1. Creating an Academic Presence
Teresa Maceira
University of Massachusetts Boston
July 2016

2. Transitioning to graduate school
“In graduate school, the most important experience—your independent research—will require you to create your own path that extends beyond our current knowledge and understanding. To do this, you will need to give yourself assignments and goals, along with realistic deadlines and an organized way of assessing your own progress. You will have to take the initiative to seek out materials to make new experimental and conceptual connections that take your research in new directions. Taking this initiative and responsibility for your education is key to both your success as a scientist and your satisfaction as a student.” Transitioning to Graduate School – Stanford Bioscience
You will move from consuming information to producing information.
Students are expected to be more self-directed and self-motivated
Sources: Transitioning to Graduate School, Transitioning to Graduate School, to Research, and to a Dissertation,

3. Creating an Academic Presence
Through scholarly publishing
By networking
In-person networking
Mentors, advisors, peers, conferences, organizations
On-line networking
Blogging, websites, social media, curation and aggregators

4. Scholarly Publishing
Writing for publication requires a higher academic standard than writing an undergraduate essay or project report. Your publishing options include:
a research report
a conference paper
a journal article
a book chapter
an article in a special edition of a journal (usually on a particular topic)
an entry in an encyclopedia

5. Open Access Publishing
Open Access (OA) is free, immediate, unrestricted and permanent online access to peer reviewed journal articles, theses, scholarly books and book chapters worldwide.
OA is important because it exposes your research to a wider audience thus increasing the possibility that it will be read, used and cited by other researchers and/or practitioners worldwide.
There are two ways (sometimes referred to as ‘roads’) to provide open access:
Gold Road - open access journals
Green Road - open access repositories
Resource:

6. Gold Road
“Gold Road” OA journals provide open access to their articles. An OA journal article is available freely online to all readers. Most open access journals utilize Creative Commons copyright.
Cost - Some OA journals charge authors a fee for publication and for peer- review. Some subscription journals offer authors the option to have their article made freely available online.
Cost to publish might be covered by your institution or grants.
Resource:

7. Green Road
“Green Road” (OA) repositories store and disseminate openly accessible digital copies of scholarly works. Repositories are maintained by research institutions and authors supply (self-archive) the publication details and digital copies.
What’s the difference between Green and Gold? Gold Road conduct peer review and OA repositories do not. Although Green may host peer reviewed journals.
Resource: Open Access Overview
Resource:

8. Networking
Networking is the process of cultivating relationships to draw upon the expertise of other people in order to enhance your own research process and impact. We will explore how to network in-person and online with your advisors or peers at faculty events, conferences, professional organizations and online. Self-promotion improves your global profile as a researcher and opens up many opportunities for further research, invitations to present at conferences or publish in journals.
Resource:

9. Questions: Which networking tools do you use?
What strategies have worked for you?
Do you prefer in person or online networking?

10. In-person networking Faculty – can provide advise and guidance
Peers – are opportunities to share information and ideas on research, technology, or how to organize your research.
Faculty/Departmental events – attend events organized by your department or campus. These can be talks, guest lectures, workshops and conferences.

11. In-person networking
Conferences – are opportunities to discuss your research ideas in a wider forum where you can meet colleagues and connect.
Submitting proposals to speak at conferences extends your professional development.
Presenting at conferences builds your public speaking skills.
You will be exposed to new ideas and trends in the field.
Conferences are also great places to speak with venders and find out what about new software, platforms or technology.

12. Activity: Find a conference that you might want to attend
Use these free tools:
or Conference Alerts

13. In-person networking
Professional organizations - Professional organizations facilitate networking via listservs ( lists), social media, RSS feeds to alert members to events, conferences, newsletters and continuing education opportunities.
Question: Which ones do you know about? How would you find out about professional organizations?

14. Online networking
Create a website - Creating your own website is a good way to centralize your online presence. Use a website to direct colleagues to your publications, curriculum vitae and social media outlets
Blogging - A professional blog of your own or blogs of other researchers is a useful method for conceptualizing and exploring your own topic. Be guided by recommendations of your peers, mentors and researchers in which blogs are worthwhile.
Blogging - When you contribute via blogs, remember that you have a responsibility to respect the work and views of others and to maintain academic integrity at all times.

15. Social Networking On-line Tools
Become involved in the conversation
Make connections and collaborate
Choose the one that best suits you
Ask yourself how do I want to work
Consider disciplines
Consider platforms and delivery models

16. Activity: Reflect on the material covered and identify a networking strategy that will work for you.
Do you prefer in-person networking? And why is that a better option?
Online networking offers many tools and ways to build your academic profile. Name two benefits and two short comings.

17. Academic Culture
Reflect on the differences and similarities between the Chinese and United States academic culture.
What to you are the biggest differences
What are the same values and practices that both share?

18. Thank You!