Tag Archives: independence

Exactly how independent should your research be?

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Joan E. Strassmann

The significance of a Ph.D. degree is that you can do much more than excellent research. You can also think of what questions to ask. You know how to push at the most important unknowns. You can read the literature … Continue reading →

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How to motivate a graduate student

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Joan E. Strassmann

When you are motivated, ideas bubble up in the middle of any activity. When you are motivated, you find solutions and links across different areas of your endeavor. When you are motivated, you find joy that carries you through the … Continue reading →

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Metaphors for mentoring: lids and rims

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Joan E. Strassmann

Is a mentor like training wheels on a bicycle? Do the brave not need them, staying up with a gentle shove and a good sense of balance? Is a mentor like staking a sapling until its roots can support it? … Continue reading →

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