Side projects during your PhD or postdoc. #phdlife #postdoc #academia #phd #phdadvice

TL;DR

Side projects offer a playful and exploratory avenue for researchers to develop new ideas and foster innovation, but they should not overshadow main research projects or funding obligations.

Transcript

hi there friends let's talk about side projects during your PhD or during your postdoc all of that matter really at any point in your career what are side projects well side projects are more exploratory projects that are in addition to your normal projects that you got funded for now I think that they're very important because they can provide a s... Read More

Key Insights

• 📽️ Side projects provide researchers with a lighter, exploratory avenue to pursue new ideas outside of funded projects.
• 🥺 These projects can lead to the discovery of innovative research topics and foster creativity.
• 📽️ It is important for researchers to balance side projects with the commitments and expectations of their funded projects.
• 📽️ Communication with the PI is essential to ensure understanding and support for pursuing side projects.
• 👨‍🔬 Side projects often involve collaboration, reducing individual workloads and fostering collaboration within the research lab.
• 📽️ Researchers should carefully budget their time to prioritize main research projects while also allowing space for side projects.
• 👨‍🔬 Side projects can offer a source of fun and excitement, contributing to overall job satisfaction and personal fulfillment in research careers.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are side projects and why are they important in research careers?

Side projects in research are additional exploratory projects that offer excitement and freedom to explore new ideas. They are important as they provide researchers with a playful avenue to innovate and open up new research topics.

Q: How can side projects benefit researchers?

Side projects offer a source of fun and excitement, fostering creativity and leading to the development of new ideas. They also promote collaboration within the research lab and can lower individual workloads.

Q: What is the key consideration when pursuing side projects as a PhD student or postdoc?

The main consideration is to ensure that side projects do not overshadow or interfere with the commitments and expectations of the funded research project. Communication with the Principal Investigator (PI) is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.

Q: What is the author's perspective on side projects?

The author embraces side projects, recognizing their value in generating new ideas and opening up research opportunities. The author encourages communication with the PI and careful time management in balancing main research projects and side projects.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Side projects provide a source of fun and excitement in research, allowing researchers to explore new ideas without the pressure of delivering results.

• These projects can lead to the development of new research topics and foster innovation.

• However, it is crucial to ensure that side projects do not hinder the progress or commitments of funded projects.