Gratitude in research careers

This newsletter usually focuses on problem-solving. At Wise Investigator, it’s our mission to bring solutions to PIs, solutions suited for today’s competitive environment. Since the research support infrastructure has not completely kept up, and the demands of work keep accelerating, new solutions are required. However, this week, let’s focus on what is right in research. My thoughts on what we have to be thankful for:

An international community: Curiosity and theories transcend borders, languages and cultures. We work on a daily basis with people from all over the globe. It’s so common that we probably don’t even think about it. However, in many other industries and workplaces, this is not the case. The effort to advance knowledge is beyond national borders. We’re part of that and it enriches our lives.

Teaching and mentoring: Teaching is a huge responsibility that demands both time and effort, while mentoring takes place at a range of scales. However, in both cases it’s easy to see how what’s happening is deserving of appreciation. We should be grateful for the opportunity to teach and/or mentor. Teaching makes us better at what we do – you don’t really know something until you can teach it. The opportunity to teach and also engage directly with those advancing in their careers is a genuine privilege.

Intensive mentorship that we’ve received: I’m grateful to the faculty and staff who spent hours at my side in the lab or the field -- not just telling, but actually showing me how to do something. This is where we absorb the intangibles that we carry with us, intangibles that go beyond the technical, leading ultimately to research integrity. In other careers, too many people do not get the apprentice-like experience so many of us have had and now value. I’m sure you’ll agree that these experiences have changed our lives.

We are paid to learn: When I started with the U.S. Army Research Office, the organization was involved in an annual event called Division Reviews. Over a week, program managers presented to a panel of external experts on the work in their portfolios. In addition to sharing overview metrics and highlighting selected efforts, program managers explained why they made the investments they had, a process that required describing the current state of the field. I felt grateful that my job, for a full week, was to attend these presentations, all of which were from fields outside my area of expertise in geoscience. Now, it’s just one more example of how fortunate I have been to make a living by learning.

Knowledge for its own sake: As the pace of life increases, the pressure for outcomes increases as well. I recently recorded a video on the importance of communicating research impact. That is, the why of the project. However, I’m sure that most of you will agree with me when I say that, although we need to learn to communicate in a way that resonates with decision makers, we also recognize the value of knowledge for its own sake. It’s inspiring to work with colleagues who are driven by curiosity and produce new knowledge.

A forward-looking profession: Scientific research is inherently forward-looking, and its outputs form the foundations of our future. Many of you are enabling solutions that won’t be realized in our own lifetimes -- but will transform the lives of future generations. Working with colleagues who dedicate their lives to enabling better futures is another attribute I am grateful for.

As the Thanksgiving holiday break draws to a close, I encourage you to take one additional day to pause, however briefly, and reflect on what we have to be grateful for in our careers.

Are you planning to write proposals during the holiday breaks?

More holidays are coming! Are you planning to write proposals during the breaks? The deadlines set by some funders make it very likely that some PIs will need to work on proposals during this 'time off.' However, if you don't have a good indication that your proposal has a decent chance of being supported, I encourage you to reconsider how you use this time.

It is likely that getting some rest and taking time to reset will serve you better than locking yourself away from family and friends to write. I admire how hardworking PIs are. I'm a hard worker, too, so I get it. At Wise Investigator, we regularly support clients nights, weekends and holidays when there is a good indication that there's a reason to put in the effort. Please consider what the best use of your time is in what remains of 2024. 🎅

When you are ready, here’s how we can help

Need to get your research funded, this year? Check out our 10-week program to get you there.

Ready to book a call to discuss our program or to have Dr. Barzyk provide training at your institution? Let’s chat!