How can you evaluate your performance as a researcher?

To start off any research, the main thing is defined objective. Further, research objective is defined as a clear and concise statement of the specific goals and aims of a research study. It outlines what the researcher intends to accomplish and what they hope to learn or discover through their research. It is also important that whether you are a part of micro research project, a macro research project or an independent research.

In algae cultivation, R&D cares about maximizing the output and reducing costs as much as possible. This is done in the short, medium, and long term to keep a company competitive in the market today, next month, and in the next years. For this, it is important to focus on solving everyday problems to maximize efficiency, as well as look at how to keep the company competitive in the future by looking at, or developing, new technologies.

Make sure you look for constructive criticism and not external validation. Also, seek feedback not only from experts in your field but also from people who work in a different scientific area or do not have a scientific background at all! Communicating science and making your research understandable is as important as doing it.

Feedback either positive or negative from a panel of fellow researchers or from a person who is distinguished in that particular area of research with good competency and command is of paramount importance to serve 3 important functions viz. 1) Feedback helps to orient one’s research in the right direction 2) Feedback is an important means to evaluate one’s research progress. 3) Feedback also serves for due recognition if one’s research work lead to breakthrough outcomes or results.

Quantifying one's research out put is more easy in the area of academic research. H-scopus index is one available measure to quantify this. However, in the industrial set up it is the number of products that are sucessfully delivered and marketed either by your company or the customer for whom you are developing the product.

??To evaluate the performance of a researcher by consideration?of the participation and presentation in conferences with scientific contributions, and publication in the proceedings. ??Also the active membership network and the researcher’s profile like the Google Scholar, Research Gate, Web of Science etc. ,with the journal publication records and research collaboration analysis are useful to evaluate the performance. ??You can use various indicators such as the number of research funds received , patent granted , publication citation counts and number of the journal and conference you are part of as a reviewer may also help to evaluate the performance of researcher.

Do you know the reason why most of the valuable research, never ends into commercial viability? This is because of, lack of evaluation, which requires real time analysis. Evaluation is extremely important for a researcher. As it gives an idea of where the boat is scaling. Evaluating your research process can optimize your results economically. As, the research which is not economically viable is of no use.

By taking time to reflect on my process, I can identify areas where I excel and areas where there is room for improvement. For example, I may discover that I need to learn creative data presentation techniques, streamline my workflow to improve efficiency, or enhance my communication skills to foster better collaboration with peers. Additionally, reflecting on my practices allows me to ensure that I am conducting my research ethically and responsibly, adhering to relevant guidelines and standards. It also helps me prioritize self-care and well-being.

To compare with others, I actively follow their work, attend relevant events, read their publications, and engage with them in professional networks, communities, or platforms. By doing so, I can stay updated on the latest developments in my field, learn from the successes and challenges of others, and identify areas where I can improve or innovate. However, it's crucial to approach comparisons with a positive mindset and avoid falling into the trap of negative or competitive comparisons. Instead of viewing others as competitors, I see them as sources of inspiration and learning opportunities. By celebrating their achievements and collaborating with them, I can cultivate a supportive and collaborative research.

Esta parte es quizás la más delicada. En vez de compararse con otros expondría que es importante conocer muy de cerca lo que otros investigadores de tu campo están haciendo. Más que nada pasa saber si estás avanzando con respecto al estado del arte y si tu trabajo está siendo innovador. Esto es importante para saber si no estamos repitiendo trabajo ya conocido.

Exactly, comparing research studies should be done judiciously, focusing on similarities in topic, objectives, methodology, and results. This approach ensures that the comparison is meaningful and relevant, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the research's contribution to the field. It also helps in identifying gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement within a specific research domain.

A researcher should be well aware of the happenings in his/her field, and also be open about interacting with other researchers so that they can have better perspective about research, and can also try to evolve as a good human. A researcher who considers competition as a negative virtue often indulge in wrong practices in research.

I am a big fan of planning development, this way I think the commitment is much higher. So instead of setting goals for colleagues, now we say that this is the company mission and these are its goals. Think about a personal goal (which can be both professional or soft skill based) working on which would contribute to the company best. This way, folks are involves, they feel the goals their own (which they are) and they perform much much better than in any other arbitrary system

A research plan is a framework that shows how you intend to approach your topic. The plan can take many forms: a written outline, a narrative, a visual/concept map or timeline. It's a document that will change and develop as you conduct your research. Components of a research plan 1. Research conceptualization - introduces your research question 2. Research methodology - describes your approach to the research question 3. Literature review, critical evaluation and synthesis - systematic approach to locating, reviewing and evaluating the work (text, exhibitions, critiques, etc) relating to your topic 4. Communication - geared toward an intended audience, shows evidence of your inquiry.

When it comes to R&D, it should not be treated as normal business and no KPIs are needed here. R&D is about deep thinking and continuous search via experiments and logic exercises. So measuring R&D performance by the number of publications, experiments, applied solutions and etc. is stupid, in my opinion. But there is one measure that I think is important to keep tracking as kind of performance indicator of R&D. It is motivation and stress level (burnout risk) of R&D specialist. The best way to track it is via regular check-ins done in a format of informal face-to-face discussions. That is it! If the R&D team is highly qualified, then just trust your team. However, you only need to make sure that motivation and stress levels are healthy.

- Publication output: Quantity and quality of research articles published in reputable journals or conferences - Citations and impact: Measurement of the impact and influence of research through the number of citations received by published work - Funding success: Ability to secure research grants and funding for projects - Academic recognition: Awards, honors, or invitations to speak at conferences based on research contributions - Collaboration: Participation in interdisciplinary or cross-institutional research collaborations - Influence: Speaking engagements, media appearances, and invitations to contribute to policy discussions based on research findings