Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is “timing.” It waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way – Fulton J. Sheen Previous articles in this series: The door to an academic science career – open or closed? Commencing the academic job […]

Today we’re pleased to have a guest post from incoming CAPS/ACSP Chair Joe Sparling on Employment Insurance for early career researchers… Dr. Joseph S. Sparling is a postdoctoral scholar studying neurodegenerative disease in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. He is the current president of his local postdoctoral association (PDAC), an outspoken advocate […]

There are, of course, nuances to formulating a budget, and it’s highly advisable to consult with someone who is experienced and understands the politics of the department you are applying to before committing. To help, I’ve asked my friend Damien Wilpitz of Experimental Design Consulting to contribute a number of articles on the details of […]

In December of this year, a very interesting law comes into effect in the United States. In an effort to address unfair overtime hours across the country, the new law makes it illegal for people to work unpaid overtime hours if their salary is below (a surprisingly high) threshold of $47,476. As our readers have […]

There are, of course, nuances to formulating a budget, and it’s highly advisable to consult with someone who is experienced and understands the politics of the department you are applying to before committing. To help, I’ve asked my friend Damien Wilpitz of Experimental Design Consulting to contribute a number of articles on the details of […]

Last week, I stumbled across a Princeton professor’s oddly entitled “CV of failures” (PDF) and obviously I fancied a click-through to give it a look. It, and its accompanying introduction from Johannes Haushofer, were a good read and an even better reality check. As he says in this introduction, “failures are often invisible” and I […]

In this guest post, Damien Wilpitz details how to negotiate a start-up package that reflects your needs.

David Kent breaks down an eLife article that suggests peer review scores cannot distinguish very good grants from excellent grants. In fact, at a certain point in the process, it is pretty much a random lottery.

“If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.” – Albert Einstein   “In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake … That is why academic politics are so bitter.” – Wallace Stanley Sayre (Sayre’s law) To read the previous articles in this series […]

Before I get into recapping the last few months of activity on the blog, I want to make a plea to all Canadian postdocs to fill out the 2016 survey of Canadian Postdoctoral Fellows. Last time (in 2013), the survey made big waves capturing the views of nearly 2,000 Canadian postdoctoral fellows. Major findings included that […]

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. – Amelia Earhart To read the previous articles in this […]

Over the past few months I have been doing some semi-regular teaching at the undergraduate level. It’s been a while since I have taught, aside from an odd lecture here or there. However, one thing has become very clear to me: the further I go in research, the less I’m meant to teach the next […]

To read the previous articles in this series please visit the links below: The door to an academic science career – open or closed? Commencing the academic job search – impetus and deadlines The academic job search – getting your foot in the door Preparing your application package for an academic job Preparing for the […]

Let’s focus our evaluations on the research rather than the person completing it.

A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are found in it, not pleasure. What is pleasant belongs to dreams. – Simone Weil  To read the previous articles in this series please visit the links below: The door to an academic science career – open or closed? Commencing the […]

Focus your efforts and don’t waste other people’s time.

If you are not sure what you want to do for a living, that message comes out loud and clear in the interview. To read the previous articles in this series please visit the links below: The door to an academic science career – open or closed? Commencing the academic job search – impetus and […]

I’m being applauded for taking parental leave, yet my partner – also a scientist – faces the usual obstacles for her maternity leave.

Most importantly: remember your audience.

Jonathan and I want to wish our readers a very happy new year. In 2016 we want to continue to expand the back and forth with readers as we compile things for our book based on Black Hole ideas and discussion. We’re delighted to be working with superstar editor Angela Jameson Potts on getting these […]