Anneka Gupta shared an insight in this interview that cuts to the core of what it means to be strategic. When people say, “I want someone that’s strategic,” they’re often asking for more than they realize. It’s not about big ideas or flashy plans. It’s about being able to articulate a clear and compelling why - a why that resonates and...

Many leaders in research environments didn’t start their careers planning to lead - they were driven by science, discovery, and expertise in their fields. But as they progressed, the role of leading people, managing budgets, and setting strategic directions came into view, and they decided to step up. Most times, there’s no formal play...

Jason Fried recently wrote about the difference between founders and CEOs: founders inject risk, CEOs manage it. It’s a simplification, but there’s a lot of truth there. And it’s a distinction that doesn’t just apply to business - it’s just as relevant in research environments. Every research environment has its risk-takers - people wh...

In academic research, the path seems set. PhD, Postdoc, PI, and eventually, Tenure. It’s what everyone wants - or at least, what everyone thinks they should want. But how many PIs or Tenure slots are out there compared to the flood of new PhDs each year? The gap is huge. This mismatch fuels anxiety and frustration about the future of r...

In research, we often chase after what’s most sophisticated, thinking that if we just layer on more complexity, we’ll finally see the hidden patterns. There’s a constant pull to be “state-of-the-art” or “beyond state-of-the-art.” We hear it everywhere. But when was the last time you read a scientific paper and thought, this is brillian...

A lot of people think getting a management role means they’ll finally have the power to do things their way. They’ve got ideas, they see what’s broken, and they’re sure they’ll fix it once they’re in charge. But it rarely works that way. Sure, you might have great ideas, but the moment you try to force them through, you hit roadblocks....

We’ve all been there - someone asks a question, and you just don’t have the answer. It could happen during a job interview, in a meeting, or when pitching your research. But not knowing isn’t the problem. How you respond is what makes all the difference. Experienced researchers don’t always know the answers either. But they’ve learned ...

Simon Sinek is one of the best thinkers of our time. His perspective on finite vs. infinite games is a total game changer. In a finite game, there are known players, fixed rules, and an agreed upon objective - you play to win. In an infinite game, there are known and unknown players, rules are changeable, and the objective is to perpet...

Academia is no stranger to ego clashes. We've all heard stories of researchers stepping over each other to claim the next big breakthrough or secure their stake in a coveted project. While not every institution is like this, it’s hard to avoid entirely, especially in large, diverse groups. As much as we might work to foster positive gr...

When you click something on your computer, you probably don’t think much about it. It’s just a click, right? But behind that simple action are thousands, sometimes millions of lines of code, written by teams of programmers to make that click work exactly as expected. Research is a lot like that. You read an article in a prestigious jou...

If you're like me and spent years studying and eventually worked your way into a post-doctoral researcher, or professor role, you’ve probably noticed how your relationship with time shifts. Early on, time feels like a big, floating loop - marked by two key points: the start of the academic year and the transition between semesters. It’...

Perfection paralysis - it’s real, and it hits everyone, including researchers. The fear of sharing something that’s not perfect can lead to procrastination and, worse, missed opportunities. Fact is, there’s no such thing as a perfect proposal, thesis, or article. Research is a work in progress, not a finished masterpiece. The best work...

A strong relationship between a supervisor and a student can be a thing of beauty. It’s built on mutual respect, shared enthusiasm for research, and often, a mentorship that extends beyond work. However, when you throw different languages, cultural backgrounds, and personal expectations into the mix, things can get complicated. Imagine...

Well, here we are. My very first blog post. If you’re reading this, congratulations - you’ve stumbled upon what might just be the most niche corner of the internet. Here I’ll post, mostly, about the glamorous world of research management. Yes, you read that right. Research. Management. Two words that, when combined, could make even the...