tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post1501845927831222997..comments2024-03-18T06:11:04.848-07:00Comments on The Curious Wavefunction: The road not taken: Do you have the courage to let go?Wavefunctionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-56479012510238674812011-03-14T17:49:30.486-07:002011-03-14T17:49:30.486-07:00Thank you for sharing your story. Particularly res...Thank you for sharing your story. Particularly resonated with me, and likely other women scientists at the early stages of their career, who find ourselves at a crossroads between prioritizing our career because of the significant time investment we've already made, or pursuing what we truly want in life (which may be something other than a career in academic research).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-91588827866239291632011-03-02T09:48:28.374-08:002011-03-02T09:48:28.374-08:00That's a very accurate and wise observation! T...That's a very accurate and wise observation! To some extent self-delusion is not just important for success in science but it's necessary. It's not easy to keep on going and working on something unless you think it's the most important thing in the world. You are quite right that in science, being too hard on yourself can definitely be detrimental and having a slightly inflated sense of the importance of your work can help. You probably need to have some kind of "Inverse Imposter Syndrome".Wavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-30018327499037945822011-02-25T14:51:51.731-08:002011-02-25T14:51:51.731-08:00I've been thinking about Weston's article ...I've been thinking about Weston's article for a few weeks now, and I wonder if accurate self-assessment was the kiss of death for her career. If she had only been more delusional about her abilities and the relative importance of her research in the world of chemistry, she may have worked harder at promoting herself, getting connections, and selling her science. <br /> Ironically, some of the personal qualities that are necessary for good science - to see reality as accurately as possible - could be a detriment for one's career.Jameshttp://masterorganicchemistry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-23557565979453667782011-02-07T14:59:30.410-08:002011-02-07T14:59:30.410-08:00I completely agree Felix. As the late Nobel laurea...I completely agree Felix. As the late Nobel laureate Nevill Mott used to say "If the work is good, it will be read". We tend to worry too much about impact factors and journals.Wavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-29430950032334582322011-02-07T13:24:29.208-08:002011-02-07T13:24:29.208-08:00i never like it when my boss tells me: do this - i...i never like it when my boss tells me: do this - it will get you into this journal. this is not necessary - it will not get you into that journal ...<br />there should be some other measure of why you are doing things, except for what impact factor the journal might have where you could publish it<br />but i guess as soon as you start like that and have a big group to feed you don't have any other option than worrying mostly about that. if that's how the funding is arrangedFelixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05138335803929997277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-90675664373108037662011-02-06T18:01:31.427-08:002011-02-06T18:01:31.427-08:00I agree, and thanks all for the kind wordsI agree, and thanks all for the kind wordsWavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-16748797919815377842011-02-05T04:50:47.929-08:002011-02-05T04:50:47.929-08:00nice post
thank you for drawing my attention to th...nice post<br />thank you for drawing my attention to this very interesting articleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-31695379197517896702011-02-04T22:02:32.384-08:002011-02-04T22:02:32.384-08:00These are definitely hard times for young research...These are definitely hard times for young researchers.<br /><br />This has been quite a week: first the well-written piece in C&EN stating in a very clear way the awful reality of Ph.D training and the lack of jobs in academy. Then, Pfizer shuts down one of its most famous research sites firing thousands of researchers. Now, Kathy Weston presents more awful truths of academic world.<br /><br />The phrase quoted by the comment above could not be more truth. Sad might be the fact that a large fraction of the traditional process of science is probably completely disrupted in most places today. We really need a revolution, a change in the way scientific achievements are measured, the whole peer review system, the way collaborations are done, the manner in which most graduate and post-doc students are being mentored/advised, and so many other things that need to be changed. Unfortunately, opposite forces seem to be dominating, despite the fact that everybody knows the current system is not working, and it hard to believe things will start to change soon.<br /><br />Other than that, this was another well-written and interesting post from one of the best science blogs I have ever read.Raphael R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9633767.post-26916825127761684862011-02-04T18:00:02.096-08:002011-02-04T18:00:02.096-08:00Brave indeed to realize that.
You mention:"y...Brave indeed to realize that.<br /><br />You mention:"you should pursue a career in scientific research only if you are deeply interested in the process of science itself"<br /><br />I know some scientists who are, or rather, were like that. But the cold hard daily life of research changed many of them. To a big part because of the immense pressure to be successful and secure funding and commit to promising research only. No space to follow up what really interests you as you need that nature paper within x years...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com