The Art of Being a Scientist
A Guide for Graduate Students and their Mentors

A hands-on guide for graduate students, junior researchers and mentors for perfecting the practical skills needed for a successful research career.

Roel Snieder (Author), Ken Larner (Author)

9780521743525, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 23 July 2009

296 pages, 6 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.48 kg

'… is this book practically useful? The answer is 'yes, yes, and yes!' … This is a true success! … a very good reading for students who plan to make a career in geosciences, educators who wish to supervise their students efficiently … and university managers who are responsible for an academic curriculum. The reviewer will recommend this book strongly to his students …' Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

This is a hands-on guide for graduate students and young researchers wishing to perfect the practical skills needed for a successful research career. By teaching junior scientists to develop effective research habits, the book helps to make the experience of graduate study a more efficient and rewarding one. The authors have taught a graduate course on the topics covered for many years, and provide a sample curriculum for instructors in graduate schools wanting to teach a similar course. Topics covered include choosing a research topic, department, and advisor; making workplans; the ethics of research; using scientific literature; perfecting oral and written communication; publishing papers; writing proposals; managing time effectively; and planning a scientific career and applying for jobs in research and industry. The wealth of advice is invaluable to students, junior researchers and mentors in all fields of science, engineering, and the humanities. The authors have taught a graduate course on the topics covered for many years, and provide a sample curriculum for instructors in graduate schools wanting to teach a similar course. The sample curriculum is available in the book as Appendix B, and as an online resource.

1. Introduction
2. What is science?
3. Choices, choices, choices
4. The adviser and thesis committee
5. Questions drive research
6. Giving direction to your work
7. Turning challenges into opportunities
8. Ethics of research
9. Using the scientific literature
10. Communication
11. Publishing a paper
12. Time management
13. Writing proposals
14. The scientific career
15. Applying for a job
16. Concluding remarks
Appendix A. Further reading
Appendix B. A sample curriculum
Appendix C. The Refer and BibTeX format
Index.

Subject Areas: Engineering: general [TBC], Earth sciences [RB], Life sciences: general issues [PSA], Physics [PH], Science: general issues [PD], Mathematics & science [P], Humanities [H]