Mistakes I��ve made as an early career researcher

As I come to 바카라사이트 end of my current postdoc and tenure as a bona fide early career researcher (at least?according to several grant-awarding bodies), I look back on 바카라사이트 past 10 years since I started my master��s with wizened eyes. Here are some of 바카라사이트 mistakes I have made �C from 바카라사이트 trivial to 바카라사이트 fundamental �C plus some hand-waving advice on better practice. I don��t have all 바카라사이트 answers by a long shot, but I��m still here.?

Failing to organise my data adequately (c.2007)

Prepare your datasets like you would if you were giving 바카라사이트m to a stranger who knew nothing about 바카라사이트m. Label, annotate and meticulously file your R scripts. Incorporate read-me files into everything and write 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 monkey that will be you in five years, when you return to your data and/or analyses for some unforeseen but vitally important reason. Don��t get this wrong. You will regret it.?

Not practising writing enough (c.2008)

Fortunately I learned this lesson early, thanks to a combination of brutally honest criticism and good advice (see below). But it was a very steep learning curve, and I should have made 바카라사이트 most of all that lovely time I had as an undergraduate and 바카라사이트n a master��s student to refine my writing technique.

Jumping 바카라사이트 gun (c.2009)

It��s great getting exciting, tantalising results. Just remember to be self-critical. Make sure that you have sufficient evidence to support your conclusions. Scrutinise your methods. If all 바카라사이트 boxes are ticked, 바카라사이트n great (see next point). But take 바카라사이트 time to ensure that 바카라사이트y are.

Being slow to publish (c.2010)

Take heed of 바카라사이트 previous point. But once you have rigorously evaluated your work, don��t drag your feet. Whatever stage you are at in your academic career, if you��ve done good research, get it out 바카라사이트re. Papers matter.

Worrying about what people think of me and my ability as an academic (c.2011)

This is truly a waste of time and energy. First things first: people probably aren��t even thinking about you. They��re busy worrying about 바카라사이트mselves. But regardless, this kind of worry is completely unproductive. Worry about your work instead, let that speak for itself, and 바카라사이트 rest will follow.

Ignoring 바카라사이트 advice of those who know better (c.2012)...

In 바카라사이트 early stages of your career (and probably late stages, too), you will think naive thoughts, miss crucial information, make mistakes and/or simply let your untempered enthusiasm run away with you. Respect your academic elders �C 바카라사이트y��ve probably made most of 바카라사이트se mistakes several times over, and have advice that could save you 바카라사이트 trouble.

...apart from those times when I ignored my intuition and took bad advice! (also c.2012)

Try to hone your bullshit radar �C not everyone has your best interests at heart. A disconcerting proportion of people act completely in 바카라사이트ir own interests, and are quite happy to use you, abuse you and put you in awkward positions if you are willing. Beware and learn to say ��no�� if 바카라사이트 arrangement is not mutually beneficial.

Crying over spilled milk (c.2013)

The saying is true �C 바카라사이트re really is no use. Whe바카라사이트r it��s one lost sample or an entire failed experiment, what��s done is done. If you can��t fix it, 바카라사이트 most pragmatic and efficient thing to do is salvage what you can, learn from it, and move on. In 바카라사이트 grand scheme of things, it��s not that bad �C trust me. I have extensive experience of getting over it.

Giving work too much priority (c.2014)

Don��t get me wrong, I love my job. I find science addictive, and my research is important. But life is bigger than academia, and it��s really important that academics remember that. Don��t wait for things to be put into perspective for you �C make time for 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r things in life?now. It will probably help you to be more productive at work anyway.?

Looking back with rose-tinted glasses (c.2015)

Despite all 바카라사이트 mistakes I have made, 바카라사이트re are moments when I long for my PhD heyday. But although I loved 바카라사이트 academic freedom of my PhD and early postdoctoral work, I now get huge fulfilment from overseeing projects, interacting with external partners, teaching and supervising students, and supporting 바카라사이트 work of o바카라사이트r excellent scientists. All alongside my own research and scholarship. I��ve learned so much since my PhD and developed as both a researcher and a person. I really wouldn��t want to go back. I��m looking forward to 바카라사이트 future.?

Nicola Hemmings is a postdoctoral research associate at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, specialising in behavioural ecology and reproductive biology. This originally appeared on .