- Hiring tips for new group leaders
I became familiar with the hiring process from the standpoint of an applicant, most recently as a newly recruited Assistant Professor. Despite this lived experience, being at the leading edge of hiring my own team is much less familiar. Here, I share some tips and tricks for new ...
- Finding Community on Twitter: Why I Plugged In
I have to admit, I originally thought Twitter was a useless place full of what [crazy thing] that [pop star i don’t care about] did ten minutes ago combined with destructive ramblings by internet trolls. Full GenX disclosure: I remember when the internet wasn’t a thing and usin...
- Asking Questions at Talks: Curiosity is Best When Shared
Imagine that you put in lots of time to prepare for a talk, honed it down, practiced it, stood nervously, went brilliantly through your talk as planned, and bamm! No questions. I’ve had that occur – multiple times. Not getting questions feels like a door has been slammed in my...
- Let’s Talk About Sex as a Biological Variable
I just finished an NIH study section and noted that more than half of the applications discussed did not adequately address sex as a biological variable (SABV). This is a relatively new (for some grant types) component of your grant, and while it may seem relatively minor, it is ...
- Don’t Wait Until You’re Motivated to Write. Take Small Actions!
Like one of my earlier posts, the musings below were inspired by a tweet. Sara, a PhD student, asked, “Anyone with tips on how to stay motivated while writing your dissertation?!“
Anyone who has ever written a manuscript, funding application or PhD thesis knows that writing is a...
- Honing Resiliency: Reminders from a Recent Disappointment
Match Week, when graduating medical students learn whether they matched into a residency position in their specialty of choice and where they will spend the next 3-7 years of their lives, brings a roller coaster of emotions for students and their families. Seeing the ups and down...
- How to “Do it All” (By Not Doing it All)
As an academic mom of three, I get asked all of the time how I “do it all”. Short answer: I don’t! Long answer: Check out these thoughts, tips and tricks I shared recently in a Twitter thread.
1) Set boundaries and choose exceptions carefully: Because much of academic work is...
- Crafting the RCR Section in Application & Progress Report
Let’s talk about Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) – you know, that one-page, required piece of an NIH grant application that could use a little attention. NIH released new guidance (effective September 25, 2022) that does not substantially change prior guide...
- Getting Expectations in Line with an Online Mentoring Agreement
Excellent communication underlies the mentee-mentor relationship, starting with the initial expectations, goals, and plans to achieve success together. Yet most Mentee-Mentor Agreements used by academic groups define agreements in formal legalese that often poorly fit specific nu...
- Pro Tips for Networking and Collaborating
One recently promoted PI and another more senior who both started leading large multi-site studies early in their careers shared their best advice on networking and collaborating at a recent Vanderbilt event for early career researchers.
Digna Velez Edwards, PhD
Professor, Ob...
