tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post2715431308467637901..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Grad students are (typically) people tooFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89603025488318804292007-07-10T11:04:00.000-05:002007-07-10T11:04:00.000-05:00Yes, I showed the email to the student, and we dis...Yes, I showed the email to the student, and we discussed possible responses.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8163661650970867382007-07-10T10:39:00.000-05:002007-07-10T10:39:00.000-05:00Did you forward the email on to the student? That...Did you forward the email on to the student? That seems to me to be the appropriate thing to do, along with offering a bit of further advice in terms of what a appropriate response (or lack thereof) might be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-70576636978117204312007-07-10T08:07:00.000-05:002007-07-10T08:07:00.000-05:00I think the very act of writing and submitting a m...<I>I think the very act of writing and submitting a manuscript should be a strong signal that the author is a serious scientist who is responsible for the content of the paper.</I><BR/><BR/>Indeed. The reviewer's nastiness is probably common knowledge, so hopefully your student hasn't chanced on a career-damaging enemy.<BR/><BR/>IMO an academic degree certifies that the student has demonstrated certain skills and knowledge. The skills and knowledge should be the important thing, not the certificate. The reviewer seems to have this backwards. His attitude is wrongheaded at best and likely worse.<BR/><BR/>(Hindsight tells me that I wasn't a research scientist until halfway through my second postdoc. Not that my PhD was illegitimate: it represented something like completing a wilderness trek with the support of a monitor. Performing such treks autonomously and regularly was the next level.)gshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661771595044494591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-75767281190428048852007-07-10T07:32:00.000-05:002007-07-10T07:32:00.000-05:00Unfortunately, academia has a disproportionate num...Unfortunately, academia has a disproportionate number of intelligent people who nevertheless seriously lack social skills, not just in person but in writing. Responding to this person is relatively pointless, except maybe to bring to their attention that your ire was not the criticisms but the manner in which they were made.<BR/><BR/>I have found that these same people are often quite timid in person if talked to at a conference -- email often makes people act differently behind the "lack of face", and it affects how people are treated.<BR/><BR/>If anything, chalk it up to a lesson for your student. I had a student with a similar experience. She was intimidated by some email comments (not even reviews, but requests for info on some published work that was a bit vague in places). After meeting the indivdidual in person at a conference when he came by her poster, she became convinced that she knew her topic better than he did!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-28858585840839453492007-07-10T02:21:00.000-05:002007-07-10T02:21:00.000-05:00Doctor,Superior Blog!! I'm a senior at the Univer...Doctor,<BR/><BR/>Superior Blog!! I'm a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Philosophy - History dual major. I retired from the military in 2004 (26-year career) and decided to start the process to become a professor - currently assessing doctoral programs.<BR/><BR/>In moments of weakness, due to my age most likely, my professors will occasionally vent their 'institutional' frustrations to me. These instances have certainly 'humanized' them for me. It's reassuring to see your approach from behind the lectern - so to speak.<BR/><BR/>Again, outstanding blog - thanks!!<BR/>ScottScott Scofieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07150508655062501038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-43460393541840103432007-07-09T22:29:00.000-05:002007-07-09T22:29:00.000-05:00I have to wonder if that reviewer is of a similar ...I have to wonder if that reviewer is of a similar nationality as the person in your "I am my husband" story, although I have seen that kind of behavior from Americans (of any age group). In my experience, that would be a person with mediocre physics skills who uses bluster to convey an undeserved sense of importance. Right now he is extremely concerned that you (as a reviewer) and the journal editor have discovered his deficiencies. <BR/><BR/>And congrats on composing the response so that every matter of fact statement was as sharp as a dagger. That takes skill, but can also be great fun. Be sure your student realizes that writing a response letter is an important professional skill.Doctor Pionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513786840852469648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-76128534714849616632007-07-09T22:00:00.000-05:002007-07-09T22:00:00.000-05:00It's nice to see a professor think of students as ...It's nice to see a professor think of students as people. I'm often reminding the grad students in my department that they should be treated like people and shouldn't tolerate it when they're not. Sometimes I seriously wonder about the long term consequences to the science when we seem to be training graduate students to doubt their every move!alhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627085655945039699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-64821066918424294522007-07-09T19:47:00.000-05:002007-07-09T19:47:00.000-05:00I'd certainly make sure that the editor of the jou...I'd certainly make sure that the editor of the journal in question was made aware of this email.<BR/><BR/>Bonzo<BR/><BR/>As to the disrespect shown to your student, this may very well be a personality trait of this person. You know - the type who will be rude and abusive as long as the person being treated is in no position to do them any damage. But ah the, oh let's be rude, asskissing that goes on if the other person is perceived to be powerful.Mr. B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02067666077743889680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-65758367246116961852007-07-09T16:48:00.000-05:002007-07-09T16:48:00.000-05:00Professors who don't think of grad students as peo...Professors who don't think of grad students as people are fairly common. My first adviser was one of them. I had the distinct impression that until I actually defended my dissertation she thought I was stupid. I'd changed advisers by then, but she was still on the committee. When we sat in the room for the final defense, I fully expected her to attack and criticize, but much to my delight she only had one good comment and compliments (!) for my work. Getting to that point meant a lot to her, though no one else seemed to doubt that I could do it.<BR/><BR/>Your guy seems a good bit crazier than she was, though. Resorting to ad hominem attacks is childish--not surprising that his response to your response was also childish.Jamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328884172511150275noreply@blogger.com