年轻学者的困惑：科研随兴趣，还是跟大流？ 王德华 前些日子在一次学术交流的时候，有青年朋友问：作为一个年轻学者，做研究方向选择的时候，是选择自己的学术兴趣好，还是选择当前的学术主潮流好？ 如何选择自己的科研方向，是很多年轻学者所关注的问题。 之所以有这样的疑问，我想主要是当今的学术评价导向造成的困惑。大家都知道，现在很多学术评价都是以论文的影响因子（有的说点数，有的说分数，都是指期刊的 IF 值）为主要指标，甚至是唯一指标。也就是说学术论文的 IF 值高，晋升、评奖、申请课题、各种人才计划，甚至研究生的国奖评审和工作应聘等，都会很顺利。如果发表的学术论文 IF 低，情况就大不一样了。同时，学术人也都知道，不同的领域学术期刊的 IF 是不同的，学术研究也有传统和时尚之别。时髦的热点领域，从事研究的人多，引用率也就高，传统经典的学科，情况就相反。这个问题说大了，就是一个学术评价问题，也会一直会争论下去。但面对现实的青年学者和研究生们，就面临一个选择问题了。 从学术追求上，理应随自己的内心，追求自己的学术兴趣。一个人能够从事自己喜欢的工作，是很幸运的事情，也是很值得追求的事情，毕竟这决定了一个人的生活状态和心情，也会决定事业的兴衰。 但是，年轻学者首先要在学术界站住脚，立稳脚跟。研究生也要顺利毕业，需要找到一个好工作。所以，有时候还需要面对现实。但一个学术人必须有自己的学术兴趣，有自己的学术追求，一旦有条件，当义无反顾地去追求自己的兴趣。我在今年的全国动物生理生态学学术会议上也讲到，年轻学者要早点确定属于自己的研究方向，确定一个自己喜欢能够发挥特长、值得花费精力去钻研的方向。 再大一点说，这个问题也是学术人的个人兴趣与国家层面的学术领域发展和学科建设需求之间关系的问题。有些领域和学科，由于后备力量不足，是需要一些政策扶持和保护的。每个学科领域，还是应该有人去从事的。如果说学术人还是应该有追求和担当的，是不是显得有些矫情。所以，我记得当时回答这位青年朋友的问题的时候，我也说过“站着说话不腰痛”之类的话。
注意：本文是对 Professor Marie desJardins 的文章 How to Be a Good Graduate Student 的翻译。已经得到 Professor Marie desJardins 的翻译授权。如果转载，请注明本文的出处，及原作者的姓名。如要用于商业目的，请与原作者 Marie desJardins 联系。 Note: This is a translation of How to Be a Good Graduate Student , by Professor Marie desJardins. Ihave been permitted to translate this article into Chinese from Professor Marie desJardins. If you want to quote this article, please associate the original author Professor Marie desJardins with. If you want to use it for commercial purpose, please contact Professor Marie desJardins . 这篇文章是我读过的最好的研究生工作指导，我将它翻译成中文，希望我们的研究生也能读到，并有所收获。本文有很多小节，因为我时间有限，我会从我认为最有帮助的小节开始翻译。如果大家认为不错，我会继续翻译。我的英语水平有限，请英语好的朋友直接看英文原文，也希望大家对翻译不足的地方给与指导，我会及时更正。 This is the best guidance to Graduate Student Ive ever read. I translate it into Chinese with hope that our graduate students in China could also take advantage from it. This whole article contains many sections. However, Im not a professional interpreter. I will start from the most useful and helpful sections (at least I believe they are). If you also deem it an excellent article, I will continue translate the rest. As my English, as well as my Chinese, limited, please read the original English version directly if you can. If you find some errors in my translation, let me know. I will revise it as soon as possible. The position of this section within the whole article.(Marked in RED) 这个小节在整个文章中的位置(红色标记)。 Introduction Before You Start Doing Research The Daily Grind Staying Motivated Getting to the Thesis Finding an Advisor Finding a Thesis Topic Writing the Thesis Getting Feedback Getting Financial Support Advice for Advisors Interacting With Students Becoming Part of the Research Community Attending Conferences Publishing Papers Networking All Work and No Play... Issues for Women Conclusions Bibliography =========================================================================== Staying Motivated 保持斗志 At times, particularly in the ``middle years,'' it can be very hard to maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated. Many graduate students suffer from insecurity, anxiety, and even boredom. First of all, realize that these are normal feelings. Try to find a sympathetic ear -- another graduate student, your advisor, or a friend outside of school. Next, try to identify why you're having trouble and identify concrete steps that you can take to improve the situation. To stay focused and motivated, it often helps to have organized activities to force you to manage your time and to do something every day. Setting up regular meetings with your advisor, attending seminars, or even extracurricular activities such as sports or music can help you to maintain a regular schedule. 有时，尤其是在研究生中期，似乎觉得很难保持积极向上的斗志。这时，许多研究生都缺乏安全感，倍感焦虑甚至觉得科研无趣。首先，要知道这是一种很正常的感觉。试着找个人聊聊，其他研究生，你的导师，或者校外的朋友。之后，试着找出原因，制定一个切实可行的计划走出困境。想要集中精力保持斗志，制定每日必做之类的时间表非常有益，这能帮助你更好的管理时间。比如，定期与导师讨论问题，定期参加学术研讨会，甚至定期参加课余活动，运动，音乐都能帮助你形成规律的日常活动。 Chapman (see ) enumerates a number of ``immobilizing shoulds'' that can make you feel so guilty and unworthy that you stop making progress. Telling yourself that you *should* have a great topic, that you *should* finish in $n$ years, that you *should* work 4, or 8, or 12 hours a day isn't helpful for most people. Be realistic about what you can accomplish, and try to concentrate on giving yourself positive feedback for tasks you do complete, instead of negative feedback for those you don't. Chapman 列举了一些列雷打不动的事能让你为自己的没有进展感到内疚和不值。很多人告诉自己，一定要选一个不错的课题，一定要在N年内完成，或者每天一定要工作4,8还是12小时，对于大多数人，这些都不起作用。面对自己真正能完成什么要切合实际，完成了某些任务，要努力多给自己一些正反馈，而不是因为没有完成什么而给自己负反馈。 Setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals is a good idea, and works even better if you use a ``buddy system'' where you and another student meet at regular intervals to review your progress. Try to find people to work with: doing research is much easier if you have someone to bounce ideas off of and to give you feedback. 设置每日，每周，每月目标是个不错的主意，要是能跟大伙儿一起做就更好了，和其他学生定期聚在一起，回顾一下大伙儿的进展。找些科研伙伴，如果有人回应你的想法，给你一些反馈，搞科研就会容易许多啦。 Breaking down any project into smaller pieces is always a good tactic when things seem unmanageable. At the highest level, doing a master's project before diving into a Ph.D. dissertation is generally a good idea (and is mandatory at some schools). A master's gives you a chance to learn more about an area, do a smaller research project, and establish working relationships with your advisor and fellow students. 当时间变得难以管理时，把这个项目分成许多更小的项目常常是个不错的办法。在投身于博士论文之前完成硕士研究生的项目常常是个不错的注意（有些学校甚至规定如此）。硕士学习能给你更多的机会了解这一邻域，做个更小的研究项目，建立与导师和同学的良好的工作关系。 The divide-and-conquer strategy works on a day-to-day level as well. Instead of writing an entire thesis, focus on the goal of writing a chapter, section, or outline. Instead of implementing a large system, break off pieces and implement one module at a time. Identify tasks that you can do in an hour or less; then you can come up with a realistic daily schedule. If you have doubts, don't let them stop you from accomplishing something -- take it one day at a time. Remember, every task you complete gets you closer to finishing. 分散敌军，逐一击退的战略在平日工作也同样有效。集中精力写上一章，一节，甚至拟个草稿，也要比试图完成一整篇论文要合适。把系统分成小份，每次只实现一个模块，要比实现一个大系统要更合理。确认每项任务能在一小时内完成，这样才能得到一个切实可行的日程规划。如果你心存疑虑，别让它们阻止你完成这件事，每天做一点。记住，你所完成的每个小任务，都让你离终点更近。
标签: 科研兴趣
