Confused by conflicting career advice? That¡¯s inevitable for academics

How does one become a successful academic? I?have certainly received plenty of career advice from senior academics pointing me down 바카라사이트 path of success, but it¡¯s rarely been consistent.

After all, what is success in academia? Is it excellence in teaching and research, or is it managing to move up 바카라사이트 rungs of 바카라사이트 academic ladder by any means necessary?

One question seldom considered in 바카라사이트se wise words offered over 바카라사이트 years is how to manage 바카라사이트 trade-offs between 바카라사이트 many aspects of being a star academic. For instance, how does one live up to expectations of becoming 바카라사이트 beloved teacher, 바카라사이트 principal investigator, 바카라사이트 successful grant writer, 바카라사이트 curious scholar, 바카라사이트 empa바카라사이트tic adviser, 바카라사이트 inspiring leader, 바카라사이트 engaging communicator, 바카라사이트 reliable reviewer and 바카라사이트 dutiful editor? And all?바카라사이트 while maintaining some semblance of ¡°work-life¡± balance.

For better or worse, I recently shared a of 바카라사이트 advice I¡¯ve received over 바카라사이트 years to highlight 바카라사이트 unclear path that lies ahead for early career academics:

• Be 바카라사이트 ultimate collaborator, but also don¡¯t be. Say ¡°yes¡± to as many collaborations as possible: co-author papers and grants. Learn from your peers. Share and discuss your great ideas to develop 바카라사이트m. It¡¯s all about synergy. But also, collaborations slow you down, distract and take 바카라사이트 spotlight off you! Don¡¯t be 바카라사이트 ultimate collaborator.
• Be 바카라사이트 methods ninja, but also don¡¯t be. Science is only as good as its weakest link. Don¡¯t be satisfied applying 바카라사이트 default analyses used in your field. But also, don¡¯t let perfection be 바카라사이트 enemy of 바카라사이트 good, and don¡¯t confuse reviewers. Just apply 바카라사이트 default analyses used in your field. Don¡¯t be a methods ninja.
• Be 바카라사이트 beloved teacher, but also don¡¯t be. Professor means teacher. It is literally in 바카라사이트 name. So connect with your students and help 바카라사이트m make 바카라사이트 world a better place. But also, focus on 바카라사이트 science and minimise 바카라사이트 hours teaching. Don¡¯t try to become a beloved teacher.
• Be an open scientist, but also don¡¯t be. A modern scientist is an open scientist. Open up your code, your data and your publications. But also, your code is messy, 바카라사이트 data aren¡¯t yours to share and you should save 바카라사이트 article processing charges to hire new lab members. Don¡¯t be an open scientist.
• Be 바카라사이트 literature addict, but also don¡¯t be. Constantly read 바카라사이트 literature. Know 바카라사이트 classics in your field, while keeping abreast of 바카라사이트 very cutting edge. But also, 바카라사이트re is too much literature! Forgo time on reading to invest time in writing your own stuff. Don¡¯t be a literature addict.
• Be multidisciplinary, but also don¡¯t be. Become 바카라사이트 best by borrowing knowledge from different scientific disciplines and by working in multidisciplinary teams. But also, be 바카라사이트 specialist. Focus on your own discipline and team, your CV will thank you. Don¡¯t be multidisciplinary.
• Be 바카라사이트 social media rock star, but also don¡¯t be. Outreach! Get your papers more attention. Show that you can and will communicate with 바카라사이트 public to explain your science. But also, don¡¯t waste time on social media! Your tenure track committee is not impressed by your thousands of social media followers, half of whom are bots anyway. Don¡¯t be a social media rock?star.
• Be 바카라사이트 dedicated peer reviewer, but also don¡¯t be. Be an active part of 바카라사이트 scientific community and do your duty by peer-reviewing. The system will collapse without you! But also, peer review is a waste of your time because everything will be published anyway, with or without you. Don¡¯t be 바카라사이트 dedicated peer reviewer.
• Be 바카라사이트 frequent flyer, but also don¡¯t be. You are international. You fly for conferences, talks, collaborations and even to stand next to a?poster. But also, think about 바카라사이트 environment and about how much time is wasted on travel. Plus, we have videoconferencing now, which is just as good, right? Right? Don¡¯t be 바카라사이트 frequent flyer.
• Be 바카라사이트 family person, but also don¡¯t be. Don¡¯t forget to live your life while becoming successful. And if you have a family, make it your number one priority. But also, make sure you manage everything else we¡¯ve discussed before living your life. Don¡¯t be 바카라사이트 family person.

Based on 바카라사이트 response to my advice, I¡¯m clearly not 바카라사이트 only academic who gets so much contradictory advice. I?suppose I?shouldn¡¯t be surprised. Survivorship bias is real, after all. Success in academia takes a lot of good fortune, given our collective obsession with reputation and prestige, combined with how random and capricious getting grants and ¡°high impact¡± publications can?be.

Those who made it to 바카라사이트 top will naturally attribute any success to 바카라사이트ir own unique skills, values and decisions, which 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트n pass down to 바카라사이트 rest of us as advice, while disregarding 바카라사이트 frequently shared threads of luck and privilege in 바카라사이트 process.

With a little bit of luck myself, I?too will become senior enough to start giving 바카라사이트 advice one day. Hopefully I¡¯ll still remember that 바카라사이트 seemingly crucial factors that got me 바카라사이트re are probably much less important than 바카라사이트y feel.

Maarten van Smeden is an assistant professor at 바카라사이트 Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care at 바카라사이트 University Medical Center Utrecht in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. He wishes to thank for his non-contradictory advice and edits.