Column in 2011

Postdoc committees can give insight into industry career paths, argue Christopher Tsang and Michael Fisher.

There is something to be said for letting go of the mantle of expert, argues Peter Fiske.

Flexible academic positions help women to juggle work and family. Kate O'Brien and Karen Hapgood explain how to avoid the 'female ghetto' when working part time.

Ecologist Gaston Small uses social media to talk about his work. Others, he says, must join him.

Some researchers may recoil from metrics-based assessment. But they should know how others are keeping score, say Maria Pavlou and Eleftherios P. Diamandis.

A little empathy goes a long way in the competitive confines of a laboratory, argues Lydia Soraya Murray.

Andrew Peterman says scientists need to reach out.

In the search for a job, contacts matter. Peter J. Feibelman explains how to assemble a personal 'old boy' network while still a PhD student or postdoc.

There are ways for researchers to sell themselves — but they shouldn't overdo it, says Mariano A. Loza-Coll.

A heavy administrative burden keeps top academic scientists from doing science, argues Adam James

Before you can tackle the overwhelming task of huge writing projects, you must first put aside some widely held myths, say Maria Gardiner and Hugh Kearns

A tax-law change has dealt a heavy blow to Canadian postdocs, argues Lucie Low

Columnist competition yields six winners.

An advanced degree doesn't always bring the prospects it once did, says Peter Fiske. But scientists can learn from the travails of those with professional qualifications.

It's easy to give in to procrastination — but Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner offer some tips for getting your drive back.

Today's reactors are designed to head off Fukushima-style disasters, explains Andrew Sherry. Better blueprints are key to industry safety.

The long-term risks to health of low levels of radiation are still poorly known, says David J. Brenner. A combination of more studies of exposed populations and basic research is needed.

Attention must turn to evacuees in the region.

Lars H. Breimer, Michael E. Breimer and Douwe D. Breimer say doing a postdoc abroad is unnecessary.

Graduate students bear as much responsibility as their mentors for ensuring that they are well guided through their degrees, say Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner.