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...