我现在的导师有一个习惯，每隔一段时间，给课题组每个人发送书信，公布最近课题组的论文发表情况，并且勉励博士生博士后应该怎么样做科研。我很佩服他的管理能力，一个20多人的课题组，几乎每个人都是和他单线联系，每个人的project他都能够亲自督导给出建设性的建议，最重要的是，结合每个人的实际能力和知识背景来因地制宜的安排一些课题，让每个人都把自己的能力发挥到各自的极限。犹如一个耍杂技的，先是让桌子上的每一个盘子都转起来，然后每隔一段时间再给各个盘子加点力，让其继续高速旋转...他是一个享受科研的乐趣的人，思维细腻，乐于学习和理解新鲜事物。另外我也很佩服他的语言能力，可能是因为自己的英文比较戳。

废话不多说，下面是他在2010年最后一天发给我们的题为“New Year”的励志书信，相信对于做科研的初生牛犊们有一定的帮助。

------------------------------------- 

Sent: 31 December 2010 10:33

Subject: New year

Dear researchers

 

As the year is coming to an end, please reflect on your progress last year and think about the possibilities next year.

 

As scientists-in-training, your work is a big part of your life and it should give you a cetain sense of mission and special meaning and dignity. In a way, you are a creator of new knowledge and new processes, that is provided you work and think correctly and productively. It should be an invigorating process. AS work itself, if you respect it, it gives special meaning to the person. All productive human beings need to work and derive meaning from work

 

To derive meaning that is rewarding, you first need to demand meaning by asking yourself some questions regarding your work.

 

Some questions u should ask:

(i) in the course of your research, did u suggest any ideas or use your brain to solve some intellectual questions ?

did u develop hypothesis, questions and devise new pathways, strategies ?

 

what is the hypothesis of your research ?

 

what are the strategies that you develop ?

 

 

(ii) pertaining to (i) above, in the course of your research, did you keep abreast with the latest development in the field, read many papers, surveyed what people have done, identified the problems and state of the research, and formulate new problems and challenges ? 

 

did you think out of the box and consider the problem from a totally different approach, as such is most needed for the most competitive work ?

 

 

(iii) currently what you are doing, is it  new, original, competiive and the outcome can be patented, or can be published in JACS, angewandte chemie, nature XX ?

 

In the course of your research, after spending time in a field, have you acquired special insights into the process and new knowledge that can be shared with the world ? do u feel excited about this process and discovery ?

 

 

If the answers are positive, you will feel an invigorating process in this research as it is a process of discovery. You will feel joy and mission

 

if you dont demand you dont get anything deep and meaninful, then you will feel bored.

 

 

for POSTDOCTOTAL FELLOWS, ASK

 

(i) did u solve big problems ?

(ii) suggest big plans and ideas ?

(iii) supervise and help others ?

(iv) start new program and field ?

(v) commission new instrument ? develop new techniques ? teach others ?

 

if yes, very good, you are a scientific leader

 

or

 

(i) you work like a student only, a highly paid one ?

 

BAD, please repent and make this new year wish:

"I want to publish NATURE XX"

 

for students, ASK

 

(i) why you are doing this work ?

(ii) what will be the outcome ? expected outcome ?

(iii) finally - can we publish in JACS, angenwadte, if not, why ?

if yes, HOW ?

 

 

 

I wish good success for us all next year

 

Regard

ZZ Z

相关专题：盘点2010
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