Angela Priest

Alma.Me

At Alma.Me, we help PhDs kick start their careers in industry through on-demand courses, online communities, networking, and resources to help them make the transition from academia to industry with confidence.

Co-Founder and COO

Groyu

At Groyu, we empower businesses to grow by acknowledging the fundamental importance of people across all aspects of business operations. We use a practical approach rooted in psychology, lean six sigma, agile, and project management best practices to help companies achieve scale, empowering their teams with streamlined processes and sound operational strategies to drive results.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Led a digital marketing company's organizational structure and customer onboarding overhaul, propelling an exceptional 63% improvement across critical metrics, accelerating the customer onboarding process by 78% (from 67 days to 15 days), doubling productivity, and cutting rework loops by 75%.

- Guided a CPG startup with a results-oriented approach and practical solutions to avert the decline of organizational values, advised the formation of a change management committee to drive the values' integration, articulation of corresponding behavioral guidelines, and narrative storytelling approach to promote buy-in.

Managing Director

wejo

Headed strategy, corporate development, and innovation functions, as an integral part of the senior leadership team, offering strategic guidance to foster growth in a big data, SaaS company while directly reporting to EVP, Strategy, and Innovation.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Championed and sponsored the successful pilot of an agile innovation approach, driving accelerated R&D with a 75% reduction in ideation and validation cycle time, from six months to just six weeks.

- Represented the organization in various industry events and company investor day as a company spokesperson, playing a key role in generating potential investment capital worth $50M.

Senior Vice President Strategy & Innovation 

GutCheck

Served as a pivotal member of the senior leadership team, overseeing the company's operations, continuous improvement efforts, and business analytics. Acted as a strategic advisor on operational synchronization for all business units while directly reporting to the CEO. Developed and executed a laptop refurbishment program during the pandemic, effectively managing the laptop shortage.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Orchestrated the timely procurement and integration of 80 new devices, inclusive of system installations, leading to the elimination of daily service incidents, previously averaging three per day.

- Led the centralization and integration of an enterprise-level supplier procurement with a competitive bidding process, and standard contract terms for performance to better manage risks and costs while controlling for redundant purchasing.

Vice President, Operations and Business Solutions 

Provided leadership and guidance to 34 team members and 12 offshores, overseeing supplier procurement, business process improvement, and business analytics. Offered expert advice and insights to the executive team while reporting to the Executive Vice President, Client Solutions and Insights. Engaged in close collaboration with the executive leadership team and internal stakeholders to create annual budgets and business strategies in alignment with organizational objectives.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Boosted customer satisfaction and retention by introducing an improved post-order customer engagement approach, leading to a substantial 33% expansion in average deal size, while sustaining a commendable 63% gross margin and achieving significant savings of over $500K.

- Architected the integration of customer success and customer delivery teams, leading the design of new roles and functional processes to support a streamlined customer service team.

Sr. Director of Operations, Client Solutions and Insights

Directed and mentored 22 team members and 12 offshores with key responsibilities in supplier procurement, business process improvement, and business analytics. Spearheaded process improvement initiatives for the customer success team following the integration of research operations.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Drove a substantial productivity boost, scaling monthly revenue 188% without incurring additional costs through streamlining processes, optimizing ways of working, and strategically rebalancing the tenure of talent on the team.

- Utilized customer feedback to bolster department effectiveness by establishing a three-year strategy and aligning manager and individual objectives (OKRs), resulting in an 84% client satisfaction rate and adaptation to aggressive growth objectives.

Senior Director of Research Operations

J.D. Power

Supervised and coordinated quality and process improvement initiatives for a large, globally distributed team of 100+ professionals handling project management, research execution, and field management. Served as a trusted advisor to the CEO, CFO, and Executive Vice President of Global Research Operations, contributing to informed decision-making and organizational success.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Established and enforced key performance indicators and reporting procedures to ensure timely identification and resolution of critical failures, resulting in enhancing operational visibility by 43%.

- Streamlined resolution process and ownership for reoccurring quality issues and operational failures by conducting impactful Kaizen events on B2C ratings and B2B flagship products, including U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, Automotive CX and IQS Studies, and others.

Senior Manager, Performance Improvement

Served as Chief of Staff, driving the development of a team consisting of 21 highly competent Project Managers and implementing performance improvement processes to improve quality and streamline B2B business processes.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Played a key advisory role, contributing to a $1.1B valuation exit for the prior parent company.

- Facilitated the professional development of project managers through hands-on leadership, contributing to a 50% promotion rate to PMO leadership roles within a two-year timeframe.

- Directed the standardization of corporate operational metrics, leading to improved accountability, enhanced objectivity, and validated information by Project Managers, which resulted in a substantial annual revenue recovery of $5M+.

Senior Project Manager, PMO Operations Lead / Chief of Staff

Oversaw the design and execution of research projects for diverse clients in retail, automotive, and public sectors, ensuring the alignment of research methodology with project objectives and deliverables.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Spearheaded the development of a robust standard operating framework and procedures for the research business unit to drive operational excellence, leading to significant improvements in efficiency and consistency.

- Identified new opportunities for research projects, propelling the growth and expansion of the research business unit.

Research Manager

Administered the design and planning of new syndicated research programs in the Government, Healthcare, Pharmacy, and Retail sectors. Managed a team comprising four interns and two direct reports, providing effective leadership and guidance.

Highlights of accomplishments:

- Drove a culture of continuous improvement by actively seeking opportunities to refine research methodologies, processes, and deliverables, leading to elevated quality standards in customer programs.

- Supervised the successful launch of new syndicated research programs, meticulously coordinating timelines, resources, and logistics for a seamless implementation.

Research Supervisor

Lieberman Research Worldwide

Designed and guided market research, providing advisory services to clients in the entertainment industry.

Vail Resorts

Gathered market research data, performed analysis, and issued weekly reports to guide strategic decision-making related to the guest experience and brand perceptions.

Market Research Interviewer

UCLA Anderson Executive Education

Drove the implementation and refresh of database systems to support executive education programs.

Database Administrator

I'm a data geek and process nerd who loves to build people up and help them grow. For 20 years, I've been turning chaos into order at companies across all stages of growth to ensure that their teams flourish. I'm now throwing my passion for helping people into helping PhDs, PostDocs, and Mid-Career Researchers get jobs in industry. My goal is simple: to help brilliant minds thrive outside the academic world and make real impact in their new careers.

Check out my website to learn more: www.alma.me

Dear Employers - A PhD isn't entry level.

They've already spent years solving complex problems independently.

Start them where their skills below (and please pay them accordingly).

PhD Career Guide | Hiring Manager | 20+ Yrs Building High Performing Teams | COO @ Alma.Me

Dear Employers - PhDs doing REAL work during their degree programs.

Designing and running experiments, innovating new methods and techniques, working equipment, managing data, mentoring, presenting, writing papers.

Oftentimes, they're partnering with companies and other organizations because that's how their work is funded.

And we all know how much of that research and "academic" work is actually used in commercial products.

Please don't disregard that experience in your hiring decisions, just because it was in another environment.

Dear Employers - Please don't confuse lack of industry titles with lack of experience.

PhDs have led teams, budgets, and projects.

But academia uses much more standard, generalized titles.

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Jobseekers are constantly hearing about everything bad going on in the job market. Here are a few things to know:


💡 Companies are still hiring.

4 people in our job search program have gotten jobs in the past month alone.

💡 But, they are being more cautious in their hires.

It's not enough to just have the skills. You have to also have the personality, temperament, and disposition to fit in with the team.

💡 There are always fewer open positions at the end of the year.

It's budget season. Many companies slow hiring while they get next year's budget's approved.

💡 But, hiring generally picks up at the start of every year.

Now is a great time to get your resume and job search strategy going, so that you can be ready to hit the gas in the new year.

If I could give PhDs one piece of advice to improve their job search, it would be this:

Work on your communication skills.

- In academia, complex language is a signal of rigor to your peers.
- In industry, complex language is viewed as a barrier to action for your stakeholders.

Your job is not to prove you're smart (they know you are or you wouldn't have a PhD).

Your job is to persuade people to hire you. Clarity is the tool of persuasion.

In industry, you will have a lot of non-technical stakeholders.

So, if you're not making it through the interview process or you keep getting passed over for other candidates, ask yourself:

Am I communicating what I've done in a language that everyone in the room understands?

Because clarity builds connection and connection is what gets you hired.

👉 If you want to learn how to communicate your value clearly and confidently in interviews, apply for our job search accelerator program:

www.alma.me

We can help you translate your academic experience into a story that hiring teams understand.

#phd #careers #jobsearch

One of the PhDs we helped get a job called me after he started his new position. 

"I feel like I can't get my work done because of how many discussions I have to have about everything."

That's one of the biggest mindset shifts PhDs face when they transition out of academia. 

The shift can be jarring.

Academia is an individual sport. 
Industry is a team sport.

Each requires different skills and a different mindset.

In academia, your success often depends on your individual output: your projects, your publications, your results.

In industry, success depends on collaboration: how you work across functions, share knowledge, and move things forward together.

You're no longer just the expert on your project. You're part of a larger team working toward a shared goal.

Once he learned about this difference, it was smooth sailing. He no longer felt like he was underperforming and could better integrate himself in the team.

👉 In our job search program, we help PhDs make this transition smoothly, learning how to communicate, collaborate, and show the impact they can bring as part of a team.

Apply here: www.alma.me

Why do some PhDs get hired and others don't, even when their skills are the same?

In 20 years of hiring, I see the same pattern over and over:

The candidates who connect with the humans in the process are the ones who get hired.

Here's what that looks like:

A tenured professor joined our job search program for help transitioning to industry. She was applying for a data scientist role at a startup in the digital learning space.

During our mock interview, I asked her:

💬 "Why do you want this job?"

Her first answer?

💬 "I have the skills. I check all the boxes."

Fair answer, but it wasn't enough.

So I asked:

💬 "Sure, but why do you WANT to do this work?"

She paused. Then said:

💬 "I'm a neuroscientist and a teacher. I've spent my career thinking and
studying how people learn. This role would keep me doing that, just in a
new way."

And that's the shift.

From blending in with every other candidate to being personally aligned with the company's mission.

Needless to say, the recruiter moved her to the next round.

Not just because of her skill set.
But because she made it human.

What most PhDs don't realize is:

- Most recruiters and hiring managers don't have a PhD
- Some have never hired a PhD before
- And many don't actually know what a PhD entails 

So when you lead with your degrees and publications, you may accidentally create distance instead of connection.

The best candidates don't just share what they can DO.
They share why it MATTERs to them.


#phd #careers #jobsearch

What a great end to the week! 3 of the PhDs we're working with got a job in the past week and 2 others are starting their new positions the first week of Dec. So, for all you jobseekers out there, don't lose hope. Companies are still hiring. Your offer might be just around the corner.

One of the PhDs we worked with was spending 3-4 hours tailoring her resume and cover letter.

This meant that she couldn't get into early applicant pools and she lowered her chances of getting her resume seen.

Here's how we got her down to a 30-minute application to improve her results:

1. Define 1 role she wanted to target. Helped her pick her lane and not try to fit every job description.
2. Identified the common skills and requirements across companies for that role to focus her core message.
3. Wrote her resume to center around those themes.
4. Showed her how to adjust her resume in two minor areas to tailor for each company.

That's it.

She now had a resume that could be used universally across companies but FELT specific to each one.

When people say "tailor your resume," this is what they mean.

Not random mass applications, but targeting your resume for your best fit role.

With this approach, you can apply for 3-5 high quality roles per day in less than 2 hours. And voila, now you can compete in your job search at scale.

👉 In our job search program, we help PhDs streamline their applications, build high impact resumes, and apply more strategically, so they can spend more time getting interviews. 

Check it out on our website: www.alma.me

#phd #jobsearch #careers

"I don't know how I would have gotten an offer without your advice."

One of the data science PhDs we worked with recently landed her dream job at nearly 2x the salary she thought was possible.

Before working with us, she hadn't gotten a single interview.

Here's what we advised:
1. Stop applying to entry-level roles and aim for more senior positions.
2. Reframe her resume to highlight applied skills instead of describing tasks
3. Apply consistently and strategically, not in occasional bursts
4. Focus on industries where she had relevant subject matter expertise

When you align your applications with your value, instead of downplaying your expertise, your results will shift.

👉 Are you a STEM PhD struggling to get job interviews?
Apply for our job search program: www.alma.me
We accept 2 new PhDs each week.

"I matched all the skills, applied, and never heard back. Now the role was reposted. What does this mean?"


It's one of the most frustrating things to see.

You apply for a job that's a perfect fit, get no interview, no response, then a few weeks later, the same job pops up again.

It can make you wonder, "Was I not good enough? Did they just not like me?"

Here are a few of the ACTUAL reasons companies repost roles:

* It's an evergreen posting to keep the pipeline warm for future openings
* They're keeping backups in case the first round of candidates falls through
* The ATS or job board automatically closed the post and it needs a refresh
* The role evolved and needs a new level, focus, or skill set
* No one fully met the requirements
* Too few strong candidates to run a full, competitive interview cycle
* They're widening the pool to validate the current finalists
* Compliance rules require the role to stay open for a set amount of time
* HR needs to repost for audit/equal opportunity reasons
* An offer fell through and the search restarted
* Hiring was paused (e.g., budget freeze). Reposting means it's reapproved.

So, try not to take the repost personally.

Keep applying. Odds are the repost is unrelated to your application.

👉 Our job search program helps PhDs understand how hiring really works and position yourself so the right people notice you.

You can apply here: www.alma.me

We accept 2 new PhDs each week.

#phd #jobsearch #careers

Over the past year, we've worked with PhDs, postdocs, and even tenured professors. And no matter how far along they are, they tend to find us at one of four stages:

1️⃣ "I have no idea how to land a job in industry."
They feel lost and overwhelmed.
We help them bring structure and strategy.
Helping them be confident in their search with a clear plan.

2️⃣ "I've been applying for months and not getting interviews."
We help translate their experience into the right language, target roles (and levels) that actually fit.

3️⃣ "I'm getting interviews, but they always go with someone else."
We train them to connect their academic experience to what hiring manager are really looking for and to communicate that confidently.

4️⃣ "I'm interviewing, but I don't feel confident."
We focus on mindset: owning your value, knowing what you bring to the table, and learning how to navigate conversations (and offers) with confidence.

But all of them have one thing in common:

They recognize they're struggling. And they don't want to do it alone anymore.

No matter the stage, we meet you where you're at.

👉 If any of these stages sound like you, or if you're just ready for structure, clarity, and support in your job transition, check out our job search program.

Apply here: www.alma.me

We can help you find your path after academia and help you build confidence in what comes next.

#phd #careers #jobsearch

Most PhDs who come to me for help want to upskill.

But skill is rarely the problem when PhDs transition into industry.

It's communication.

Communicating your value to a new audience, in a new language.
Both in you resume and during the interview.

Learn how to frame the experience you already have in an industry context if you want to get better results. 

This often means simplifying.

👉 Join our job search program (www.alma.me) and learn how to communicate your value clearly and confidently in a way that gets you hired.

#phd #jobsearch #careers.

Having hired and built high performing teams for 20 years, here's what companies usually look for (and how it's different from academia):

💡 Academia is driven by the pursuit of fundamental truth.

In academia, hiring is often focused on publications, awards, achievements, presentations, grants, etc. 

This demonstrates your ability to create knowledge that the university uses to build their reputation and institutional presence.

In other words, your work needs to be polished, precise, and defensible.

The CV is the record that creates that defensibility.

⏩ Industry is driven by the pursuit of creating value.

Hiring is focused on your ability to create impact (i.e., drive action and forward progress). This means creating recommendations, product features, or inform decisions that save time, money, or improve quality.

Speed and impact > precision.

The industry resume is that demonstrates (through examples) your ability to create value.



#phd #jobsearch #careers

Lancaster University

- Implementing and driving the institute's research strategy across several research areas. 
- Leading new international strategic partnerships, increasing institute impact and research income.
- Developing new research opportunities and driving growth across the UK and South East Asia.
- Building an academic network,identifying key topics and experts across disciplines and institutions.
- Overseeing the scientific research program, managing a portfolio of projects and budgets.

Director of the Future Cities Research Institute

- Driving development and growth across key national and international partners/clients, increasing, identifying new business opportunities of follow-on and as well as new projects. 
- Developing and leading strategic projects and teams in the health, healthcare and circular economy areas, ensure profitability and high client satisfaction. 
- Engaging in thought leadership (e.g. publications, presentations, press, blogs) and development of intellectual property.

Professor in Global Health Design Innovation

- Setting and leading the direction of the institute on research, innovation and business engagement on sustainable cities, digital cities, resilient cities and liveable cities in the UK and Malaysia.
- Leading new international strategic partnerships, increasing institute impact and income sources.
- Identifying new business opportunities and driving development and growth across key clients


The Future Cities Research Institute (FCRI) is a new joint research institute between Sunway and Lancaster Universities, helping to tackle significant challenges associated with the rapid urbanisation experienced across the global south.

Co-Director of Future Cities Research Institute

- Generating insights and recommendations for global health interventiosna dn products in Africa,  Souteast Asia and Europe
- Leading the development of cross-department international training and stakeholder engagement, generating over 20 new stratregic connections 
- Consultancy to national and international research bodiest and the UK Research Institute on Digital Health innovations
- Engaging in thought leadership (e.g. publications) and development of intellectual property for use on future engagements
- Coaching of staff and external stakeholders on global innovation methods

Director for Health and International Research at ImaginationLancaster

- Developed training programmes on innovation, increasing numbers of clients 
- Developed and managed over 5 externally funded international innovation and research projects, increasing institutional income and outputs
- Trained and mentored small and large groups of adults in design thinking, innovation and
design, user research, achieving high client satisfaction
- Led division marketing leading to increased income from new students

Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Design Interactions at ImaginationLancaster

- Set and led strategic department direction in health innovation and research increasing research income
- Developed international special interest group in Global Health, leading to new strategic
partnerships, increasing organisation impact and influence

Strategic Lead for Health & Wellbeing Research

EPFL

Visiting Researcher/Professor at EPFL+ECAL Lab, EPFL.

• Co-developed new Digital Health Innovation Research Framework
• Delivered presentations and talks on speculative design and design innovation.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to drive cutting-edge research initiatives.

Visiting Researcher/Professor

Sunway University

Visiting Researcher/Professor at Sunway University as part of my role as Director of the Future Cities Research Institute.

• Led CRI Half-Day Ideation Series to brainstorm ideas and facilitate collaboration between SU and LU colleagues.
• Developed strategies for NetZero Cities, Healthy Communities/Healthy Planet, and Urban Poverty initiatives.
• Collaborated with Sunway University colleagues to drive research and innovation in Future Cities.
Conducted capability development workshops:
- Early Career Research Network (ECRN) Seminar – Beyond Journal: Redefining Research Impact
- Post Graduate Academic Career Mentoring and PhD Training

Brunel University

- Developed new and restructured existing training programmes, increasing organisation
income and making savings on resources

Course Director for Multimedia Technology and Design

- Developed and managed innovation project with the NHS, leading to successful completion
- Supervised students placed in the industry making new industrial links and gathering industrial insights for the organisation

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

- Managed complex project of 9 partners from 7 different countries with 25+ staff to successful completion
- Led technical work packages and generated insights from a range of sources leading to innovation development
- Contributed to the research application leading to funding success

Co-Investigator, Project Manager and Engagement Coordinator

• Conducted technical and user research leading to successful completion of project on multi-national EU funded project (IP-Based Networks, Services and TermINals for Converged SysTems -INSTINCT), that led to new insights and additional funding for the organisation.

Research Assistant

I help PhDs, Postdocs & Lecturers secure tenure-track jobs and navigate academia | Insider knowledge tips on how to succeed | Academic Career Mentor | Professor & Research Director

I was a lost PhD student. Confused. Overwhelmed. Ready to quit.

Sitting in my tiny office at 2 AM, drowning in research papers, I made a promise...

"If I somehow make it through this, I'll help others navigate what I'm struggling with."

Today, I'm a Professor at a top UK university. But here's what matters more...

I've kept that promise by helping over 10,000 researchers complete their PhDs and secure academic positions.

The brutal truth about academic careers:
→ 80% of PhD graduates never get academic jobs
→ Universities teach research, not career strategy
→ Brilliant minds give up because they lack guidance
→ Hiring committees have secret rules nobody explains

The brutal truth about doing a PhD whilst working:
→ You're figuring it out alone with minimal supervisor support
→ You lose sleep worrying about failure and its professional consequences
→ You're paralyzed by pressure - procrastinating makes deadlines feel impossible
→ Impostor syndrome hits hard: "Everyone else knows what they're doing, but I'm lost"
→ You're overwhelmed juggling your demanding job with complex academic requirements

My mentors saved my career. Without their guidance, I would have quit. Now I'm that mentor for you.

My transformation story:
→ From PhD uncertainty to Professor by 40
→ £9 million in research funding secured
→ 130+ publications across top journals
→ Research reached 30+ million people globally
→ 220K researchers follow my guidance daily

But here's my real achievement:
Thousands of researchers now have the roadmap I desperately needed.

FREE RESOURCES I PROVIDE:
✅ Weekly newsletter (10K+ subscribers) - PhD completion & job search strategies -  www.phdtoprof.com/newsletter
✅ Daily LinkedIn content - Insider academic career tips
✅ Free academic resources - www.phdtoprof.com/store
✅ AI tools and strategies for ethical research productivity

PREMIUM & PERSONALISED SERVICES:
🎯 1:1 Career Coaching - Personalized academic job search strategy
🎯 Academic Job Application Reviews - CV, cover letters, research statements
🎯 The 6P Success System - 6-week academic job accelerator program -  www.phdtoprof.com/6p-succes

🎯 Premium PhD Coaching - For busy professionals completing their PhD
🎯 Expert Dissertation Review - Academic editing and proofreading of PhD dissertations
🎯 PhD Proposal Development - Support in developing and successfully passing proposals

My mission is simple:
Help you complete your PhD on time AND secure your dream academic position.

Academic careers don't have to be a mystery. You just need the right guide.

Emmanuel Tsekleves

My PhD took 4.5 years. It should have taken 3. I wasted 1.5 years because no one taught me what actually matters. Now I teach my students what I wish someone had taught me.

Year 4 of my PhD.

I was drowning in research.

47 journal articles read. 23 more on my list.

"I need to read everything before I can write," I told myself.

That belief cost me 18 months.

Here's what I didn't understand:
Reading more papers doesn't make your thesis better.
It just delays your writing.

I finally started writing in Year 4.
By then, I'd forgotten half of what I'd read.

I had to re-read dozens of papers.
That cost me another 6 months.

When I finally submitted in Year 4.5, my supervisor said something that haunted me:
"Your thesis could have been submitted 1.5 year ago. You were overthinking it."

1.5 years wasted.

Because I'd confused activity with progress.

I read a lot. Attended every seminar. Took extensive notes.

But I wasn't writing.

And PhDs are judged on what you write, not what you read.

That experience changed how I supervise students.

I now teach them what I learned the hard way:

The 7 non-negotiables for 3-year completion:

1. Read purposefully (30 min daily):
Not 6-hour reading marathons
Focused 30 minutes with specific questions works better

2. Kill distractions completely:
Every notification costs 23 minutes of refocus
I lost weeks to email interruptions
Deep work requires protection

3. Write from Day 1:
I waited 3 years to start writing
That was my biggest mistake
Write rough drafts immediately

4. Just 150 words daily:
I waited for "full writing days" that never came
150 words feels insignificant
But it compounds to 54,750 words yearly

5. Rest strategically:
I worked 7 days/week with guilt
Burned out in Year 3
Strategic rest prevented 8 months of paralysis

6. Outline early:
I researched aimlessly for 2 years
No structure = no progress
Early table of contents would have saved a year

7. Stop perfecting:
I rewrote my intro 23 times
Draft 3 was good enough
Perfection killed 9 months of my life

My student Mark learned from my mistakes.
He implemented all 7 from Day 1.
Result: 3-year completion.

Quality as good as my 4.5-year thesis.
Just without the wasted time.

At his viva celebration, he thanked me:
"You taught me what no one taught you."

That meant everything.

I can't get my 1.5 years back.

But I can prevent other students from losing theirs.

If you're in your PhD now:

Don't wait to start writing.
Don't confuse activity with progress.
Don't sacrifice 2-3 years to habits that don't serve you.

Learn from my failure so you don't repeat it.

What habit is stealing your PhD time right now? What would you tell your Year 1 self to do differently?

Note: 
UK/Europe/Canada/Australia/Gulf countries full-time PhD, typical completion is 3-4 years. Part-time is 5-7 years
US full-time PhD, typical completion is 4-6 years. Part-time is 7-9 years

#PhDJourney #AcademicLife #ThesisWriting #PhDLessons #GradSchool

I help PhDs complete their PhDs on time & without burnout & Postdocs secure academic jobs | The insider roadmap universities don’t teach | 10,000+ researchers guided | AI + proven strategies

I couldn't afford the courses I needed as a PhD student.
How to build world-class research skills when you have zero budget—9 free courses from top universities:

Every skill I lacked had a £1,500-£3,000 price tag.

Systematic reviews. Scientific writing. Data analysis.

The courses existed. The expertise was available.

I just couldn't access it.

That financial barrier nearly ended my academic career.

But I refused to let money determine my potential.

So I searched. And searched. And searched.

Turns out, elite knowledge is often freely available.

You just need to know where to look.

Now, as a Professor, I've made it my mission:

Find every high-quality free course.

Make them accessible to researchers facing the same barriers I did.

Level the playing field.

I've spent years perfecting this collection.

Here are 9 elite courses that'll transform your research capabilities:

When you're building methodology skills:
→ Yale: Qualitative Research Fundamentals
→ NUS: Quantitative Research for Beginners 
→ University of London: Understanding Research Methods

When you're learning to write for publication:
→ École Polytechnique: How to Write and Publish Scientific Papers
→ Stanford: Writing in the Sciences

When you're advancing your research:
→ Johns Hopkins: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
→ Harvard: Persuasive Writing & Public Speaking
→ University of Cape Town: Research for Impact
→ The Open University: Data Analysis in Excel

Same universities. Same professors. Same quality.

Free.

I've completed 4 of these myself.

My students have completed them all.

Every single one reported the same thing:

"This is as good as any paid course I've taken."

Your financial situation shouldn't determine your research potential.

The image above has every direct link.

Save this post. Share it with someone who needs it.

Which research skill do you most need to develop?

Tell me in the comments. I'll recommend which course to start with and why.

#PhDLife #ResearchSkills #AcademicJourney #FreeEducation #PhDSuccess

Talks about #phd, #postdoc, #phdcareers, #academicjobs, and #highereducationjobs

The PhD student of a colleague of mine almost got expelled for using AI.
I tested 12 literature review AI tools. Only 3 maintain integrity.

She didn't know which tools were safe.

Neither did he.

So I spent 3 weeks testing every literature review AI tool I could find.

She came to my office in tears.

"A reviewer flagged my literature review for AI detection."

She'd used an AI tool to help organize papers.

Seemed harmless.

But the tool had synthesized text without proper citations.

Journal editor threatened to reject and report her.

That same week, I got asked variations of the same question 47 times:

"Can I use this AI tool for my literature review?"
"Is Elicit allowed?"
"Will ChatGPT get me in trouble?"

I had no good answer.

This was my wake-up call.

PhD students are using AI tools without knowing which ones maintain integrity.

So I tested 12 popular tools.

Real literature reviews. Actual papers. Full testing.

The results split into two clear groups:

THE 3 SAFE TOOLS (Maintain Academic Integrity):

Semantic Scholar
→ AI-powered paper discovery
→ Finds sources you'd miss manually
→ No text generation

Elicit
→ Extracts findings from papers
→ Organizes themes automatically
→ Every finding linked to source

Research Rabbit
→ Maps citation networks visually
→ Shows research connections
→ Pure visualization tool

THE 9 RISKY TOOLS (Integrity Issues):

Immediate Red Flags:
→ ChatGPT for literature synthesis
→ Claude for writing review sections
→ Gemini for academic content
→ Perplexity for creating summaries

Sophisticated but Detectable:
→ Trinka (AI writing assistant with text generation)
→ SparkDocAI (writing assistant for papers)
→ PopAI (Academic Paper Generator)
→ TypeAI (AI writing for academic text)
→ Any undisclosed AI tool

The pattern became clear:

✅ SAFE: Tools that help you FIND and ORGANIZE papers
❌ RISKY: Tools that WRITE or SYNTHESIZE for you

I now give every PhD student this list on day 1:

Use AI to find papers. Never to write them.

My literature reviews are faster and more comprehensive.

Because I'm using AI for discovery, not writing.

Are you using AI tools for literature reviews right now?

Which ones? I'll tell you if they're safe or risky.

#PhDLife #AcademicIntegrity #ResearchTips #LiteratureReview #PhDSuccess

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My paper was rejected 7 times.
Here's how to fix the one thing that's killing your acceptance rate - your introduction:

Seven rejections. Same research. Same data. Same groundbreaking conclusions.

But every reviewer said the same thing:

"The introduction fails to engage."

That feedback destroyed me.

I spent 3 years on that research.

And reviewers weren't even reading past page 1.

Here's what I discovered:

Academic introductions aren't about being "scholarly."

They're about making reviewers CARE.

I rebuilt my introduction using this 7-step framework:

1. Importance Hook
→ Start with global impact, not your study
→ "Climate change threatens 1 billion coastal residents"
→ NOT "This study investigates coastal vulnerability"

2. Background Context 
→ Show existing work WITHOUT listing every paper
→ Create a narrative, not a bibliography

**3. Problem Statement**
→ Make the gap feel urgent
→ "But nobody has studied X in context Y"

4. Research Gap Revelation
→ Your "aha" moment for readers
→ "This missing piece changes everything"

5. Evidence Foundation
→ Back your claims with data
→ Prove this isn't just your opinion

6. Local Context Connection
→ Make abstract research tangible
→ "This affects real communities, real people"

7. Study Objectives Bridge
→ Connect everything to your specific aims
→ "Here's exactly what we'll achieve"

I rewrote my introduction following this framework.

Submission #8: Accepted by a top-tier journal.

Reviewer comments: "Compelling introduction that clearly establishes significance."

Same research. Different introduction. Different outcome.

Your brilliant work deserves to be read.

Not rejected because of a weak first page.

Which of these 7 steps is hardest for you right now?

Tell me in the comments. I'll share specific examples from my accepted papers.

#AcademicWriting #ResearchTips #PhDLife #AcademicSuccess #PublishOrPerish

5 journal rejections taught me one lesson about research papers. 
This is how to fix yours:

The feedback was brutal: "Lacks structure and clarity."

Back in my PhD days I thought good research was enough.

I was wrong.

I spent 18 months collecting data.

Ran every analysis perfectly.

Had findings that could change my field.

But my paper kept getting rejected.

After rejection 5, I almost gave up.

Then a senior colleague read my draft.

She finished and said: "Your research is solid. Your structure is chaos."

She drew something on the whiteboard that changed everything.

A simple body diagram.

Each section of a research paper mapped to a body part.

Each part answers one specific question.

Here's what she taught me:

Abstract (The Head)
This is your 30-second elevator pitch.
What's the problem? What did you find? Why does it matter?

Introduction (The Neck)
What is known? Set up our world understanding.
Hook readers with relevance. Make them care.

Literature Review (The Shoulders)
What is unknown? What gap are you filling?
Show you understand the conversation.

Methodology (The Arms)
How should we fill the gap? What did you do?
Make it so clear others can replicate.

Results (The Torso)
What findings did you get?
Present data without interpretation. Clean and focused.

Discussion (The Hips)
How do the findings bridge the gap?
Connect your results to the bigger picture.

Conclusion (The Legs)
What does this mean going forward?
Future directions. Leave readers wanting more.

References (The Feet)
Honor the giants you stand on.
Show the depth of your research journey.

She said: "Each section answers ONE question. Answer it clearly. Move on."

I rewrote my paper using her framework.

Same data. Same findings. Different structure.

Submitted to the same journal that rejected me twice.

Accepted with minor revisions.

Reviewer comment: "Well-structured and clear presentation."

The difference was not my research.

The difference was my structure.

Since then:

My next 3 papers accepted on first submission

I now teach this framework to every PhD student I supervise

The mistake most researchers make:

They think great data makes great papers.

Actually, great structure makes great papers.

Your research deserves to be read.

But first it needs to be structured so readers can follow.

The visual shows the complete anatomy I now use.

One body. Eight sections. Eight questions answered.

I wish someone had drawn this for me on day one.

Would have saved me 5 rejections and 2 years.

What section of research paper writing challenges you most right now?

Abstract? Literature review? Discussion?

Drop it below. I'll share specific tips for that section.

#AcademicWriting #ResearchPaper #PhDLife #AcademicPublishing #PhDSuccess

Academic writing isn't about sounding smart. It's about being understood. Here's 17 Golden Rules of Academic Writing:

Back in my PhD days, I thought I was a good writer. Academic writing proved me wrong.

That chapter took me 3 weeks to write.

I'd read everything. Cited everyone. Used all the fancy academic words.

My supervisor's summary: "I can't follow your argument."

I was devastated.

She sat me down and said something I'll never forget:

"Academic writing isn't about sounding smart. It's about being understood."

Then she gave me a list of rules she'd learned over 30 years.

17 rules that transformed my writing.

Here's what she taught me:

1. Start with Your Argument
"My thesis is X" gives your writing focus. Know your point before you write.

2. Write Before You're Ready
Skip "more reading first." Writing reveals what you don't know.

3. One Idea Per Paragraph
Need "and also"? Start a new paragraph.

4. Use Signpost Sentences
"This section examines..." tells readers where you're going.

5. Cut Academic Bloat
"Utilize" becomes "use." Simple beats pretentious.

6. Show, Don't Just Tell
"This affects 2 million people" beats "This is significant."

7. Write Transitions
"Having established X, I turn to Y." Connect paragraphs.

8. Vary Sentence Length
Short sentences punch. Longer ones develop complexity. Mix them.

9. Kill Your Darlings
Brilliant sentence doesn't fit? Delete it. Clarity beats clever.

10. Read It Aloud
Awkward on tongue means awkward on page.

11. Front-Load Key Information
"Smith argues that..." not "...which Smith argues..."

12. Use Active Voice
"We conducted" not "experiments were conducted."

13. Define Before Using
Explain terms before assuming readers know them.

14. Cite Generously
Show your scholarly conversation.

15. Write Conclusions That Conclude
"X matters because Y" not "more research is needed."

16. Revise With Fresh Eyes
Tomorrow's edit beats today's tired revision.

17. Done Beats Perfect
"Good enough to submit" stops perfectionist paralysis.

I rewrote my chapter using these 17 rules.

Same research. Same citations. Different writing.

My supervisor's response: "Now I can follow your thinking."

That chapter became the foundation of my thesis.

Since learning these rules:

My papers get accepted faster

Reviewers comment on clarity

I spend less time revising

I now give this list to every PhD student I supervise.

Week one. Before they write anything.

The transformation is always the same.

They go from "trying to sound academic" to "being understood."

The biggest shift?

Rule 5: Cut Academic Bloat.

Most PhD students think complex words show intelligence.

Actually, simple words show confidence.

The visual shows all 17 rules I use.

Print it. Pin it above your desk.

Your writing will thank you.

Which rule do you struggle with most?

#AcademicWriting #PhDLife #WritingTips #PhDSuccess #AcademicSkills

My PhD student submitted her thesis chapter last week. 3 citations were completely fabricated. Now we're retracing every citation in her entire thesis

Authors that don't exist. Journals that were never published. Studies that never happened.

She had no idea.

ChatGPT hallucinated them. She trusted the AI. She didn't verify.

This is the AI hallucination crisis nobody's talking about openly.

AI generates fake citations so convincingly that even careful researchers miss them.

The fabrications look legitimate:

"Smith et al. (2022) found 85% effectiveness in Journal of Advanced Research, 45(3), 234-251."

Author name sounds real. Year is plausible. Journal title sounds academic. Volume and page numbers perfectly formatted.

Everything looks right except one thing: None of it exists.

My student isn't careless. She's brilliant and thorough.

But she made one critical mistake: She treated AI as an authority instead of an assistant.

When AI suggested the citation, she assumed it must be correct.

But AI hallucinates constantly. 
It generates plausible-sounding citations by pattern-matching. 
Sometimes those citations are real. Sometimes they're complete fiction.

The stakes are devastating:

Your academic reputation built over years can be questioned by a single fabricated citation.

Manuscripts face retraction and potential academic misconduct allegations.

Time spent correcting errors diverts energy from actual research.

After finding her fabricated citations, I taught her the TRUST framework for using AI in research:

T) Treat AI as an assistant, not an authority. Every AI suggestion needs verification.

R) Rely on verification, not assumption. Check the original source exists and says what AI claims.

U) Uphold intellectual authorship. AI can organize, but synthesis must be yours.

S) Study research critically. Don't let AI summaries replace reading key papers.

T) Transparency about AI use. Document how you used AI with tools like Paperpal AI Footprint and AI Disclosure features.

Now she checks everything:

Author names against database searches
Journal titles against real publication lists
Statistics by reading original methodology sections
Dates by verifying publication records

It's more work than trusting AI blindly.

But her thesis won't be retracted for fabricated citations.

Her academic reputation stays intact.

I recorded a free webinar with Paperpal on exactly how to avoid these hallucinations. It covers verification techniques, transparency tools, and practical examples.

Link in comments.

Universities need to teach this from Day 1. 
Before students use AI for the first time.

Are you verifying every AI-suggested citation? Or assuming AI wouldn't make up references?

Try Paperpal for free using my link: https://lnkd.in/enZukV7D

#AIinResearch #AcademicIntegrity #PhDLife #ResearchEthics #ChatGPT

Universities teach PhD students to waste 4 months on literature reviews. Using methods from 2005. In 2025, this is academic malpractice.

I just finished supervising my 14th PhD student through their literature review.

Every single one started the same way:
→ Print 100+ papers
→ Read every word manually
→ Take handwritten notes
→ Synthesize with Word documents

The same process I used in 2005.

The same process my supervisor used in 1985.

Nothing has changed.

Meanwhile, AI tools that could help them work 65% faster sit unused.

Why?

Because universities refuse to update their methods.

Last year, I ran an experiment.

I had 150 papers to review for a new project.

Using traditional methods: 4 months estimated.

I decided to use AI assistance instead.

The result: 3 weeks.

Same quality. Better organization. Complete integrity.

Here's what AI helped with:

Initial filtering 
- Scanned 150 abstracts for relevance in 2 hours (vs 2 days)
- I verified every recommendation by reading abstracts
Sample tools: SciSpace, Bohrium, ResearchRabbit

Paper summaries:
- Generated structured summaries focusing on methodology and findings
- I spot-checked 25% against original papers for accuracy
- Saved 60+ hours of manual note-taking
Sample tools: Paperpal, SciSummary, Scholarcy

Pattern identification:
- Found contradictory findings across studies
- Identified research gaps faster
I verified patterns by reading relevant papers myself
Sample tools: Consensus, Liner, Anara

What didn't change:
→ I read the critical papers in full
→ I formed all the insights and interpretations
→ I wrote the entire synthesis myself
→ I made all the intellectual connections

AI removed mechanical work.

It didn't replace my expertise.

But here's what makes me angry:
I've taught this process to 40+ PhD students.
They all cut their review time by 50-70%.
Yet their universities still teach the 1995 method.

PhD supervisors say things like:
"That's not how we do literature reviews."
"You need to read every word of every paper."
"Using AI shows you're not serious about research."

This is gatekeeping disguised as rigour.

Reading every word of 150 papers doesn't make you a better researcher.

It just makes you exhausted.

What makes you a better researcher:
→ Spending more time on analysis
→ Having energy for critical thinking
→ Actually completing your PhD on time

The tools exist to help PhD students work smarter.

Universities need to stop treating efficiency as cheating.

If you're struggling with literature reviews:
--> The problem isn't you.
--> It's the outdated methods you've been taught.

Did your PhD program teach you efficient research methods? Or did they just tell you to "read more papers"?

#PhDChat #AcademicResearch #HigherEducation #PhDLife #ResearchMethods

SciSpace

Bohrium

ResearchRabbit

Paperpal

SciSummary

Scholarcy

Consensus

Liner

Anara

Academic publishers made $10 billion last year. From research they didn't fund & academics they don't pay. Most research papers are available for free. You just need to know where to look...

Let me explain how academic publishing works:
Step 1: University pays researcher's salary
Step 2: Researcher conducts study using public grants
Step 3: Researcher writes paper (unpaid by publisher)
Step 4: Researcher submits to journal (pays submission fee)
Step 5: Journal sends to peer reviewers (volunteers, unpaid)
Step 6: Researcher revises based on feedback (still unpaid)
Step 7: Journal accepts paper (researcher pays publication fee)
Step 8: Journal sells access back to universities for ~$40/paper

Publishers contribute: formatting and hosting.

Publishers profit: billions.

This is the most profitable scam in academia.

And most researchers accept it as "how things work."

But here's what they don't tell you:
Most research papers are already free.
You just need to know where to look.

I've compiled 24 legitimate platforms that give you access to millions of papers across every discipline.

Not pirate sites. Not illegal downloads.

Official repositories, preprint servers, and open-access journals.

The complete list:

1) General platforms: ResearchGate, Academia.edu, CORE, Semantic Scholar, BASE

2) Preprint servers: arXiv, Open Science Framework, DOAJ, ScienceOpen, Open DOAR

3) Medical/health: PubMed Central, BioRxiv, MedRxiv, PLOS

4) By discipline: PsycArxiv, ERIC, PhilPapers, SSRN

5) Open publishers: Springer Open, Frontiers, MDPI

6) Access tools: Unpaywall, Open Science Framework, World Digital Library

See Comment for weblinks to these.

These platforms exist because researchers and institutions fought back.

But most PhD programs never mention these platforms.

They assume students have full journal access.

They don't teach researchers how to navigate the paywall system.

That needs to change.

Every PhD student should learn about open access in Week 1.
Every researcher should know these platforms exist.

Access to knowledge shouldn't cost £847 per year.

It shouldn't depend on your university's subscription budget.

It shouldn't favor wealthy institutions over developing countries.

The infrastructure for free access exists.

We just need to use it.

Save it. Share it. Use it to bypass the paywall system.

How much have academic paywalls cost you? Should publicly-funded research be free to the public?

#OpenAccess #AcademicPublishing #ResearchFunding #PhDChat #ScienceForAll

Most PhDs write their thesis first, then extract papers. That's backwards. Here's why and how to do this:

I finished my PhD with a 250-page thesis and zero publications.

My supervisor had looked at my CV and said: "You've wasted three years of publishable research."

Those words destroyed me.

I'd worked so hard on that thesis.

Every chapter polished. Every reference checked.

But job committees didn't care about my thesis.

They wanted publications.

I had nothing to show them.

Application after application. Rejection after rejection.

Then my mentor shared something that changed everything.

"You're thinking like a student. Start thinking like a publisher."

She drew my thesis structure on a whiteboard.

Then drew lines connecting chapters to potential papers.

She called it the 2+2 Publication Strategy.

Here's what she taught me:

2 Core Papers from Results Chapters

Your Results Chapter 1 becomes Research Paper 1.
Take that chapter. Add relevant methods. Add focused literature.
One clear research question. One complete story.

Your Results Chapter 2 becomes Research Paper 2.
Same approach. Different findings. Another publication.

2 Supporting Papers from Other Chapters

Your Literature Review becomes a Review Paper.
Expand it. Add synthesis. Comprehensive reviews get cited heavily.

Your Methodology becomes a Methodology Paper.
Novel methods deserve their own publication.
Frameworks you developed can stand alone.

The key insight:

Every thesis chapter should tell a complete story.

Not fragments of a bigger story.

Complete stories that can be extracted and published.

I applied this strategy during my postdoc.

Before I started writing, I mapped which papers each chapter would become.


Most PhDs discover this too late.

They write a 300-page thesis.

Then spend years trying to extract papers afterward.

By then, the research feels old. Motivation fades. Careers stall.

Start thinking about publications from day one.

Map your thesis chapters to future papers.

Write each chapter as a standalone story.

Your thesis becomes a collection of related papers.

Not one giant document nobody reads.

What's your current thesis chapter that could become a paper?

Drop it below. I'll tell you which paper type it fits best.

#PhDLife #AcademicPublishing #PhDSuccess #ResearchStrategy #AcademicCareer

47 scholarship emails sent. 3 profs replied. 
My Masters student, Priya, was ready to abandon her PhD dream. Here's the exact pattern that changed everything:

"Maybe I'm not cut out for this," she told me after rejection 40.

I'd seen this before.

Brilliant students giving up.

Not because they lacked talent.

Because no one taught them how to write emails that professors actually read.

Here's what most students don't know:

Professors get on average 15+ scholarship support requests every day.

Your email gets 8 seconds of attention.

Maybe less.

Most students write these emails like cover letters.

Long paragraphs about their passion. 
Generic praise about "impressive research." 
Detailed life stories.

Professors delete them in seconds.

I taught Priya to flip the script entirely.

Stop selling yourself.

Start proving you've done your homework.

Here's the exact pattern that changed everything:

→ Subject line: Name the specific scholarship AND deadline 
→ First sentence: Reference their recent paper by exact title 
→ Second sentence: Connect your research to theirs specifically 
→ Bullet points: Show qualifications (no paragraphs) 
→ Last line: Suggest 15-minute call with specific time options 

No dreams. No generic praise. No life story.

Just evidence you understand their work.

The result?

Within 48 hours, 3 professors responded.

Two offered to support her application.

One became her PhD supervisor.

She's now 6 months into her fully-funded PhD.

Same student. Same qualifications.

Completely different approach.

Most students think scholarship emails are about selling themselves.

They're actually about showing you understand the professor's work.

The infographic in this post shows the template that worked.

Save it. Use it. Adapt it to your field.

Have you sent scholarship emails that disappeared into the void?
What did you wish someone had told you before you started?

#PhD #PhDScholarship #AcademicCareer #ResearchFunding #GradSchool

Most PhD students pay hundreds for research methods training. These 9 courses cost nothing. Here are 9 I give every PhD student.

Yu was in her second year.

Her supervisor wanted her to use mixed methods.

Problem: She'd never learned qualitative research.

The university methods course cost £800. She didn't have it.

She came to my office almost in tears.

"I can't afford the training I need to do my own research."

I remembered struggling with the same problem during my PhD.

Expensive courses. Limited funding. Skills gaps everywhere.

So I'd spent days collecting free alternatives from top universities.

Courses that teach the same content. From better institutions. At zero cost.

I sent Yu the list.

She completed three courses in four months.

Qualitative methods from University of Amsterdam.
Statistical inference from Johns Hopkins.
Writing in the Sciences from Stanford.

Her supervisor's feedback after: "Your methods section is the strongest I've seen from a second-year student."

Free courses. World-class training.

Here are the 9 courses:

1. Understanding Research Methods (University of London)
Build your research foundation. Start here if you're new to research.

2. Qualitative Research Methods (University of Amsterdam)
Learn to find stories that numbers can't tell.

3. Research Design (University of North Texas)
Plan your research with clarity before you start collecting data.

4. Writing in the Sciences (Stanford)
Transform findings into compelling narratives. My personal favorite.

5. Academic English (UC Irvine)
Refine your academic writing. Essential for non-native speakers.

6. Introduction to Systematic Review (Johns Hopkins)
Master comprehensive literature reviews. Critical for any PhD.

7. Statistical Inference (Johns Hopkins)
Understand what your data actually means. Not just how to run tests.

8. Quantitative Methods (University of Amsterdam)
Strengthen your quantitative analysis skills.

9. Research for Impact (University of Cape Town)
Ensure your research reaches beyond academia.


The universities offering these include Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and Amsterdam.

The same institutions charging thousands for in-person programs.

Their online versions are free.

Most PhD students don't know these exist.

They pay for expensive workshops.

Or struggle without proper training.

You don't have to.

Save it. Share it with PhD students who need it.

Which research skill do you most need to develop right now?

#PhDLife #FreeCourses

My journal reviewer destroyed my conclusion in 3 words: "Weak and unconvincing." Here's how to write a strong conclusion that gets your paper accepted

That feedback hurt.

I spent 8 months on that research.

The methodology was solid. The data was clean. The findings were important.

But my conclusion?

"Just summarize your findings and wrap it up."

That's what I thought conclusions were for.

I was so wrong.

After 3 rejections with the same feedback, I finally figured it out:

The best conclusions don't end your paper.

They start someone else's research journey.

Here's what I changed (and why my next paper got accepted):

Before: I summarized my findings
After: I opened with my biggest discovery

Don't repeat what you already said.

Lead with what matters most.

Before: I stayed in my lab
After: I connected to real-world problems

Show how your petri dish findings affect actual humans.

Make abstract research tangible.

Before: I listed contributions vaguely
After: I stated exactly what I added to the field

Not: "This research contributes to the literature..."

But: "This is the first study to show X in context Y."

Before: I wrote "Further research is needed"
After: I posed the next burning question

Not: "More work should explore..."

But: "Why does X happen under Y conditions? This question could reshape how we understand Z."

I rewrote my conclusion following this approach.

Same research. Different conclusion.

The result?

→ Accepted by a top-tier journal on first submission
→ Two researchers reached out about collaborations
→ One citation became ten within six months

The reviewers specifically mentioned my conclusion:

"Compelling synthesis that clearly articulates significance and future directions."

Your conclusion isn't just summary.

It's your last chance to make readers care.

The best conclusions leave readers with a question they didn't know they had.

That's how you get cited.

That's how you build collaborations.

That's how research actually moves forward.

Look at your current conclusion right now.

Does it just summarize? Or does it make readers think about tomorrow?

What's the one question your research uncovered that keeps YOU up at night?

Drop it in the comments. I'll tell you if it's the kind of question that hooks readers.

#AcademicWriting #ResearchTips #PhDLife #AcademicSuccess #PublishingStrategy

Wasting weeks reading random papers for literature reviews? This is how to fix it.
A PhD student in my department wasted 6 weeks reading the wrong papers.

His supervisor asked: "Do you even know who the key scholars are in this field?"

He didn't.

James came to me for advice three months into his PhD.

Drowning in papers.

Downloaded 127 articles. Read 83 of them.

His literature review was a mess.

Random papers. No coherent narrative. Missing major scholars.

His supervisor said:

"James, you're reading randomly. You need to map the landscape first."

"What does that mean?" James asked.

I explained: "Find the key scholars. Understand who cites whom."

He tried for two days to manually map citations.

Drew diagrams. Created spreadsheets. Got more confused.

I showed him something a colleague recommended:

"Try Bohrium Scholar. It maps everything visually."

James was skeptical but desperate.

We spent 30 minutes exploring his research area.

What he discovered:

Step 1: He searched his research area
Found the 10-20 most cited scholars instantly.
Complete research profiles showing their focus areas.

Step 2: The Global Impact Map
Showed which papers cite whom.
He could see where work is cited globally.
Citation flows made sense visually.

Step 3: ScholarTalk Feature
He asked questions about scholars' methodologies.
Got insights into their expertise and philosophies.

Step 4: Academic Tree
Showed collaboration patterns he'd never noticed.
Clicked on collaborators to see co-authored papers.

Step 5: Reading List Builder
Identified must-read papers from influential scholars.
His literature review foundation in 30 minutes.

The difference:

Before: 6 weeks, 83 random papers, confused mess

After: 30 minutes mapping, targeted reading list, clear narrative


James now starts every literature review this way.

The 5-step framework:

1. Identify key scholars (10-20 most cited)
2. Track citation flows (who cites whom)
3. Understand approaches (ScholarTalk)
4. Map collaboration networks (Academic Tree)
5. Build targeted reading list (from profiles)

30 minutes of mapping saves weeks of random reading.

Are you writing a literature review right now?

If you want to check out your global impact map and academic tree, you can claim your scholar profile.

Try Bhohrium Scholar for free: https://lnkd.in/earmR__B

Use the special code: EMMANUEL02. This code offers a one-week membership, which will remain valid for redemption for one year, so you can fully experience the Bohrium platform and its features.

What's your biggest challenge - finding key scholars, understanding connections, or building a reading list?

#PhDLife #LiteratureReview #ResearchTips #PhDSuccess #AcademicResearch

My PhD student's conference paper got initially rejected for "inadequate English." Here's how she fixed it in 5 days and got accepted.

Ying sat in my office trying not to cry.

"I knew my English wasn't good enough. I should never have tried to submit to international conferences."

The rejection email was brutal: "The language does not meet our standards."

Her research was excellent. Strong methodology. Novel findings.

But English was her third language.

She wrote "very big impact" instead of "substantial impact."

"Every day" instead of "daily."

"More" instead of "greater."

The grammar was correct. The sentences made sense. 

But they didn't sound academic.

There was another conference in 3 weeks.

Different venue, but equally prestigious.

Ying needed her paper fixed fast.

One of her peers suggested she hire a professional editor.

She looked at the quotes: £800 for a full edit.

She didn't have it.

The university offered editing services.

Wait time: 6 weeks. She had 3 weeks.

Then I remembered a tool a colleague had mentioned.

Inkwell . AI-powered but designed to teach, not just fix.

I suggested Ying try it.

She was skeptical about AI editing academic work.

"Won't conference reviewers reject AI-edited text?"

I explained: Inkwell doesn't write for you. It teaches you to write better.

Suggests corrections but you apply them yourself.

Ying tried it that evening.

Uploaded her paper

Got instant feedback on every language issue.

Grammar. Syntax. Academic register. Tone.

But here's what convinced her:

Inkwell explained WHY each change mattered

She wasn't just fixing errors.

She was learning academic English.

Ying revised her paper using Inkwell's explanations.

Submitted to the second conference.

The decision came back: "Accepted. Well-written and clearly presented"

That was 6 months ago.

Ying has now presented at 2 conferences.

Published 1 journal paper.

Each time, her writing gets stronger.

The 5-step process she uses:

Step 1: Upload draft (Word, PDF, or LaTeX)
Step 2: AI review identifies all language issues instantly
Step 3: Read explanations for each suggested correction
Step 4: Apply corrections independently while learning
Step 5: Export publication-ready document

I now recommend Inkwell to every international PhD I supervise.

And to all PhDs who struggle with academic language.

Conference deadlines are tight.

Professional editors are expensive and slow.

You need something fast that actually teaches you.

What's the biggest academic language barrier you face when submitting to conferences or journals?

#AcademicWriting #PhDLife #AcademicEnglish #ConferencePaper #PhDSuccess

For a limited time, activate any subscription with your first month completely risk-free, and explore every feature with no limitations: https://inkwell.net/

And students and faculty anywhere in the world receive 50% off, permanently.
Check your eligibility in seconds: https://lnkd.in/eTGU_Hti

graphical user interface, application, Word

I spent 6 hours building a conference presentation last week. Then I discovered I could do it in 10 minutes. Here's how.

The conference deadline was in 5 days.

I had a 40-slide PowerPoint to create from my research paper.

My usual process: Copy text from the paper. Paste into slides. Format everything manually. Find images. Resize charts. Fix alignment issues.

6-8 hours minimum. Every single time.

Then a colleague showed me something that changed everything.

"Just paste your paper into Gamma. It builds the presentation for you."

I was skeptical.

AI-generated presentations usually look terrible.

Generic templates. Wrong emphasis. Missing the actual point of the research.

But I was desperate. 5 days. 40 slides. No time for my usual approach.

I tried it.

Pasted my entire paper into Gamma.

Selected "presentation" and hit continue.

Chose my slide settings: text length, visual types, number of slides.

Picked a theme.

Hit generate.

10 minutes later, I had a complete presentation.

Not a rough draft. A complete, professional presentation.

The structure followed my paper's logic.

Key findings were highlighted correctly.

The visual hierarchy made sense.

I added my own charts and diagrams. Gamma integrated them beautifully.

Made a few tweaks. Changed some images. Adjusted two slide titles.

Total time: 15 minutes of active work.

The presentation at the conference?

Three people asked for my slides afterward.

Two collaboration inquiries.

One journal editor approached me about submitting the full paper.

All from a presentation I built in 15 minutes instead of 6 hours.

Here's the 5-step process I now use:

Step 1: Set your presentation
Select your paper. Create new Gamma. Choose "Paste in Text" option.

Step 2: Prepare your text
Copy and paste your paper. Select presentation format. Hit continue.

Step 3: Design and customize
Define slide settings: text length, visuals, number of slides.
Select theme. Hit generate.
Drag and drop your own charts and diagrams.

Step 4: Review and refine
Add or remove slides as needed.
Change images, add videos, adjust text.
Make it yours.

Step 5: Export and present
Export to PDF, PowerPoint, or Google Slides.
Share with your team.
Present with confidence.

The time I used to spend on formatting?

Now I spend on rehearsing.

Which actually matters for the presentation.

What takes you longest when building research presentations?

The initial structure? Finding visuals? Formatting slides?

#AcademicPresentations #PhDLife #ConferenceTips #ResearchPresentation #AcademicProductivity

👉 Try with Gamma for free, using my link: https://lnkd.in/eXvi6QxR

My mentee's journal paper got rejected twice. Reviewers found papers she'd completely missed. Here's how she fixed it.

Sophie had reached out through my mentorship program

Frustrated after the rejection

Reviewer 2's comment: "The literature review is incomplete. The authors missed 15 papers directly relevant to this research question"

Environmental psychology papers for her urban planning study

She'd spent 6 months on her literature review

She'd searched every urban planning database

But she only used keywords: "urban AND design AND health"

The problem?
Psychologists don't call it "urban design"
They call it "built environment"
Climate scientists call it "urban infrastructure"
Sociologists call it "spatial justice"

She missed 40% of relevant papers because they were hidden in other disciplines

When she came to me, I showed her the BRIDGE method using Consensus

Here's what we did:

B: Begin with BROAD semantic searching
Asked Consensus: "How does urban green space affect mental health?"
Not keywords. Natural language
Found papers from public health, psychology, urban planning, environmental science.

R: RELEVANCE verification
Every statistic checked against original source
"47% improvement" meant 47% in elderly only, not all populations
Never cited without reading the relevant sections.

I: INTERDISCIPLINARY mapping
Asked Consensus Threads: "What fields have studied this?"
Created a map showing which disciplines contribute what insights
Tracked terminology differences across fields.

D: DEPTH checking
Started with Consensus AI summary
Read abstracts of top 15 papers
Deep dive into methods of key papers
Flagged papers needing full reading vs summary.

G: GAP identification
Mapped what each discipline covered vs hadn't covered
Found real gaps, not just unusual terminology
Connected dots AI hadn't seen.

E: ETHICAL synthesis
Used Consensus for discovery, not writing
Created original frameworks from connections found
Wrote analysis in her own voice
Cited AI assistance transparently: "Initial papers identified using Consensus AI"

She spent 4 weeks revising her literature review

This time, she found papers from 7 different disciplines

Her revised manuscript was 40% stronger

She resubmitted. Accepted with minor revisions

The lesson?
Traditional keyword searching misses 40% of relevant papers.

They're not hidden. They're just called different things in different disciplines

Semantic AI like Consensus finds them

But you still need critical thinking to evaluate them

If AI does everything, who gets the credit?

Consensus accelerates discovery.

But your critical thinking, synthesis, and original insights make the paper publishable.

Repost and Comment 'guide' to get the full PDF guide for FREE

#AcademicPublishing #LiteratureReview #AIforResearch 

Try Consensus for free using my link: https://lnkd.in/ecpZQj3v - and get 1 week free of Consensus Pro
Use my promo code for 25% off for the year: phdtoprof25

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Angela Priest's LinkedIn Performance

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