What exactly is a PhD by publication?

A PhD by publication, that is, a PhD submitted in the form of a dossier of published papers with varying degrees of connective writing, has become an increasingly common thesis format. However, as Lynn P. Nygaard and Kristin Solli point out, there are significant variations in how these pieces are put together. Outlining these differences … Continued

Scientific conferences: Why meeting face-to-face still matters

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated a trend in academic meetings and conferences to move from real world to digital environments. Whilst this has potential gains in accessibility and inclusivity, drawing on a study of physicists, Harry Collins and Will Mason-Wilkes* argue in person meetings are still vital in creating and sustaining academic communities. What are scientific … Continued

What 40,000 job adverts say about academic career progression

Discussing the findings of a study of over 40,000 academic job ads, Lilia Mantai and Mauricio Marrone, highlight how the skills required for academic progression differ over career stage and geography. The skills required to progress from PhD to professor – the classic academic trajectory –are not at all clear, despite lots being written on … Continued