STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
In general
Research and scholarship are essential to the scientific endeavor. Scholarship is here defined, generally, as knowledge acquired by study and, particularly, as the academic attainments (achievements/accomplishments) of a scholar, such as the academic skills, knowledge, qualities, methods, and outcomes (i.e., publications, discoveries, inventions, scientific and teaching contributions, influences, integrity, legacies, and so on).
Early career researchers often come to mentors with varying levels of competency in these areas. The annotated resources in this section provide mentors with high-quality content they can use in their work with mentees.
Useful Research and scholarship general resources:
American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2019). myIDP ScienceCareers individual development plan. https://myidp.sciencecareers.org/
Mentors can have mentees use this self-guided planning tool in order to evaluate their long-term career plans, make a plan for improving their skills, and to generate a report for mentors and/or create a certificate that mentors can keep on file for each mentee and review at intervals to track progress. Login required to generate customized plans.
National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. (2009). On being a scientist: A guide to responsible conduct in research: Third edition. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12192
Freely available textbook (PDF or read online) that “describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter in their work. It applies to all forms of research—whether in academic, industrial, or governmental settings—and to all scientific disciplines.” Includes content that can be used for individual reading and/or group discussion as well as a case study discussion guide and “Additional Resources” (use the online Table of Contents to navigate sections).
TUM Graduate School, Technical University of Munich. (2020). Exclusive course program: winter semester 2020. https://www.gs.tum.de/fileadmin/w00bik/www/Attachments/Information_fuer_
Promovierende/Downloads/TUM-GS_Course_Program_WS2020.pdf
PDF outlining key competencies for doctoral students, both those who wish to aim for academic careers and those pursuing research careers outside academia. While the courses listed are those taking place at TUM, universities creating similar programs can easily use this chart as a model for developing their own comprehensive early career researcher support programs.
Tags: All IPS; all PSR; all GL; all Comp
Peer Review: None
Table of contents:
1.0. In general
- 1.1. Academic presentations and posters
- 1.1.1. Selecting places to present
- 1.1.2. Preparing
- 1.1.2.1. Preparing presentation content
1.1.2.2. Online presentations
1.1.2.3. Rhetoric
1.1.2.4. Designing research posters
1.1.2.5. Online poster sessions
1.1.2.6. Practice and feedback
- 1.1.3. Presenting
- 1.1.3.1. Oral presentations
1.1.3.2. Presenting at online conferences
- 1.2. Academic reading and writing
- 1.2.1. Preparing to write
- 1.2.1.1. Searching the literature
1.2.1.2. Analysis and synthesis
1.2.1.3. Critical reading
1.2.1.4. Critical thinking
1.2.1.5. Evaluating use and misuse of scientific information
1.2.1.6. Reading and interpreting graphs, plots, statistical data
1.2.1.7. Organizing a writing project
1.2.1.8. Citing correctly and reference/citation management tools
1.2.1.9. Copyright: definition, why considered important/or not important, things to consider
- 1.2.2.1. Books
1.2.2.2. Dissertations
- 1.2.2.2.1. English for doctoral researchers
1.2.2.2.2. Writing up a doctoral dissertation (PhD thesis)
- 1.2.2.3.1. Introduction to writing for publication
1.2.2.3.2. Valid scientific argumentation
- 1.2.2.3.2.1. Quantitative statistics
1.2.2.3.2.2. Justifying inferences, predictions, conclusions
1.2.2.3.4. Co-authorship
- 1.2.3.1. Grant application writing: why important/purpose, types (cross-border, national, regional), examples
1.2.3.2. Citizen science: definition, examples, why important and emphasized in grant funding activities
1.2.3.3. "Intellectual property" rights (IP) (includes: knowledge transfer, patenting, legal and business standardization)
1.2.3.4. Research utilization
- 1.2.4.1. Formal correspondence
- 1.5. Designing research projects (research methods)
- 1.5.1. Understanding elements of research design
1.5.2. Quantitative methods
1.5.3. Qualitative methods
- 1.6. Research data
- 1.6.1. Data gathering and organizing
- 1.6.1.1. Data management
1.6.1.2. Open data management: history of open data initiatives, why important, current trends & guidelines
- 1.6.2.1. Data analysis: concepts and definitions, resources for learning more
1.6.2.2. Advanced techniques in modelling complex systems
1.6.2.3. Information processing and exchange
1.6.2.4. Using R for statistical data analysis
1.6.2.5. Programming/coding basics
1.6.2.6. Software usage and development
1.6.2.7. Sensitive data
- 1.6.3.1. Information presentation and visualization
1.6.3.2. Making graphics & plots
- 1.6.4.1. Open archives
- 1.9. Perspectives on "open" movements (beyond open publishing and open data)
- 1.9.1. Open Education: history, definition, current trends, examples
1.9.2. Open Evaluation: definition, why important, current trends, examples
1.9.3. Open Licensing: definition, why important, current trends, examples
1.9.4. Open Methodology: history, definition, importance
1.9.5. Open Source: history, definition, current trends, examples
1.9.6. Open Science: history, definition, importance, current trends, examples
Author: Stephanie Krueger
Peer Reviewer(s): None
Last Updated: October 21, 2021