Dear Dora: Happy One Year Anniversary!
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This week we’re excited to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Dear Dora column! We’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with Dr. Dora Farkas and are thrilled she’s been a part of BenchFly from the early days. We sat down with Dora to find out if there was any advice she’d like to take back, if her own grad school experience was a breeze and if there are particular challenges that she sees facing students and postdocs in the coming years.
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BenchFly: What has been the toughest question you’ve faced so far?
Dora Farkas: I think the ethical dilemmas are always the toughest to handle. I received questions about a postdoc “operating slightly south of the acceptable ethical standard”, authorship feuds, working for a competitor, and acting as a mediator between the students and the advisor. Students find themselves in these dilemmas more frequently than one would predict, and I believe almost every graduate student will need to resolve such a conflict at one point or another.
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Have there been any questions that you think about later and wish you had said/added something else?
Back in July, someone asked about the implications of talking to an Ombudsman. An Ombudsman is impartial, trained in conflict mediation and all conversations are kept confidential. In retrospect, some of those earlier questions about ethical dilemmas could have been resolved with an Ombudsman. Many graduate students feel isolated with no one to turn to for advice, and an Ombudsman can be a great resource for brainstorming and finding out about university resources.
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Are there particular areas you feel are the most challenging for grad students and postdocs?
Communication and conflict resolution are two common themes that have surfaced over the last year. Scientists are typically not trained in these fields and since many graduate students will need to work with others, there will surely be conflicts that need to be addressed.
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What’s the best part/what do you enjoy most about helping people by answering questions?
I love the variety of questions I receive. Just when you think you have heard about everything, something new comes up. The most surprising question I have ever received was: “Is it wrong to intentionally mislabel buffer bottles to keep people from stealing them?” I would actually like to thank the person who submitted this question because I know how tempting this is for frustrated students.
In some ways this is also an ethical dilemma. While the “obvious” answer is that of course it is wrong, those of us who have worked in a laboratory know how frustrating disappearing bottles are. I addressed this question by suggesting a secret code for the label which no one knows so they will not steal it (e.g. Solution 001), rather than mislabeling it because the latter could seriously backfire (no pun intended) and be a safety hazard.
Other than that, it is time to stand up. Another thing students have trouble with.
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What do you think will be the biggest challenges facing students and postdocs over the next decade?
Career planning is quite a challenge nowadays. A few years ago most students got a job after one or two interviews. Back then, employers were looking for a smart person who could be trained well. Now, employers want someone who will solve their problems “tomorrow” so the candidate needs to have very specific skills. These days, it seems like 5 or 6 interviews are necessary (assuming you can even get that many) until you find the right “fit”. If you are looking for an industry position, I recommend trying to get industry experience (e.g. through an internship or collaboration) because employers value that very highly.
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Are you surprised at the lack of questions in any particular field?
Yes, I am surprised that no one asked about writing blocks! I know writing papers and dissertations take a long time, and I would have thought that some students would have asked about that. I know that there are many books on this topic as well as writing coaches, so I am assuming that students can get the help if they need it.
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Anything you want to say to the readers?
It has been a privilege answering your questions! I learn something every time I answer them.
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We’re delighted to have you on board- what got you excited about participating in BenchFly?
As a former graduate student, I know how challenging and frustrating graduate school can be. I always enjoyed reading about the experiences of other students, and I was very excited about the opportunity to provide some models and answers for the students.
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If you had to pick your favorite piece of advice that was ever given to you, what would it be?
Interestingly, my favorite advice is from Woody Allen: “80 percent of success is just showing up”
I know how hard it is to get to lab when nothing is working, but on some days you literally need to drag yourself out of bed and just get there. Once you are there, and start writing down ideas for your papers, or read other people’s publications, or start an experiment, the motivation will come.
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Based on your wisdom, it would seem you must have had an easy time in grad school- is this true?
Not at all! Imagine a multiple-choice test with the question: What was the toughest part about graduate school for you? The choices are: Choosing a topic, writing your thesis, staying motivated, and managing your time (these are the most common answers). For me, the answer would be all of the above. I had a very challenging thesis topic, and possibly because of that I had a tough time staying motivated all the time. I had to learn all the self-management tools so I could graduate, and I feel very privileged to share them with you.
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Dora Farkas, Ph.D. is the author “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.:200 Secrets from 100 Graduates,” and the founder of PhDNet, an online community for graduate students and PhDs. You will find links to her book, monthly newsletters, and discussion board on her site. Send your questions to [email protected] and keep an eye out for them in an upcoming issue!
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Have a question of your own for Dora? Send them to [email protected], or use the comment box below!
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In the meantime, check out her first year in review:
How many postdoctoral fellowships should I tackle?
Don’t Mislabel Me (Just My Bottles)
Dear Boss: Time to Trust Me (or Bust Me)
The Ombudsman: The Best Conversation that Never Happened
My PI Tells More Stories than Mother Goose
Working for a Micromanager is a Macro Pain
Changing Thesis Projects: Death Sentence or New Life?
The Lab Budget’s in More Red than a Friday the 13th Movie
Is a Lab Party Too Much to Ask For?!
Is it Career Suicide to Work for a Competitor?
Full-time Student (and Part-time Employee?)
Isn’t Reviewing Papers My Boss’ Job?
My Labmates Want Me to Be Their Dealer
Asking for a Raise, Picking a Lab and the Importance of Good Grades
Starting a Family, Finding a Job and Managing Your Boss
Authorship, Feuding and Career Doubts
Ethical Dilemmas, Micromanagers and that Evil Email
How to Leave, Balance and Publish
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