Academic Skills

How to write effective cover letters for a paper submission

Some journals require a letter to the editor, also called a cover letter, as part of the submission process. This can come as a surprise to PhD and master’s students who are (relatively) new to manuscript submissions. Learn about the…
Dealing with failure as a PhD student

PhD students are extremely prone to experiencing failure. All academics are much more likely to experience failure (repeatedly) in contrast to other professions. But there are strategies to learn how to better deal with ‘academic failure’. Contents Dealing with failure…
Energy management in academia

While time management skills are praised in academia, energy management is often neglected. Learn more about energy management and explore concrete steps of how to manage your energy better. Contents Why time management in academia is not enoughWhat is energy…
How to write a convincing research statement

Research statements are a common requirement in academic job applications. A research statement presents an applicant’s research profile, past accomplishments and future research plans. Writing a convincing research statement is an art that can be learnt, and should be practised…
Co-authorship guidelines to successfully co-author a scientific paper

Collaborating on research and co-authoring a scientific journal paper is a common practice in academia. For early career scholars, co-authorship can be a great stepping stone. Five concrete co-authorship guidelines can prevent conflicts and frustrations while co-authoring academic papers. Contents…
How to peer review an academic paper

Academic journals are dependent on peer reviews to publish high-quality articles. PhD students can greatly benefit from becoming peer reviewers. Read about how you can become a peer reviewer, how to write a review and the dos and don’ts of…