Two | 2023
A selection of current news items for managers of Early Career Researchers.
Note: Access to some of the publications referenced here is metered and/or involves a free registration of basic details, and we hope you find the material worth any such inconvenience. We try our best not to include paywalled articles, but there are sometimes differences between jurisdictions. We hope that your institution’s subscriptions will allow you to see any pieces that do turn out to be restricted in your location.
Research matters
The risks of seeking attention. Is the drive by universities and their scholars to get their work noticed corrupting the research enterprise itself?
The citation game. A new paper from a leading HE institute tells a brief history of research communication and questions the credibility and prospects of ‘the commercially-mediated research economy’.
Problems with PAYG. The move by many journals to levy Article Processing Charges risks increasing publication rates of papers that are of less value to research and the public good.
Pernicious and pervasive. A leading research fraud watchdog estimates there should be 100,000 retractions each year, and that only 20% are due to honest error.
Plan for impact. Two options for working publications into a broader strategy to achieve research impact.
ECR change-makers. Examples from the US affirm that engaging with government on policy can be an effective route to societal impact.
… and a selection of articles on ChatGPT et al.’s impact on academia
Bots will ‘deskill the mental sphere’. A senior researcher fears LLMs will only impoverish our intellectual, theoretical and analytical skills.
Managing the genie. A roundup of lecturers’ first six months of dealing with students’ use of AI and what they’re planning for the future.
Gotcha (…maybe). Turnitin now features an AI-generated-text-detection score in its standard similarity report, though there are concerns about its accuracy.
Detective tech. A video demonstration of ‘clever prompting’ suggests that ChatGPT’s new ‘Custom Instructions’ function will send many AI-detection tools back to the drawing board.
De-generative AI. Nature has issued a firm ‘no’ to using AI for visual content (though a tentative ‘yes’ to AI-assisted text, for now).
Feeding the machines. Zoom strenuously denies claims that changes to its Terms of Service could lead to customer data being used to train AI robots.
Management matters
New compact for Europe’s ECRs. The European Commission is aiming to improve career paths and conditions for researchers with an update of its 2005 Framework and Charter, and a new competence structure.
Deliberate development. Much of HE internationally has done a ‘spectacularly bad job’ of managing its talent, so what might it do differently?
Let them teach. The argument against making teaching-focused academics deliver education-oriented research.
Where to for RMs? Two projects under the EU’s Horizon program are aiming to redefine the role, treatment and career pathways of research managers.
Getting ahead. Recently appointed department/school-level leaders talk through their experiences of becoming, and being, academic managers.
Spiral of experience. How we perceive and describe career progression is crucial to career guidance and development efforts.
The long goodbye. Post-PhD blues are real and common, and take time and resolve to address.
What’s in a name? A postdoc researcher’s title shouldn’t matter but, depending on the institution, it may be worth making sure that it won’t.
Time management map. How to approach planning and tracking progress in order to spend time wisely.
Effective online. As in-person events re-gather momentum, a guide (part 1 and part 2) on why, and how best to, persist with virtual conferences.
Personal press
Plotting your path. Five strategies for giving coherence and momentum to progress in a research support career.
Career compass. A mentorship development coach shares her method for finding and managing relations with good mentors.
The nimble job seeker. A higher ed professional explains what it takes to be resilient in the academic job market and recalls switching her own speciality.
Managing regrets. Feelings of loss about career paths not taken are very common, but there are ways to avoid getting hung up on them.
Assured transition. The nuances of being a ‘confident beginner’ in non-academic roles.
Prepare to stand out. Reminders that the impression you leave as an applicant extends well before and beyond an interview.
Brainstorming stroll. Make space for new ideas and perspectives with a spot of meditative exercise.
Serious research
Playfulness that sticks. For anyone who doesn’t know ASAPScience through kids, do yourselves a favour with their Periodic Table, their video shorts - and much more!
Would your PhD candidates or postdocs benefit from help with their career planning? Have a look at our Take Charge of Your Career workshop to assess the potential benefits.
"This is an empowering workshop and it's great to probe our long-term goals and prompt meaningful tangible actions to get there. Thanks very much!" (‘Take Charge’ participant, 2023)
Please contact us if you would like to explore workshop options like this for your early career researchers. We will be delighted to discuss your requirements and ideas.