Good advice, and not just for grad students. I am not quite so sure "read broadly and critically" is a strong, though. It's hard to not read critically---you always compare what you're reading to what you'd do, personally. Reading broadly, though, is very difficult.
I totally support the "2. ...professionally" one, though. The big part of this, I think, is to never send (or e-mail, or write) crap. *Always* begin any e-mail with the recipient's name, for example. Always state exactly what you mean, in a form that can't be taken the wrong way. Present the graphics or plots that support your conclusions (no more, no less) and make sure that they, too, are of the highest quality and cannot be misinterpreted (read some Edward Tufte). Above all, present and communicate in an organized manner what you know and can prove, and no more. All of this takes time, of course, but it is part of what being a professional means.
I disagree with a lot of his statements, but that's because I don't like research and don't want to stay in academia.
I refuse to give grad school more than about 40 hours/week of my time. It's a poorly paid job that I enjoy but don't love. It doesn't get to swallow my whole life.
and Thompson agrees: "You can maintain this time-demanding schedule only if you absolutely enjoy the full process of posing scientific questions, designing experiments, analyzing results, getting some answers, writing up the results for other scientists, and discussing both your results and theirs. You must want in your bones to know the answers."
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I totally support the "2. ...professionally" one, though. The big part of this, I think, is to never send (or e-mail, or write) crap. *Always* begin any e-mail with the recipient's name, for example. Always state exactly what you mean, in a form that can't be taken the wrong way. Present the graphics or plots that support your conclusions (no more, no less) and make sure that they, too, are of the highest quality and cannot be misinterpreted (read some Edward Tufte). Above all, present and communicate in an organized manner what you know and can prove, and no more. All of this takes time, of course, but it is part of what being a professional means.
Thanks for reminding me, also.
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I refuse to give grad school more than about 40 hours/week of my time. It's a poorly paid job that I enjoy but don't love. It doesn't get to swallow my whole life.
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and Thompson agrees:
"You can maintain this time-demanding schedule only if you absolutely enjoy the full process of posing scientific questions, designing experiments, analyzing results, getting some answers, writing up the results for other scientists, and discussing both your results and theirs. You must want in your bones to know the answers."
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