Sure, but some of us just like metrics and can also see that the world isn't black and white (unlike the current narrative on lots of thing hmm) and there are exceptions to the rule. I still covet getting some high IF journal papers!

In my field IF is a big deal! I wish I had a darn high IF journal paper but alas I don't yet.

It does depend on the field though. I know in some of the arts it is more common to be a single student author.

A high IF would look impressive IMO but it probably isn't that big a deal at this stage. When applying for professorships I think you have to state the IF of each one of the papers (at least you do at my uni). But I wouldn't worry that much. Go for the best journal you think it could go in. Some people I know have a strategy of submitting to higher impact factors first and then working down through the list. Personally I just go for a journal that I think it will be accepted in. One where I've read similar papers.

Hi there

It sounds like a pretty typical thing to do. Usually they assume they will be a coauthor anyway in my experience. I can't see anyone turning down the opportunity (unless they deeply disagreed with your interpretation of the findings or something).

Good luck!

Hi Moilee

You're not a failure. It just sounds like you were screwed over. Especially if your own work has been given to a postdoc to write up. That is unethical if it is your PhD work and you have expressed willingness to write it up. Can you challenge them on that, say it is your work, you want to write the paper and you are happy for them to be coauthors? By the sounds of what you said that won't work, but is it worth a try?

Regarding the other drafts. Can you send the supervisors a final email inviting them to work with you on publishing the papers, and say that if you don't hear by x date (say 2 weeks) you will assume that they don't want to be involved and you will seek another coauthor / mentor? You could submit the papers yourself and you could ask your PhD examiners if they would be willing to give feedback on a draft. Even if you don't get feedback, you should get valuable feedback from the journal reviewers.

If you're interested in pursuing research still then I don't think you can rely on your supervisors to help you, as they seem like they have basically abandoned you in that sense. I'd seek a research job where I could build up my publication record.

Hope this is of some help though I realise it might not be. You're not alone out there sadly. This kind of thing happens a lot.

Sorted! I had to un-encrypt it.

Hi there

I am so frustrated! I have an Excel workbook that I created years ago. I have the password but am sick of entering it every time I want to use the file. So I am trying to remove the password.

I have followed this:

Hahaha! Haven't had this nickname before! I do like this forum!

Thanks for all the replies. And yeh I think you see where I am coming from pm133. Thanks for the encouragement and ideas. Yes, I think I will stick with my original goal and strategy for now. I'll only go for teaching roles that are temporary/short term. For now. The great thing about a plan is you can always change it if it isn't working. Have a great day everyone :)

Sounds a nightmare. I felt similar with my Masters thesis formatting (but I left it till the night before and was trying to sort it all out lol). So if I understand correctly you are aiming to submit in about 6 months from now? You have plenty of time! I think get it written and save a week or so for sorting out the formatting (that is if it is mostly text - if it is lots of figures and things that require work to get them all presented right you might want to save more than a week for getting it sorted out). If you set aside some time to learn how to use the template or find another similar one online, then it should feel less stressful.

I used a reference manager for my masters but didn't for my PhD and don't for my papers. I just find it easier to add my own references (copying and pasting from google scholar and then sorting the reference list a-z and checking they are in the right order). Reference managers are good but they can also be quite annoying sometimes and mess things up (in my experience). I think it depends on what suits the individual best.

Ps. Oops just saw your reply above and sounds like you're on the way to being sorted now! Good luck!

Yep, that is exactly the case, pm133! What I'm currently doing is coming to an end, and I'm struggling to find the right next research role. I think it has a lot to do with the current climate, which might go on for a bit. There are lots of teaching opportunities available, but I am less attracted to these. So I guess I'm just trying to weigh up options and their implications, and be realistic.

Yes I see. But with a postdoc you get to spend a high proportion of time doing research, can produce more papers in a shorter time, and you get valuable supervision (although I guess this part can be true as part of a lectureship too). It's the norm in the US to do a few postdocs after your PhD - sort of like doing a second or a third PhD. And then you go for a lectureship. I like this model as I feel you get to really develop as a researcher - putting more time into that - before all the teaching and admin responsibilities that'll come later.

So it would just look a bit weird, ha! OK cool. Cheers all.

Thanks pd, the more input the better. I don't want to get into a debate about things like casualisation etc. I'm well aware of the importance of things like job security, but it's not actually a priority to me right now (we're all wired differently). My question is - if I take a lectureship am I sort of already on that path and can't go back to my goal of doing a few postdocs?