Academic Skills

10 tips on how to use reference management software smartly and efficiently

Most researchers nowadays use reference management tools, but many fail to take advantage of the useful features that these software programs offer besides generating bibliographies. Here are 10 tips and tricks that help you to optimise the use of your…
How to organize and structure academic panel discussions

Panel discussions often appear intimidating, as high-profile events featuring expert discussions at academic conferences. But what precisely are panel discussions, what different types exist, and how can you embark on organizing one yourself? Here is your ultimate guide to understanding,…
Reviewer comments: examples for common peer review decisions

Peer-reviewing an academic manuscript is not an easy task. Especially if you are unsure about how to formulate your feedback. Examples of reviewer comments can help! Here you can find an overview of sample comments and examples for the most…
Minor revisions: Sample peer review comments and examples

‘Minor revisions’ means that a manuscript only has to undergo small changes and improvements before it can be published in an academic journal. If you review a manuscript and struggle to formulate your feedback to reflect a ‘minor revisions’ verdict,…
Major revisions: Sample peer review comments and examples

‘Major revisions’ is one of the most common peer review decisions. It means that the peer reviewer considers a manuscript suitable for publication if the authors rectify some major shortcomings. As a peer reviewer, it is useful to learn about…
Revise and resubmit: Sample peer review comments and examples

A ‘revise and resubmit’ decision means that a manuscript has potential but cannot be considered for publication in its current form. Learn more about the reasons for a ‘revise and resubmit’ decision, and have a look at sample peer review…
Reject decisions: Sample peer review comments and examples

A ‘reject’ verdict means that a manuscript is not considered suitable to be published in an academic journal. Out of all editorial decisions, a ‘reject decision’ on a manuscript is the harshest. Therefore, it is important to reject a manuscript…
Types of editorial decisions after peer review (+ how to react)

After submitting their manuscripts to academic journals, authors receive one of several editorial decisions: ‘desk reject’, ‘revise and resubmit’, ‘major revisions’, ‘minor revisions’, or ‘paper accepted.’ Learn what these editorial decisions precisely mean, and how to react. Contents The meaning…
The different stages in the manuscript publication process

Submitting a manuscript to an academic journal is a big step. It is also the beginning of a complex publication process in which a manuscript goes through different stages. In each stage, the status of a manuscript changes. Understanding this…
The best Coursera courses for PhD researchers in 2023

Online courses can greatly benefit PhD students. However, the vast number of available courses can be overwhelming and makes it hard to choose. Therefore, this list contains the best online courses provided on Coursera that are relevant to PhD researchers…