These resources were initially developed as general guidelines for members of the DVU group, and have been (and are) updated over time. They are short documents (1-3 pages each) which can offer some guidance to Early Stage Researchers (Interns, MSc, Graduate students and research assistants/associate working on research projects). 

Moreover, if I come across great resources, I add the links on this page. 

Please do not hesitate to give us your feedback on them!

Tips for getting the most out of your research visit

This short note is the result of a conversation with Chris Lindley and Thomas Potthast on 15/04/2025 while walking in Hannover : )

Tips for time management 

Tips on how to start your PhD research

Also worth reading

The importance of stupidity in scientific research by Martin Schwartz

“Research is immersion in the unknown. We just don't know what we're doing.”

“How could I possibly frame the questions that would lead to significant discoveries; design and interpret an experiment so that the conclusions were absolutely convincing; foresee difficulties and see ways around them, or, failing that, solve them when they occurred?”

“That's when it hit me: nobody did. That's why it was a research problem. And being my research problem, it was up to me to solve.”

“Productive stupidity means being ignorant by choice. Focusing on important questions puts us in the awkward position of being ignorant. One of the beautiful things about science is that it allows us to bumble along, getting it wrong time after time, and feel perfectly fine as long as we leam something each time.” 

Tips for identifying research questions and research challenges

Writing and responding to peer-review

A short guide to help EC researchers make sense of the peer-review process - last update on 23/08/22.  

Towards the end of your PhD you might be contacted to carry out a peer-review, but you will be exposed to peer-review at the very early stages of your research work. This short note (2 pages) provides you some tips and practical examples. 

Writing codes with comments

Writing papers/reports/thesis

A great resource about "How to write a paper" written by Mike Ashby - can be found here 

2/3 pages short documents on tips for

• Writing a report (updated on 06/2025, with warnings on the use of LLMs and involuntary misappropriation of intellectual property of others!)

• Writing effective abstracts

• Writing effective Introductions

• Writing chapters of a report/thesis

• Figure for scientific documents

Tips for preparing Scientific Posters

V2 - last updated on 26/11/24 (V0 23/03/20) 

How to arrange effective meetings with your supervisor / line manager?

The slides format that we use during the DVU group meetings might be of help:

• 3 slides: for short updates

• 6 slides: for longer updates

Tips for setting up your own path to an academic position

Alessandro Cabboi recently gave a very inspiring talk about the tips he wished someone gave him during his PhD to get a Tenure Track position in a top University. We started talking about this topic, and we decided to put together two (very much) complementary notes expressing our views on the topic. These are by no means exhaustive, and should be taken as suggestions. We both sincerely hope that they can be useful to researchers considering embarking an academic career. 

From the PhD to the next step in your career

Talk given for the research school organised by the MSCA DN project Greydient - 15/04/2024

Tips for preparing an effective presentation

Another terrific resource for Early Career Researchers by Jack Baker, developed with Sabine Loos.

The “checklist for effective presentation” is the best 1-page guide on the topic I have ever seen.

Pay particular attention to:

“Did you emphasize your message by using Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity?”

#earlycareerresearchers #presentationskills #presentationdesign #phdjourney