Graduate school can be very difficult, but it can also be an extremely rewarding period of your life. On this page, I've assembled some thoughts and links that I think might be useful advice for those considering, or already in, graduate school.
For those thinking about how to be successful in graduate school:
Gu and Bourne's explanation of 10 simple rules for graduate students gives excellent advice on how to get the most out of your time as a graduate student.
Stearns and Huey's classic exchange about what to expect from graduate school.
Kearns and Gardiner on the care and maintenance of your advisor.
For those thinking about overall creativity, choosing a topic, and science in general:
I really like this piece by Martin Shwartz, which, despite the title, isn't really about the importance of stupidity in scientific research, but about admitting that we don't know the answers to many interesting questions, and that this is what research is all about.
There are also many good things written about creativity in science, among them George Bartholomew's 1982 essay about innovation and creativity in zoology.
On good (scientific) writing, check out:
William Wells, "Me write pretty one day"
KenLertzman, "Notes on writing papers and theses"
Finally, I am always interested in the issue of women in science and the life/work balance.
The amount of time invested in housework and childcare varies greatly with gender in dual career couples (hint: female scientists do nearly twice the housework of male scientists) as shown by Londa Schiebinger and Shannon K. Gilmartin, on "Academe Online" in Housework is an academic issue.
Also in Academe Online, check out Why graduate students reject the fast track, which has some interesting antidotes to help fix some broken aspects of academia relative to finding the work/life balance.
There are also some great webpages that compile advice for grad students and scientists. Two I like in particular are:
Emily Bernhardt's site at The Bernhardt Lab @ Duke.
Spencer Hall's grad resources page is filled with links to great advice on topics such as writing, being a graduate student, getting a job, and much more.
For those thinking about how to be successful in graduate school:
Gu and Bourne's explanation of 10 simple rules for graduate students gives excellent advice on how to get the most out of your time as a graduate student.
Stearns and Huey's classic exchange about what to expect from graduate school.
Kearns and Gardiner on the care and maintenance of your advisor.
For those thinking about overall creativity, choosing a topic, and science in general:
I really like this piece by Martin Shwartz, which, despite the title, isn't really about the importance of stupidity in scientific research, but about admitting that we don't know the answers to many interesting questions, and that this is what research is all about.
There are also many good things written about creativity in science, among them George Bartholomew's 1982 essay about innovation and creativity in zoology.
On good (scientific) writing, check out:
William Wells, "Me write pretty one day"
KenLertzman, "Notes on writing papers and theses"
Finally, I am always interested in the issue of women in science and the life/work balance.
The amount of time invested in housework and childcare varies greatly with gender in dual career couples (hint: female scientists do nearly twice the housework of male scientists) as shown by Londa Schiebinger and Shannon K. Gilmartin, on "Academe Online" in Housework is an academic issue.
Also in Academe Online, check out Why graduate students reject the fast track, which has some interesting antidotes to help fix some broken aspects of academia relative to finding the work/life balance.
There are also some great webpages that compile advice for grad students and scientists. Two I like in particular are:
Emily Bernhardt's site at The Bernhardt Lab @ Duke.
Spencer Hall's grad resources page is filled with links to great advice on topics such as writing, being a graduate student, getting a job, and much more.
