5 Reasons you should probably just say no to a peer review request

May 1, 2018

You probably agree that the peer review system is broken. Several ideas have been proposed to fix the system. Some journals tried double blind peer reviewing and others experimented with open peer review. However, I think these proposals are like putting a Bandaid over a cancerous wound because they don’t really address the root cause … More 5 Reasons you should probably just say no to a peer review request

Scientific Ostracism: On being black at an academic conference

April 7, 2018

You probably heard a dozen reasons you should attend an academic conference: practice public speaking, learn the latest practices, trends and challenges, showcase and receive feedback on your work, and network for future collaborations. After attending academic conferences for 10 years, I’m convinced they are overrated. The truth is academic conferences are not meant for … More Scientific Ostracism: On being black at an academic conference

Citation Censure: When your peers don’t cite your research

March 25, 2018

There’s nothing more painful than watching your child getting rejected. A few years ago, I took my son to an on-campus early childhood education center. While I was signing him in, he walked up to a classmate and asked her if he could be her friend, “I’m sorry, Tino. I already have a friend.” My … More Citation Censure: When your peers don’t cite your research

Early career questions: Is writing a book review really worth it?

March 20, 2018

You probably agree that writing book reviews is a worst of time. Why spend a month critically reading a book, and then another week or two writing a review that will never be cited or counted as a scientific publication? You probably should have written an original research article or finished your experiments. However, book … More Early career questions: Is writing a book review really worth it?

Antibiotic resistance: this is what happens when you use antibiotics

March 19, 2018

Can you believe there was a time when tuberculosis was the number one killer disease in the world? At only 43, Louis Braille, the French educator who invented the Braille system for the visually impaired, died of TB. And so did my favorite novelists Jane Austen and Emily Brönte, at only 42 and 30, respectively. … More Antibiotic resistance: this is what happens when you use antibiotics

Early career research path: Walking in the jungle without a compass

March 7, 2018

I recently discovered that mapping a career path as a researcher is like walking through the jungle. Some forests have beautiful roads adorned with scenic views, and even have a convenience store. But others, well, they are jungles – no roads just a plain old fashioned jungle. A few weeks before my wedding, my brother … More Early career research path: Walking in the jungle without a compass

Why early career researchers should care about teaching

February 15, 2018

Teaching is the art of enabling learning. For that reason, knowledge of the subject matter is not an adequate impetus to learning. A good teacher understands knowing how people learn is critical in facilitating learning. Sadly, many universities across the world are staffed by subject experts who have no formal training in higher education. After … More Why early career researchers should care about teaching