in this ignore the title of the next paper. Read it then write a title that best describes the key findings of the paper, limiting yourself to 120 characters incl spaces. Compare to the published title. Repeat. 6/16
Next, read through the methods section (often these are in supplementary docs due to main manuscript word limits, although many papers published less recently have detailed methods sections in the main doc). If you are new to research, compare published methods in the field. 7/16
Are the methods sound? Do they have appropriate controls (the controls are the most important part of every expt- without controls to compare to the data are meaningless). Are the expts performed more than once to prove reproducibility? Are there adequate # of replicates? 8/16
Was appropriate statistical analysis performed? If you are not sure, start learning statistics (this will keep you busy!). There are many free online statistical tutorials- familiarise yourself with statistics and you will be in great shape for your research career! 9/16
Once you have mastered critiquing methods, move to results. Look at each set of data & interpret it yourself (again, compare pubs in your field). Write down what the data show. Do you agree with the interpretation of the authors? If not, why not? Note that you may be right! 10/16
Investigate each Figure for soundness. Is the data solid or is there evidence of data duplication/manipulation (follow @MicrobiomDigest to learn how to do this). Data integrity is essential, yet many papers get published with flaws that were not caught. Learn how to ID. 11/16
After mastering data interpretation (results), read the Discussion. This summarises key findings & compares to relevant findings published by others. Do you agree with the authors or have they overinterpreted their findings (or have they overlooked/misinterpreted others)? 12/16
Revisit the paper after having thoroughly dissected it and determine if the title and abstract are supported by the data or if the paper has been overinterpreted (this can often happen so if you disagree don’t be alarmed, you might be right!). 13/16
Then revisit the review that cited that paper (if this is how you found the paper). Did the authors of the review interpret the key findings of the paper in the same way as you or do you disagree (they can also be wrong, many can cite the findings of others incorrectly!). 14/16.
If your lab has a recent unpublished manuscript draft ask if you can read it- review this. Learning how to read & properly critique a paper takes time. If your expts have been slowed down/delayed due to the current disruptions, take the time to learn now. Persevere! 15/16
Finally, familiarise yourself with the literature in your field. If you have a defined project, plan expts that you can do to address the aims of your project (don’t forget your controls!). If not defined, think of the qs that need addressing and plan. Enjoy the challenge! 16/16
