You’re considering a research career. What does it take to be resilient in this field?

I have, time and again, spoken with my students regarding how research is not easy but it is definitely rewarding, both personally and professionally, if done right. Research is not a piece of cake, at least if you are planning to do it well. In research, you have to select a topic meticulously, prepare a proposal, defend that proposal, read huge literature on the same, present your work to the academic community every six months, engage in field work, publish in reputed journals and so forth. Therefore, it is important to have a clear and determined WHY in your mind. It is only when you will have a clear WHY that you will be able to figure out a clear HOW. After this, it becomes easier to align everything with your WHY and keep going.

Resilient? Why should anyone who wants to start a research career or any career should first consider how to be resilient? I do not understand this question.

Resilience in research also means accepting that the process will continually be tested and changes and adjustments will be necessary. Research is planned on the drawing board and then challenged by practice. It is important to be prepared for this.

Resilience in research demands passion, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. A growth mindset and emotional intelligence are pivotal to adapt and continue the progress. Viewing failure as a learning opportunity strengthens resilience and promote growth mindset too. Support networks and self-care is important to sustain well-being. With purpose, adaptability, and support, researchers can navigate challenges and make meaningful contributions to their field.

Developing research skills involves more than just defining your purpose; it also entails honing strategic planning abilities. Conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis helps identify potential obstacles and opportunities in your research journey. By recognizing strengths to leverage and weaknesses to address, you can optimize your approach and mitigate risks. Furthermore, setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals provides a roadmap for progress and accountability. Integrating these strategic planning techniques with a clear sense of purpose empowers researchers to navigate challenges effectively and maximize their impact in academia and beyond.

Firstly, it is important to be kind to yourself and acknowledge that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the research process. Secondly, let go of things beyond your control and focus your energy on actionable solutions.

? Who told you that only when you get something right does it have value? ? Embracing mistakes and understanding that making them early to learn quickly is liberating! ? The idea of an MVP, for example, is exactly this: validate an idea early to refine it later. So, why can't we do this in research? ? Value the mistake and be thankful, because it's what will make you more of an expert in your research field.

At times you may come across findings that derail you from your original presumption, which can be quite uncomfortable. When this happens, it's beneficial to look at it from the perspective of 'uncovering' something new rather than a failure to reaffirm your initial thought. You can ask yourself this: 1. Did I miss something when I started with this hypothesis? 2. Are there any factors that I did not account for when collecting data? 3. What do previous researches say about occurrences such as these?

To me, failure is like learning. Each setback presents an opportunity to glean new insights and understand where things went awry. It's a chance to dissect what went wrong and extract valuable lessons for future endeavors.

While experiencing failure can be painful, especially after investing significant effort and time into a project, it's important to adopt a mindset that reframes failure as an opportunity for growth. Viewing setbacks as indicators that your inquiry has led to new insights or discoveries can fuel resilience and propel your research forward. By embracing failure as an integral part of the journey and leveraging it to deepen your understanding and refine your approach, you are more likely to achieve success than those who shy away from adversity.

Continuous feedback is crucial for improving the research work that one does. In my experience, I have benefitted immensely from the feedback provided to me by the not just the professors of my department but also my peers. I have observed that the students are not very open to negative feedback and hence, it is for this reason that there are some students who do not even ask for feedback which is counter-productive.

In addition to seeking feedback, developing discernment skills enhances the utilization of feedback effectively. Evaluating feedback critically involves distinguishing between subjective opinions and objective insights, enabling researchers to prioritize actionable suggestions. Moreover, cultivating resilience equips individuals to extract value from both positive and negative feedback, fostering continuous improvement. By integrating discernment and resilience into the feedback process, researchers can refine their skills and outputs more efficiently, ultimately advancing their research endeavors.

Resilient researchers are effective problem solvers who can analyze complex issues, identify potential solutions, and implement strategies to address challenges. They approach problems with creativity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to experiment.

Improvement: It helps them refine their skills and enhance the quality of their work. 2. serves as a validation mechanism, confirming whether the research project is on the right track or if adjustments are needed. 3. Perspective: offers different perspectives which can help you identify blind spots or alternative interpretations also broadens understanding and fosters critical thinking. 4. contributes to the professional development 5. fosters collaboration and teamwork 6. Stakeholder Satisfaction: Overall, seeking feedback fosters a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professionalism within research teams, ultimately leading to higher-quality research outcomes and personal growth

Seeking feedback is an infinite loop. Be open to constructive criticism, but don't take it on your ego. Be conscious of your actions, and acknowledge your credibility. A step at a time is the best approach to take.

In addition to cultivating support networks, time management skills are crucial for balancing research commitments with personal well-being. Implementing effective scheduling techniques, such as setting priorities and breaking tasks into manageable chunks, optimizes productivity while preserving time for self-care. Furthermore, utilizing productivity tools and techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique or task batching, enhances efficiency and minimizes burnout. By integrating time management strategies into their research routine, scholars can maintain a healthy work-life balance and sustain long-term success in their endeavors.

In my experience, a genuine curiosity in the field of research fuel self-motivation to persevere through setbacks. Having said that research progress is often slow and nonlinear hence it is of utmost importance to have surroundings supportive. Imagine those lonely late nights in lab. Having a network of supportive peers enables you to deal with isolation/loneliness. Sharing challenges with supportive peers provides validation reducing stress levels. And let's talk about setbacks. They're inevitable. But knowing that others have faced similar difficulties and come out stronger provides courage. Imposter syndrome? That sneaky little voice telling you're not good enough. Supportive peers remind you of all amazing things you've accomplished.

Celebration of success is an essential part of the research domain. It's not just about the major awards, publications, book chapters, etc, it might be a successful experiment or even a simple effort to show up when you don't feel like it. The phrase "celebrate success" is not entirely correct. It should be "Celebrate Oneself" and align and introspect your values and goals.

Every win should be celebrated no matter how small, this help motivate the researcher and all the people that helped to achieve it

In addition to celebrating success, cultivating self-reflection skills enhances the research process. Regularly reviewing past achievements allows researchers to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and strategies that contribute to success. Furthermore, setting aside time for introspection fosters self-awareness, empowering individuals to align their actions with their goals and values. By integrating self-reflection into their research journey, scholars can continuously refine their approaches, enhance their performance, and sustain long-term success.

Be proactive in making professional connections. Just be consistent with your efforts and work. Some things may work, some things may not, but be resilient. Two steps forward, one step backward is still one step forward.

As an independent researcher, I've struggled to maintain consistency in my work. To remain resilient, you must increase your interest in the specific topic by actively participating in discussion groups, creating LinkedIn articles, looking for collaborative possibilities, etc. On the bright side, you must remember that the most important thing you can do is be constant in your job, and this leads to positive outcomes.

In my experience from moving from working at a think tank to becoming a freelance researcher, is the issue of protecting your ideas. It can be very difficult competing as a freelancer against more established research companies, who have their own safeguards. Firms hiring freelancers can sometimes take advantage of this, particularly in the inception stages. While charging an inception meeting/consultation fee is possible and a good idea, for those entering the market, such fees add an extra challenge. In such cases, it is important to find the fine line between showcasing your ideas and work plans, without painting firms an entire picture of your work, as some firms then take your ideas and workplan and run the research in-house.