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online LaTeX services
Haven't found a personal need for these services, but useful to know their existence, to aid collaborative working with LaTeX: 'writeLaTeX'; 'shareLaTeX'; 'verbosus' (which also provides online edition of Octave mathematical software code); 'publications'. What's wrong with LaTeX and Subversion in combination? -
C.R.E.A.M.
Wu-tang fans, remember this acronym? The single most frustrating aspect about being a post-doc is the poor pay. The uncertainty would be far more tolerable if post-docs were paid similarly to freelance consultants, so that the premium wage would compensate for the uncertainty of not knowing when the next (relevant) research contract is due ( Read more... ) -
Don't take it personal!
During this past 10 months or so, managed to submit five research fund grant applications with various international fund-holders (foreign status precludes application for national funds). Received this week, the second rejection. Only 1 is needed though to remain, otherwise another bout of un-employment looms! :( -
waiting game...
Last week, attended an interview (abroad) as part of the selection process to receive funding for a future research project. Now have to be patient (whilst being pensive!) and concentrate on completing the existing project, starting with further revision of a article for journal submission.
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finance of residential renewable energy
In the UK, there is the "Green Deal" which allows investments in renewable energy/energy efficiency technologies to be repaid via electricity bill payments, on the basis that the repayment rate should be equivalent to or less than the savings that the technologies are supposed to realise. Similarly, California provides the same concept via payment ( Read more... ) -
Getting nervous
The life of a modern-day post-doc is fraught with uncertainty; in the hope of that "dream" permanent academic job, insecurity, low income, poor recognition are all tolerated.
With less than six months to go on the current post-doc contract, am glad that at least there were opportunities to writing research grant proposals; hopefully good news will ( Read more... ) -
being Pan-African...
Often it is heard of the need to be more pan-African in outlook. Taking the concept further, encountered an example of how an opinion of better research utilisation elsewhere is equally relevant here...
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learning from others
A couple useful "snippets" of information/advice from others more successful: 'the making of a researcher; 'definition of research' (Prof. LOK Lategan).
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academic search engines
A quick note to remind, there is more than one search engine! Although a certain search engine is all pervasive, for the benefit of initial academic research such as a quick literature review in a non-familiar field, the following to use together: http://scholar.google.com Read more... )
