Unexpected Perks of Editing for a Journal

Fighty Squirrel, PhD, Awe.Some.

Six months into being a Reviewing Editor for Journal of Neuroscience and my top favorite things, in no particular order, are: 1) Sending out “Your Manuscript has been Accepted” emails.  This …

Prevent the Email Faux Pas That Gets You Fired: Read Send

Rebecca Helton, MA

Did you know that signing an email with “Sincerely” instead of “Best regards” can irrevocably alter your relationship with a colleague?  Or that “please” and “thank you” can be anything …

I'm the Problem: My Generation's Addiction to Bibliometrics

The Edge for Scholars

Publication-based measures of scientific impact provide little of value to the research community. Despite assertions that bibliometrics can improve the evaluation of scientists and their establishments, we lack a qualitative …

Making Lemonade: A Retraction Watch Interview

Fighty Squirrel, PhD, Awe.Some.

Retraction. Its a word that for many scientists is synonymous with phrases like ‘failure’, ‘dishonesty’, and ‘career ending’. A recent Retraction Watch features an interview with Pamela Roland, a Professor …

Face It: Your Decks Will Never Be Cleared

Rebecca Helton, MA

One of the most widespread myths in academic writing is that you can, and should, try to “clear the decks”—that is, finish all of your other obligations before you …

Random Reflections on Getting Published

The Edge for Scholars

Kirsten Bell, associate editor for Critical Public Health, spills the beans on what it takes to get published, including strategic submission dates, how to challenge an editorial decision, and doing …

Writing Environments

The Edge for Scholars

Writing is an inherently social activity — we write for others — that we most often undertake in solitude. This is one of writing’s great contradictions. We write for an audience, …

Expectations for Trainee Publication Output

Rebecca Helton, MA

A question arrived about publication expectations for trainees at the blog mailbox recently. “I was wondering if you would consider a blog post and perhaps encouraging discussion on a related …

PLoS One and Stupid CV Tricks

Rebecca Helton, MA

More is better, yes, when it comes to publications. But beyond that, that you should have some idea of the expectations for your field. Especially when it comes to first-author …

Shut Up and Write

Rebecca Helton, MA

As we head into a new semester, you may be making writing goals for the new year.  The following article has some great suggestions for how to motivate and keep …