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Ten simple rules for failing successfully in academia

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Gaillard
  • Tara van Viegen
  • Michele Veldsman
  • Melanie I Stefan
  • Veronika Cheplygina

Abstract

Failure is an integral part of life and by extension academia. At the same time, failure is often ignored, with potentially negative consequences both for the science and the scientists involved. This article provides several strategies for learning from and dealing with failure instead of ignoring it. Hopefully, our recommendations are widely applicable, while still taking into account individual differences between academics. These simple rules allow academics to further develop their own strategies for failing successfully in academia.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Gaillard & Tara van Viegen & Michele Veldsman & Melanie I Stefan & Veronika Cheplygina, 2022. "Ten simple rules for failing successfully in academia," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pcbi00:1010538
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010538
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip E Bourne, 2017. "Ten simple rules in considering a career in academia versus government," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-5, October.
    2. Vincent Larivière & Chaoqun Ni & Yves Gingras & Blaise Cronin & Cassidy R. Sugimoto, 2013. "Bibliometrics: Global gender disparities in science," Nature, Nature, vol. 504(7479), pages 211-213, December.
    3. Philipp Kruger, 2018. "Why it is not a ‘failure’ to leave academia," Nature, Nature, vol. 560(7716), pages 133-134, August.
    4. repec:plo:pcbi00:1005134 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Jay Bhattacharya & Mikko Packalen, 2020. "Stagnation and Scientific Incentives," NBER Working Papers 26752, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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