 April, and you have an unaddressed 1 rating. :/ I need to drop you from I LOVE Kawaii for now. You can PM me once you get your rating worked out!
o.m.ggggg! I received the postcard you sent with the statue.... um... holding.. his... ummmmmmmmmm! That is freaking funny. I wonder what my mailman thought? I'm going to try and scan it today so I can put it up on FB. Eepy sent me a really cool one, too, that I'm scanning. You guys rock!!! :) THANK YOU!
Hope you get the Profile Surprise soon!!!
Thank you for the PCs and the adorable sticker that I can't decide where to put because I want to keep if FOREVER!!!!
Happy birthday hun! I hope you'll have a great day and that my birthday-pc will arrive today!!!​It often all starts with a recently-published paper. Study X shows this really cool new mechanism or pattern, and suggests that it should be of widespread importance (hence why it is published in a high impact journal). Such studies can influence scientific questions over years to follow, and a truly novel study will undoubtedly inspire at least a generation or two of PhD students to test similar a question in their own study species. However, doing so can lead to quite a lot of disappointment—not because the question is a bad one, nor because the system itself is inherently weak, but simply because the question and study system do not lead to a happy coupling.
The first step to avoiding disappointment is gaining a better understanding of the recipe for a high impact paper. The main ingredient is ecological relevance: the biological phenomenon being studied, whether it is generated in an experimental or observational setting, must actually relate to something real that happens in the system that is focal to the study. Good papers are often described as being ‘elegant’ or ‘simple’, largely because they show the hypothesised patterns with little need to mould or work the data. This is because the phenomenon in question was studied on (one of) the best possible systems to test it. Further, such a study usually requires being able to collect a sufficient sample size to be really convincing. The result is often something which sometimes hardly needs any statistics—they simply show the patterns beyond any doubt (see my thoughts on this in the previous post on data analysis).
Do I think that the biological phenomenon occurs and is important? For example, why would a specific behaviour be important? What is it about the system that suggests that this behaviour is selectively adaptive? How could the related implications of this behaviour impact evolutionary processes? There should be no vague answers here (e.g. ‘it can potentially impact disease spread’). Any time that the answers to such questions are not immediately obvious, it’s worth taking a step back to reassess your approach.
Is the biological phenomenon hypothesised to occur likely to be the most parsimonious one? This question raises a whole bunch of topics. In a given system, will hypothesis A be the most likely to explain pattern A (or are there alternative mechanisms?). The relative importance of different types of behaviours or processes could vary across different systems. For example, while affiliative interactions are likely to be among the most common reason for two dolphins or two baboons to be in close proximity, fighting might be the most common reason for two Tasmanian devils to be in close proximity. Thus, the interpretation of the same dataset (spatial proximity) is likely to be really different across different systems, and therefore it is important to make sure that the behaviour (or pattern or process) of interest is a common one in the focal study system, and unlikely to be generated by other behaviours that have the same data signature.
It pays to be very critical when choosing both study systems and questions. Often circumstances throw up opportunities to work on a given system, and when it does, one should take care to think carefully about whether interests align with opportunity. I’ve written in the past about the importance of scientists being passionate about our topic. If the topic and the system don’t align, forcing them together might seem like a good idea (the passion will be there), but ultimately could be a whole lot of wasted time (the data won’t be there). If you are not critical during the design and implementation stage, it’s likely that your reviewers will be, and unfortunately this will happen after months (at least) of time invested on your part. Poor matching of the system and questions could then ultimately result in publishing fewer (they take longer to publish due to imperfect results) and lower impact (submitting to less critical journals) papers. It is important to remember that having success as a researcher isn’t just being good at designing experiments or meticulously watching animals, it starts with asking the right question for the right system.
A huge part of the scientific process is critical thinking. It is always important to put your critical thinking hat on when it comes to making decisions about your own research. I find the easiest way of doing this is to put myself in the shoes of a reviewer – one that has no vested interest in the study system. Would I really believe that what the authors suggest happens in this system really happening? Supervisors also play an important role when making decisions about a study’s questions. However, sometimes supervisors are so embedded in their project that it can also be hard to for them to see (or acknowledge) a system’s limitations.
Step 1: Applying. Many students will apply for a project that is already well defined. Competition for projects is super-tough, so being successful can often feel like your one chance to make it. However, competition doesn’t get easier after the PhD—and you’ll only progress if your PhD was successful (which requires picking good questions and the best system). Be critical about a project that’s advertised, and if possible seek advice from someone independent about the feasibility of the proposed project to work out. The point here is: don’t assume that because a project is advertised it means that it will be good and/or successful. Also, if you’re competitive to get one position, maybe it’s worth waiting it out for a better one.
Step 2: Ask your supervisor to brain-storm or raise potential criticisms that someone might have about your project/ideas. Push them to be realistic here, and ask them ignore the strong desire to defend their body of research just for the sake of it. A good avenue that many universities have is the external advisory committees that oversee each student’s plans and ideas—use these wisely by asking for them to be honest and critical. Most importantly, and I can’t stress this enough, be open to any critical comments that are being made. If someone asks whether you think this behaviour A the most logical explanation for why pattern A might be observed, take the question seriously. (And take note that often those that sit on advisory committees will often not openly state major criticisms in order to avoid upsetting candidates, so such questions are usually understated).Welcome to the Department of English's Center for Literary and Comparative Studies.
The Center serves as a dynamic venue for critical and creative work through lectures, symposia, conferences, readings, and other activities, all of which are open to the public.
The Center does not merely showcase the research and creative activities of the Department, but also helps to develop new knowledge in literary and comparative studies. The Center actively promotes collaboration with other departments and programs, such as the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures; Classics; Women's Studies; and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Program. In this way, the Center serves as a focal point within the University of Maryland for cross-disciplinary dialogue in the humanities.
Every year the Center introduces a new theme which provides thematic integration to the department's public seminars, conferences, lectures, panel discussions, and other public programs, as well as the Call for Proposals. The Center's theme for both 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 is "Resistance." Many of the Center's programs for this year explore this theme.
In support of and along with each year's theme, the Center sponsors a wide variety of activities: the Petrou lecture; Symposiums, Round-table Discussions, Book Launches, Salons, and Work in Progress series for faculty and students; an Alumni Book Group; our regular lectures series, such as Local Americanists and the Marshall Grossman Lecture Series; and our regular poetry and fiction readings, such as Writers Here and Now. Keep an eye on our calendar, and please join us for an exciting year ahead.
Edlie Wong
Professor and Director
Center for Literary and Comparative StudiesAttention all entrepreneurs! Are you looking for a profitable business opportunity in 2023? Consider becoming a freight trucking agent! With the rise of online shopping and e-commerce, the demand for reliable and efficient shipping and delivery has never been higher. And as a freight trucking agent, you'll have the chance to be at the forefront of this industry and watch your business thrive. Don't wait—this is the opportunity of a lifetime! Keep reading to learn more about this exciting career opportunity. Get in on the ground floor and start your journey to success today!
The demand for freight trucking agents is higher than ever before. The freight trucking industry plays a vital role in the economy, transporting goods across the country to keep businesses running smoothly. As the demand for goods increases, so does the demand for transportation. Recent statistics show that the freight trucking business is expected to keep growing over the next few years. This means that more agents will be needed to connect trucking companies with shippers. Also, there aren't enough truck drivers right now, which makes the role of agents even more important for getting goods where