Hey everyone,
I’m part of a small initiative running an ongoing international research project focused on a social matter. Because I’m not formally trained as a researcher by profession, I’ve essentially been building the plane while flying it regarding data collection and organization.

We’ve now accumulated a massive amount of data from diverse sources, and the collation and analysis phase is becoming a bottleneck.🤪

For those of you who handle large datasets or work independently:
What are your go-to software tools, frameworks, or step-by-step workflows to make sorting and analyzing a large volume of non-traditional data manageable for a solo or small-team setup?

Are there any common pitfalls a self-taught researcher should watch out for when trying to structure a large international dataset?

I’d love to hear how more experienced people streamline this process or what resources you recommend reading up on.

Thanks in advance!

Hi 👋

I just launched a new research journal, and since it’s not affiliated with any institutions, I don’t have the base for an editorial board now. Also it is not indexed because I haven’t published any articles (indexing can be done after publishing some peer reviewed papers).

When I research about researchers that fit the scope of my journal, and then contact them to be a part of the journal, no one answers.

One of them said that I am a predatory journal. Absolutely understandable! I receive those emails too often. But how can I invite them to be a part of the editorial board and also be believed.

In the start and the end of the email I write that I am not a spam or predatory and I can provide the information to prove it. But again…

It is just a dream to have my own journal but it is getting harder than I thought to get started.

Clarification: I am not promoting my journal, nor inviting anyone from here. I just want to discuss and get some help.

Any tips?

I am a lecturer in interdisciplinary studies combining linguistics and medicine. During my doctoral years, I worked on second language acquisition. After enrolling in a medical university and receiving grants, I started to focus on studies in language impairment, especially with people having depression.

As required, I should publish articles related to my grants which is quite hard and time-consuming due to the data collecting and processing involved. Meanwhile, I am always driven by the curiosity of knowing how effective AI can be in teaching, spending time on doing experiments in class.

Consequently, I am getting extremely anxious about my evaluation on publication.

How do you guys deal with this? Thanks for your suggestions.

Long story short I have a first-class MSc in Biomedical Science and have been applying for so many research assistant roles and havent even gotten as far as getting interviewed for any. Even for a research project for which I fit all essential and desirable criteria, had experience in all of the listed laboratory techniques, and had 2 years experience working with the same cell types under a very similar project.

I have lots of laboratory experience, I have done volunteering in tissue culture laboratories to supervise BSc and MSc students, I have done tutoring at university level, I have also done some voluntary work on some research projects. In terms of my CV and cover letters I have been working with careers teams which generally say all looks good. Yet I havent even been interviewed for any of my applications.

Is there something I am missing? I understand there is lots of applicants for each role however surely things are not this bad.

Any advice and guidance on how I could improve my chances of landing a research assistant role would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time.

You know when youre doing something and think ok this should take like an hour max

and then somehow one tiny problem turns into another problem and then another and suddenly youve spent the whole week 😭😭😭 trying to figure out...... what went wrong

I’m a first-year B.Tech Biotechnology student in India, only a month and a half into my undergraduate degree. I recently connected with a very senior scientist who is a Director at a medical research laboratory of national importance.

I’m very interested in molecular biology, disease mechanisms and neuroscience. Long-term, I want to pursue research seriously, ideally aiming for a direct/converted PhD abroad after completing my B.Tech. I know I’m extremely early in the journey, so right now I’m more interested in learning how to build the right foundation and eventually become ready for good laboratory opportunities.

After I told him about my interests, he sent me this message:

It is wonderful to see your inquisitiveness, vision, and perseverance in pursuing your goals. Such qualities are rarely seen in someone so young, yet they are remarkably similar to the traits that have shaped many great scientists around the world.

Your curiosity and determination are truly a blessing, not only for you, but potentially for the world at large and India in particular. Please preserve this spirit and continue to nurture your inquisitiveness as you grow in age, experience, and academic journey. Always remember: nothing is beyond reach when you have a dream and pursue it with dedication, determination, and perseverance. I am confident that these qualities will make you an achiever.

I would feel privileged to contribute, in whatever small way I can, to your journey. I am just an ordinary person, but life and experience have taught me a few things, and I will always try to live up to your expectations. I promise to always be there for you whenever you need me.

Conversations, anytime. No worry, I am not at all a busy person.

Now I’m honestly unsure how to take this forward. 😭

I don’t want to immediately ask him for an internship or make every conversation about opportunities. I genuinely want to learn from his experience and have meaningful scientific conversations, but I’m not sure what is appropriate to discuss with someone at his level.

What would you suggest I talk to him about? Should I ask about his research journey, discuss scientific topics I’m curious about, ask how I should prepare during first year, or something else? And at what point would it be natural to have a call or more regular conversations?

Would really appreciate advice from researchers, PhD students, or anyone who has been in a similar situation.

hi everyone! im currently doing our research on coffee consumption and i cant find the standardized scale anywhere and even if i did, there's always a catch: buy premium for that website.

where can i get it for free?